Welcome to the WCC Mentorship Program!

We have all had mentors who, at one time or other, were there for us at a crucial point in our lives. Regardless of age or stage, we each have wisdom to give and much to learn from each other as we follow the myriad paths through our academic careers. At the WCC, part of our mission is to foster relationships between the members of our community so that we can all live up to our tremendous potential in our pursuits, whether in our scholarship, our teaching, or in managing the work-life balance.

Wherever we are in our professional paths, we can all sometimes use a boost from a trusted colleague, a long-term advocate, or a friend to help us through difficult patches or to encourage us to be our better selves. With this in mind, the WCC leadership has reformulated the WCC Mentorship Program to meet the diverse needs of our membership and to create connections within our community that will make us all stronger.

How it works

The WCC Mentorship Program welcomes all members at any stage of their careers to participate as a mentor or mentee.

There are two options for the WCC Mentorship Program: cohort “one-on-one” mentorship and on-demand “just-in-time” mentorship.

In the cohort mentorship program, each mentor will be assigned 2-3 mentees who will meet at least twice per term during the academic year. For mentees, this means that you will be paired with a senior mentor and also peers who overlap with your interests and/or stage of career.

The on-demand “just-in-time” mentorship program focuses on mentoring in relation to specific issues and milestones. For example, mentees can request short-term pairings related to pedagogy, networking, exam preparation, job applications, etc., and the WCC will work to set up events and meet-ups with more senior members in the field to help. In turn, mentors can volunteer to be a mentor in a specific area or for shorter periods of time.

The WCC will provide guidance, trainings, and check-in opportunities for both mentors and mentees throughout the year.

Why be a part of the WCC Mentorship Program?

• It is a fun, more sustained form of networking with peers, senior colleagues, and junior colleagues who may share your interests, expand your knowledge, and help you grow as a member of our field.

• It is an important way to consolidate the bonds of our community at the WCC through active, regular support.

What You Can Expect

• To participate in a unique mentoring experience developed by a team drawing from the most current research on mentoring and their own experiences in various types of mentorship programs and institutions of different sizes.

• To form direct relationships with other members of the WCC.

• To gain skills at being better mentors and mentees, which are transferrable into other areas and pursuits.