The New Faculty Mentoring Program serves to enhance faculty development and retention at Middlebury College. Small groups of new and veteran members of the faculty have the chance to engage in discussions of the challenges that incoming faculty at Middlebury College face. Each group consists of two new tenure-track faculty members, a former COR member whenever possible, another senior faculty member, and a junior member of the faculty. New full-time term faculty also have mentoring groups: two or three term faculty members are matched with two veteran faculty members. The final composition of the groups is determined by the Dean for Faculty Development and Research.
In early summer, the DFDR contacts the new mentors with a general letter explaining the mentoring program and contact information for their team. During the course of the summer Middlebury mentors may introduce themselves to the new faculty members that were assigned to them. In September, members of the previous mentor groups share their experiences and introduce the new mentors to the program.
At new faculty orientation, all mentoring groups meet informally. During the academic year, mentoring groups meet independently for lunches at Redfield Proctor, sponsored by the Dean of Faculty's office. Discussions at these meetings should develop as naturally as possible, so no specific agenda is given to the groups. Rather, each group has the opportunity to establish its own parameters and mentoring relationships.