Power and partnership: Faculty-student mentorship
The College of Engineering’s EMPOWER Certificate program offers a variety of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging training opportunities. Each module topic is delivered through a series of workshops. The program is designed to support faculty, staff and students who want to help shape and foster an inclusive climate by actively promoting practices that advance equity for all members of our engineering community. Below is information on the Power and Partnership: Faculty-Student Mentorship module.
Targeted Audience: Faculty, Staff
Contacts: Chaniqua Butscher, associate director for inclusive excellence programs; Rebecca Abergel, associate dean for inclusive excellence
Workshop 1: Raising Our Awareness of the Importance of Mentoring Relationships
Thursday, September 19, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., Blum 100
In Workshop 1, Berkeley Interactive Theater will present a new interactive theater presentation developed in collaboration with Berkeley Engineering faculty, advisors, and graduate students. Participants will have the opportunity to analyze specific examples where bias in our words and behaviors interferes in the positive relationships and open communication necessary to support the success of both mentee and mentor. A better understanding of these dynamics will encourage us to choose an “inclusivity mindset” in our research, academic, and personal mentoring relationships.
Workshop 2: Practicing What We Learn About Cultivating Positive Mentorship Relationships
Thursday, September 26, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., Blum 100
In Workshop 2, we will explore a wider range of examples of how bias shows up in our language and daily tasks and how it exerts itself in different mentee-mentor interactions. We will practice identifying the underlying issues and problematic words and behaviors. We will also share specific tools that help establish and reinforce positive “mentee-mentorship” relationships and skills to interrupt and redirect unhelpful styles of communication. Through mutual understandings, established early through a process of setting clear expectations, we invite everyone into a deeper participation in learning. The richnesses and weaknesses of a range of mentoring styles and methodologies will be assessed and proposed.
Workshop 3: Owning the Process of Knowledge Acquisition and Inclusive Applications
Thursday, October 3, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., Blum 100
During Workshop 3, we will provide participants an opportunity to continue practicing “multi-perspective awareness.” Reinforcing mentoring skills through a variety of activities helps us experience the potential of an academic climate that supports successful multi-cultural interactions and employs positive affirmations in critical moments. This time spent in community practice will set us on course for authentic inclusivity and a sense of belonging for all in Berkeley Engineering. We will do problem-solving and coaching with one another as we build a toolkit of promising mentoring practices.