We are excited to have you join our community! As part of your acclimation to tenure-track requirements, we invite you to participate in our Structured Mentoring Program designed to support your professional growth and success.

We’re Here for You!

As part of Cohort VIII of our mentoring program, you’ll connect with peers and mentors eager to support your success. Our community thrives on collaboration and mutual support, and we believe you’ll find lasting professional relationships here at JSU.

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Program Goals

• Support Your Transition: Help you smoothly integrate into the JSU community and navigate your new role.
• Enhance Professional Development: Provide resources and guidance to advance your teaching, research, and service activities.
• Develop a Career Development Plan (CDP): Assist you in outlining your goals and strategies for the next five years to achieve tenure and excel in your career.
• Foster Mentoring Relationships: Connect you with experienced faculty mentors who can offer insights, advice, and support.
• Encourage Networking: Create opportunities to build relationships with colleagues across disciplines, including senior faculty and peers.
• Prepare for Promotion and Tenure: Offer workshops and seminars to help you understand and navigate the P&T process effectively.

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Program Overview

Our program will run from November 1, 2024, to the end of November 2025. During this time, you’ll engage in various activities designed to support your professional journey.

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November 2024 Meetings

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Mentor Assignments

Starting in January 2025, you’ll be paired with a senior faculty mentor who will:

• Guide you in planning your first five years at JSU.
• Help you finalize your CDP.
• Identify resources to support your journey toward tenure.

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Next Steps

Please complete the New Faculty Information Form at your earliest convenience. This will help us match you with a mentor and keep you informed about upcoming events in faculty development.

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Spring and Summer Workshops and Seminars

Spring 2025

• January: “The Elevator Pitch: Sharing Your Research with Funders and Collaborators”
• February: Discussion on the Promotion & Tenure (P&T) process and third-year review with the Office of Academic Affairs
• February: “Introduction to Proposal Writing for New Faculty”
• March: “How to Promote Your Research on Social Media”
• March: “Balancing Research and Teaching as an Early Career Faculty Member”
• April: “Using Canvas to Build Your Promotion and Tenure Portfolio”
• April: Networking Event – Progress Check and Networking Social with all cohorts
• May: Draft of CDP due; mentors will review and provide feedback by the end of July

Summer 2025

• Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks: A weekly seminar using Dr. Wendy Laura Belcher’s workbook to help you produce a submission-ready article by fall.
• Dossier Building Seminar: Four work sessions to assist in organizing your dossier and writing narratives for promotion and tenure or third-year review.

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Writing Accountability Workshops

Throughout the academic year, we host weekly writing accountability groups via Zoom. These sessions provide a supportive environment to:

• Share goals
• Celebrate successes
• Navigate challenges

We encourage you to join at least one session per week to stay focused on your research and writing.

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Contact Us

We look forward to meeting you at our initial virtual session on November 4th. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Candis Pizzetta, PhD
Director, Faculty Development for Student Success
Email: candis.p.pizzetta@jsums.edu
Phone: (601) 979-6951

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