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The Equity in Graduate Education Resource Center community has curated these resources and tools to provide support for faculty and campus leaders as they develop mentoring plans that are in compliance with federal funding requirements. We hope that these tools and resources will be useful to you as you develop programs and initiatives that are designed to foster a supportive academic learning environment for graduate students and postdocs.. If you would like to suggest a resource for inclusion on this page, please email us at equity@usc.edu.

EQUITY-MINDED MENTORING TOOLKIT

This toolkit was designed to engage mentors in deeper thinking about how mentoring relationships in graduate education can embody equity-mindedness. The exercises in the Equity-minded mentoring toolkit are designed to help establish shared understandings of mentoring expectations and facilitate conversations about equity in mentoring relationships.

HOW TO MENTOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School's How to Mentor Graduate Students faculty resource guide outlines expectations for mentors, highlights promising practices, and includes worksheets to help mentors

FAIM PRACTICAL TOOLKIT FOR MENTORING IN GRADUATE EDUCATION

Cornell University's FAIM Practical Toolkit for Mentoring in Graduate Education provides tools and resources for faculty as they establish and manage mentoring expectations with graduate students and postdocs.

THE SCIENCE OF EFFECTIVE MENTORING PODCAST

In this podcast series from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, you’ll hear the personal mentorship stories of leaders in academia, business, and the media in their own words. Learn how evidence-based mentorship practices can help you develop the skills to engage in the most effective STEMM mentoring relationships possible.

NASA INCLUSION PLAN RESOURCES

The NASA Inclusion Plan resources page provides guidelines for fostering equitable practices within NASA-funded programs, supporting diverse communities in STEM, and creating inclusive mentoring environments. This page contains valuable resources for researchers seeking to develop Inclusion Plans that are aligned with NASA's policy statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA).

NIH UPDATES TO INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING GRANT PROGRAMS FAQs

The NIH is implementing changes to training grant requirements in 2025. The NIH FAQs page describes key updates, which include defining expectations for mentor training and accountability measures to promote diversity and ensure equitable opportunities for all trainees in the biomedical research field.

The NSF 101: The Mentoring Plan website is a resource that provides resources and guidance for PI's about NSF's Mentoring Plan requirement. This resource page has reflection questions that will help principal investigators develop mentoring plans that will meet the needs of their mentees.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA MENTORING PLANS RESOURCE PAGE

The University of Arizona's Research Development Services website provides guidance and resources for researchers creating mentoring and inclusion plans that are aligned with federal funding requirements.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY MENTORING AND INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN RESOURCES

Cornell University's Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation resource page educates faculty about federal mentoring requirements and provides resources to help faculty develop mentoring and individual development plans.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN GUIDE FOR GRADUATE CHAIRS

The University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School's Guide for Graduate Chairs is a resource guide for department chairs implementing mentoring plans. The guide provides insights on strategies for enhancing mentor training, establishing accountability, and customizing plans to meet graduate students' individual needs.

The Georgia Tech Catalog describes Georgia Tech's universitywide expectations of advisors and advisees. The inclusion of expectations in the university catalog is a crucial first step in aligning the aims, leadership styles, resources, communications practices, and policies of learning environments to support a culture of mentoring and well-being.

GRADUATE STUDENT NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF COLLEGIATE CAMPUS CLIMATES

The Graduate Student National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC) is a survey that measures graduate students' experiences of diversity, equity, and inclusion on college campuses. It focuses on aspects such as the racial climate, interactions with peers and faculty, and perceptions of institutional commitment to inclusivity, providing data to guide improvements in campus environments.

GRADUATE STUDENT EXPERIENCE IN THE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY

The GradSERU Survey is designed to capture the academic and social experiences of graduate and professional students at major research universities. The GradSERU Survey gathers data on various aspects, including academic engagement, well-being, and career development, helping institutions improve student support and inform policy decisions.

From Deficits to Possibilities Mentoring Lessons from Plants on Cultivating Individual Growth through Environmental Assessment and Optimization

This paper explores parallels between plant biology and mentorship and describes how mentoring environments shape graduate student growth and potential. The author invites readers to consider how they might develop mentoring relationships that consider each individual graduate student's unique needs and contexts and challenges mentors to shift from deficit-based approaches to mentoring approaches that are focused on cultivating student strengths. Faculty mentors who read this piece will gain insights about how they might create nurturing, responsive environments that foster mentees’ growth, resilience, and self-efficacy by optimizing their learning and development conditions.

Normalizing Struggle: Dimensions of Faculty Support for Doctoral Students and Implications for Persistence and Well-Being

This study explores how faculty support impacts doctoral students' experiences, persistence, and well-being. The study also describes specific behaviors that are aligned with providing holistic support for graduate students. Key takeaways include the identification of specific types of faculty support that will help students navigate the challenges of doctoral work. Faculty interested in promoting doctoral student retention and well-being will find valuable insights about how they can foster the academic success and professional development of their mentees.

On Being a Mentor: A Guide for Higher Education Faculty

On Being a Mentor: A Guide for Higher Education Faculty provides a comprehensive framework for faculty members seeking to become effective mentors in higher education. Key takeaways include understanding mentor roles and responsibilities, mastering effective communication strategies, and addressing diverse student needs. Faculty who read On Being a Mentor will gain insights about ways they can facilitate the professional and academic growth of graduate students, how they might support mentees' well-being, foster a sense of belonging, and create equitable academic pathways that support the needs of students that have been marginalized and excluded in higher education.

(Re)Shaping the Socialization of Scientific Labs: Understanding Women's Doctoral Experiences in STEM Lab Rotations

This research study explores the challenges women face in STEM doctoral programs and highlights the impact lab dynamics play in shaping the academic experiences of doctoral students. Faculty will gain valuable insights about issues that they may wish to consider to enhance inclusivity within academic labs.

The Equity in Graduate Education Resource Center offers professional and organizational development opportunities that foster reflection, healthy discussion, and practical strategies for equitably recruiting, admitting, and serving students.

CIMER provides trainings for individuals, institutions, and organizations across the country to optimize research mentoring relationships.

MENTORING GRADUATE STUDENTS, POST DOCS & EARLY CAREER FACULTY TRAINING

The National Research Mentoring Network offers this self-directed course to help faculty members (or other experienced researchers) optimize their mentoring relationships with graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-career faculty.