Role Framework | Academic Mentors
The role framework lays out the roles assumed by the academic/faculty mentor within a mentor team in a CB(T)E program. The framework’s guiding idea is that the academic mentor’s roles are dictated by types of relationship (to student, to mentor team, to institution) and by the usual components of competency-based design (curriculum, assessment, instruction, support). The intersection of these categories results in 12 roles. Such a framework can offer standardized roles and stabilized language. Possible applications include job descriptions, hiring standards, and a competency-based orientation curriculum for new academic mentors. These particular roles, competencies, and delineations were generated for the Wesleyan Church’s Called Journey initiative.
ADVISOR
The academic mentor advises the student by aligning curriculum and context.
The academic mentor plays the lead role as adviser to the student through the program. As adviser, he or she understands the curriculum at a deep level, possessing a strong sense of the curriculum's content and structure. He or she navigates the curriculum with the student, pointing out effective directions and optimizing their progress in the program. As someone attentive to the context of the student, the academic mentor guides the student toward customization of the content, syncing the student's life and ministry activities with the curriculum.
ASSESSOR
The academic mentor assesses student proficiency in academic and integrative competencies.
The academic mentor plays the lead role as assessor to the student. With the other mentors, he or she iterates with the student, providing formative feedback to help move the person toward proficiency. He or she reviews the student's work in order to issue a pass or a "not yet," sometimes with the help of a rubric or automated examination tool. Given the contextual nature of the program, the academic mentor necessarily discerns when a student has reached maturity in many of the competencies, calling upon their personal knowledge of the student and awareness of the requirements of the person's context.
CURATOR
The academic mentor curates content to assist with student-specific learning.
The academic mentor plays a special role as curator of content relevant to the student's program. He or she identifies learning resources for the student in academic subjects and areas of expertise. He or she tutors the student in understanding or making use of such resources. Insofar as course-like substitutions are permitted, the academic mentor also confirms modules as suitable substitutes to meet the competencies.
COACH
The academic mentor coaches the student to maintain personal health and adequate progress.
The academic mentor plays the lead role as coach to the student throughout the duration of the program. He or she supports the student by responding to expressed needs and offering regular encouragement. Attentive to circumstances and personality, he or she prompts the student to continue their work in a reasonable fashion. Given the rather personal nature of the relationship, the academic mentor counsels the student in the midst of difficult situations.
Facilitator
The academic mentor facilitates the mentor team as it conducts its programmatic functions.
The academic mentor plays the special role of facilitator to the mentor team. He or she coordinates the Checkpoint meetings for the team, organizing the meeting and walking the team through relevant items. As the one with the deepest exposure to its curricular contours, he or she explains the program by clarifying and promoting it to the other mentors. The academic mentor, even while encouraging adaptations to the curriculum, arbitrates when there are lingering questions about adapted assignment suitability for a competency.
Ensurer
The academic mentor ensures quality assessment practices among the members of the mentor team.
The academic mentor plays the special role of ensurer in the assessment functions of the mentor team. Having received additional training in the value, mechanics, and goal of assessment, he or she reminds the other mentors of assessment best practices, including just-in-time help. In various cases he or she augments the assessment process by providing standardized assessment tools or additional evaluation. Because mentors can be idiosyncratic in their reviewing methods, the academic mentor enforces the documentation requirements of the assessment protocol.
Trainer
The academic mentor trains each mentor to fulfill their respective role through fruitful educational practices.
The academic mentor plays the special role of trainer to the other mentor team members. As one who has significant experience in the educational occupation, he or she equips new mentors with the philosophy and effective practices of the program. He or she supplies mentoring resources to the other members along the way to maximize their impact with the student. Rather than being the omniscient member of the team, the academic mentor empowers the others to leverage their expertise and identify helpful learning resources for the student.
Mediator
The academic mentor mediates with issues that arise in the mentor team.
The academic mentor plays the lead role as mediator of the mentor team. He or she encourages the other members regularly, promoting teamwork and keeping the mood of the team positive. By necessity, he or she troubleshoots various technological and programmatic problems that arise along the way. As teams face disagreements and experience friction, the academic mentor moderates conflicts so as to achieve satisfactory resolution.
Designer
The academic mentor designs curriculum adjustments for on-going program improvement.
The academic mentor plays a special role as designer within the institution. Sensitive to the boundaries of the program and students' changing contexts, he or she experiments with the outworking of the curriculum. He or she identifies new resources and options for the curriculum, especially where there are existing gaps. In select instances, the academic mentor creates a learning resource or facilitates a process whereby a new learning resource is generated for the curriculum.
Documenter
The academic mentor documents critical data for the organization.
The academic mentor plays a special role as documenter for the institution. He or she records vital information about the student, mentors, and Checkpoint meetings. He or she reports student progress and mentor team metrics to the school. For the purpose of program assessment, the academic mentor collates data that can be used as evidence with constructive feedback.
Instructor
The academic mentor instructs others in areas of subject matter expertise.
The academic mentor plays a special role as instructor within the institution. He or she orients other staff to the program on an as-needed basis. He or she assists colleagues in areas of disciplinary or skill specialization. When the need arises in a specific area, the academic mentor teaches modules to students or staff as a subject matter expert.
Champion
The academic mentor champions the program and the organization.
The academic mentor plays the lead role as champion of the program for the institution. He or she promotes the program inside and outside of the mentor team, sharing the winsome aspects. In tandem with the administration and fellow mentors, he or she recruits potential students for the program. In everything, the academic mentor nurtures a life-giving culture within the institution, sustaining a joyful, caring, collaborative environment.