Stony Brook Graduate School Mentoring Plan
The purpose of this guide is to provide an opportunity for new graduate students and
their mentors to align their expectations for both party’s role in the new relationship.
The prompts included in the guide are intended to inspire individual self-reflection
as well as open-ended conversation for the individuals entering a mentoring relationship.
It is expected that assessment of the relationship using these materials should take place at or near the beginning of the mentoring relationship and about once per year thereafter until the mentoring relationship concludes to account for how the relationship will need to evolve during different career stages and how things like communication preferences or expectations or professional goals may shift over time.
Mentor and mentees are encouraged to take an anonymous survey before adopting the mentoring plan.
Mentoring Plan Decision Tree
Use the decision tree to assess your readiness for mentorship, create or refine your mentoring plan, and ensure you're making meaningful progress throughout your graduate journey. This tool is specifically designed to support graduate students in navigating their academic and professional goals.
Get Inspired
At Stony Brook, we believe that great mentorship fuels discovery, drives growth, and shapes academic success. Our Faculty Mentor Spotlight series recognizes the extraordinary faculty members who dedicate themselves to guiding, supporting, and inspiring their students and colleagues. Explore their insights and get inspired.