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Expanding the Emeritus Mentoring Program By Mel Green October 2006 In over 40 years as Professor of Biology at UCSD, my greatest sense of reward and pleasure has come from close interactions with students. I believe that real teaching must extend far beyond the classroom. For me it often takes place at lunch, in the coffee shop, on the tennis court, and at times even in my office. The many letters and notes of gratitude from my students have made it clear that my efforts to provide some guidance have been greatly appreciated. I say this not to toot my horn, but rather to encourage all of my emeriti colleagues to join in this rewarding experience. The Emeritus Mentoring Program (EMP) initiated last year on a small scale, will be a major focus of attention this year. Because “mentoring” can mean many different things, we plan to leave the specifics of what is done up to each individual mentor. To become a mentor, a commitment for the entire academic year is required. In addition to undergraduate students, we plan to include junior faculty as mentees this year. Like a good marriage, a successful mentoring relationship is highly dependent upon mutual interests and compatible personalities. Allowing mentees to select their own partner (mentor) based on professional and extra-curricular interests is the best way I can imagine. We can always make changes (dissolutions) should things seem unacceptable to either partner. A difficult decision concerns which students to select for EMP. Last year, 12 students were selected as mentees from the Academic Enrichment Program (AEP) directed by Dr. David Artis. My suggestion is to limit our mentoring to students in their first or second year at UCSD who have no other faculty advisor. We may also wish to serve only Regents and Presidential Scholars as a form of recognition of scholastic excellence. I am open to your suggestions, but please note that we would like to start the program by early November. If you are interested in the Emeritus Mentoring Program (EMP) for the academic year 2006-07, please consider applying. A brochure describing the program can be obtained by clicking on the following link: Emeriti Mentoring Program.pdf You will find an application form in the brochure. If you would like to apply, just print the form, complete it, and send it to the address given therein.. The Emeriti Association Board is unanimously supportive of EMP and looks forward to receiving applications.
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