Dean's Awards for Excellence in Mentoring
Faculty Award Purpose Statement

There is widespread agreement within the academic community that mentoring is an important element of graduate education. First, providing adequate mentoring support for graduate students is a key factor in ensuring that they are well trained in their disciplines, successfully complete their degrees, and have good career opportunities. Second, students who have mentoring relationships are more productive, more involved in their departments, and more satisfied with their programs. Third, whether acquiring a fresh perspective in a particular field or gaining a reputation for identifying and developing top-notch talent, mentors receive immeasurable benefits from the mentoring relationship. The benefits of mentoring are passed on as good mentors promote a tradition of mentoring practices in their students.

Mentoring is a sustained partnership that is necessarily multifaceted and is enhanced by mutual respect and concern. While a mentor can be defined in many ways, a mentor for graduate students is fundamentally someone who serves as a guide throughout their professional training. Far from being just an advisor, a mentor serves as teacher, advocate, sponsor, and role model as well. When unable to fill a particular role, good mentors have access to a network of helpful resources and exercise the discernment necessary to point students to the appropriate resources at the appropriate times in their career.

To recognize the considerable efforts and accomplishments of faculty who consistently serve as effective mentors, the Duke University Graduate School has inaugurated its Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring. Designed to allow graduate students to identify faculty who embody both the letter and spirit of mentoring, this award will take its place among the university's continuing efforts to cultivate a culture of mentoring.

The Duke University Graduate School would like to acknowledge the mentoring award models of Harvard University and Washington University in St. Louis. These models provided a framework for the preparation of the Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring.

Last Updated: 11/9/2007 (by wat@duke.edu)