Steps to Start a Program

Program Structure

Convene a small group of senior faculty and/or leaders who will be the core founders of the program. 

  1. Develop your program goals, who will be involved as mentors and the target mentee group(s).  Identify needed resources such as funds, staff time, technology support (for registrations, forms..etc.  See section on Program Resources for further details.)
    1. What are the broad contours of the program: Is it a mentoring dyad program of senior mentor and junior mentee? A group of early career faculty with one mentor? A peer mentoring program with some early facilitation by a more senior mentor or completely run by peer faculty members? A mentoring committee that works with a group of junior mentees? (See Section on Program Models for further details)
    2. Mentorship programs are usually run within departments, but it is possible to consider collaborations with other departments to jointly run a mentorship program.  
    3. Does the program have general foci, or specific foci. How long is the program?  Does it run for a one year period or will it continue for a longer or indefinite period?
    4. What does the success of the program look like? 
    5. How will the program manage its administrative and educational (Training) processes for mentors and mentees?
    6. Are there models of existing programs in your specialty at other institutions, or at other departments within Stanford that your program could learn from? There is no need to start completely from scratch.  We can connect you to resources within other established mentorship programs at Stanford. (See Sections on Internal and External Programs for ideas for other programs).
  2. Gain leadership sponsorship for the program. Respond to leadership requests.  Make sure the program goals are aligned with the strategic goals of the Department or Departments.
  3. Write down your program vision, mission, desired goals and outcomes and share broadly.  Look at other internal School Mentorship Programs to assist you [link].  Develop a communications plan regarding the program:
    1. Email announcements, presentations at faculty meeting(s), presentations to Division Chiefs. Emails to Department mentors; Personal letters to potential mentees
    2. Is it possible to launch a website with program details at the outset?
    3. Communicate with peers at other institutions.

Consider whether you wish to have Rania Sanford, Director of Faculty Professional Development in the Office of Academic Affairs join or consult with you as you go forward.