Purpose
The IWCA Mentor Match Program (MMP) provides mentorship opportunities for writing center professionals. In previous years, the program set up one-to-one mentor and mentee matches. The IWCA Mentor Match Program is diversifying our mentoring options to better meet the needs of our diverse members. Starting in fall 2023, we will have several ways that you can participate in IWCA Mentor Match.
Regardless of the ways in which members would like to participate in the IWCA MMP, our program encourages a non-dyadic approach: mentors/mentees are encouraged to share information and learn from one another in a collaborative space.
Participants can provide a range of support to one another. They may:
- Refer one another to resources.
- Connect one another with colleagues internationally, nationally, and in their region.
- Consult on professional development, contract review, and promotion.
- Provide feedback on assessment and scholarship.
- Serve as an outside reviewer for writing center assessment.
- Serve as a reference for promotion.
- Serve as a chair on conference panels.
- Answer curious questions.
- Offer outside opinions about situations.
New Options & Opportunities
In addition to creating a wider range of mentoring options through IWCA Mentor Match, we are also providing more opportunities to join and reducing the time commitments.
Traditional 1-1 Mentor-Mentee Match
This option requires the highest level of commitment from both the mentor and the mentee. Participants in this option should be prepared to meet a minimum of one hour once a month for one academic year or one calendar year. This option is ideal for a mentee who is new to the writing center field or who is entering their first professional position.
- Match periods: September-May or January-December.
Small Group Mentor Mosaics
This option will group people based on availability. These groups are intended to be non-hierarchical, so members will rotate responsibilities, such as posing topics, sharing resources, inviting other participants into discussions. Mentor groups are expected to meet a minimum of once per month.
- Match periods: September-May or January-December.
Monthly Reading Group—shifting topics of discussions
This group is intended as a topic-specific drop-in group with pre-selected readings. Participants are encouraged but not required to read the relevant texts and can participate using lived experiences.
- Meeting frequency: twice in fall, twice in spring, and once in summer.
Chat & Chew—drop-in mentoring discussions
These are intended to be very informal discussions that can organically grow out of the interests and needs of the participants who show up each session.
- Meeting frequency: twice in fall, twice in spring, and once in summer.
Mentoring Newsletter
This is an asynchronous way to both gain and contribute to mentoring.
We welcome contributions, such as mentorship stories (successful or otherwise), mentoring activities, questions, resources, drawings, cartoons, etc.You can also sign up to receive the newsletter/be informed when a new addition is posted to the website.
- Newsletter issues will be published three times per year: fall, spring, summer
Eligibility and Timeline
All IWCA members are eligible to participate in the IWCA Mentor Match Program.
Prior to the 2023-24 academic year, IWCA MMP used a two-year cycle. However, we found that for some members this was too restrictive. So, we are offering more entry and exit opportunities.
Mentoring Matches & Mosaic Groups
- Match periods: September-May or January-December.
- Surveys for participation will be sent out in August. Matches and mosaic group members will be announced in September.
Reading Groups & Chat & Chews
- Meeting frequency: twice in fall, twice in spring, and once in summer.
- Specific dates and times TBA.
Newsletter
- Newsletter issues will be published three times per year: fall, spring, summer.
- Specific publishing dates TBA.
Survey for Participation
If you are interested in participating in any of our mentor programs, please use the link below to complete a Google form. You will have the option to note which Mentor Match programs you are interested in. Required information includes name, contact information and time zone, but all other questions are optional. So, please feel free to skip questions about programs that you are not interested in.
Testimonials
“Being a mentor with the IWCA Mentor Match program helped me to critically reflect on my own experiences, led to a professional relationship with a valued colleague, and encouraged me to consider how professional mentoring leads to disciplinary identity.”
- Maureen McBride, University Nevada-Reno, Mentor 2018-19
“For me, the chance to mentor someone else had a few benefits. I was able to pay forward some of the wonderful support I received informally over the years. My relationship with my mentee fosters a mutual learning space where we both feel supported for the work we do. Holding this space is really important for those of us who can feel isolated at our home institutions or in silo-ed departments.”
- Jennifer Daniel, Queens University of Charlotte, Mentor 2018-19
Contact Information
If you have questions about the IWCA Mentor Match Program, please contact the IWCA Mentor Match Co-Coordinators Maureen McBride at mmcbride @ unr.edu and Molly Rentscher at molly.rentscher @ elmhurst.edu.