While pursuing Under Graduate/ Post Graduate programme, students often need mentoring, guidance and counselling from a loving elderly figure. Direct academic issues e.g. selection of electives can be easily communicated to the student. But finer nuances e.g. career options or fear of a subject/course need greater involvement of the mentor. Obviously, a student should have the same mentor throughout his/her course.
Mentoring System
The process has been established as ‘Mentoring System’. Each faculty will be the mentor of a group of 25 to 30 students. Departmental faculties will continue to be mentors for the same group of students till their graduation.
Responsibilities
The mentor will perform the following functions. The list, of course, cannot be exclusive. A mentor can always do more for the benefit of the students.
- Meet the group of students at least twice a month.
- Continuously monitor, counsel, guide, and motivate the students in all academic matters.
- Advise students regarding choice of electives, projects, summer training, etc.
- Contact parents/guardians if the situation demands e.g. academic irregularities, negative behavioral changes, and interpersonal relations, detrimental activities, etc.
- Advise students in their career development/professional guidance.
- Maintain contact with the students even after their graduation.
- Intimate HOD and suggest if any administrative action is called for.
- Maintain a detailed progressive record of the student.
The Implementation Procedure of the Scheme:
- A Guardian Tutor Scheme comprises the chief coordinator and coordinators.
- Students are divided into groups of 25-30 students, in each group.
- Each group is allotted a Guardian- Tutor.
- A Diary is issued to all Guardian-Tutor in which all relevant information of each student is entered.
- Guardian-Tutor(G.T.) Meet is held on second Saturday of each month, in first two periods.
- A list is prepared with group number, name of the guardian tutor, name of allotted students, their classes, and the venue where they will assemble for G .T. Meet.
- The guardian-tutor is free to organize any activity like debate, general discussion, cultural activity, etc. so that students may feel free with their G.T. and develop rapport.
- After G.T. Meet, the Guardian-Tutor submits its report to the coordinator.
- A feedback form on infrastructural facilities, departmental activities, library, and the teaching methods of teachers is given to students randomly.
- The feedback form is collected and analyzed by coordinators.
- The summary of feedback analysis is submitted to management for appropriate decisions.
- The decision is communicated to the students.
The HOD will:
- Meet all mentors of his/her department at least once a month to review the proper implementation of the system
- Advice mentors wherever necessary.
- Initiate administrative action on a student when necessary.
- Keep the head of the institute informed.
The Institute is emphasising towards enhancement of enhancing the institutional ambience to better serve the needs of an ever-changing and dynamic learning community. Effective mentoring begins with the faculty and depends on the healthy relationship between faculty and students. Department assigns faculties (acts as faculty coordinators) for providing guidance for each year from admission till the graduation for the same batch. The faculty coordinators perform the following functions:
- To maintain personal details of the students including their address, contact numbers, overall academic performance and progress. It will help the mentor in monitoring the academic growth of the students.
- To advise the students regarding choice of electives, projects, summer training, etc.
- To counsel and motivate the students in all academic matters-direct or indirect.
- To guide the students in taking up extra academic and professional activities for value addition as a member of the society.
- To contact the parents/guardians of the students in case of their academic irregularities, behavioural changes, etc., through the Head of the Department or Institute.
- To advise the students in matters of their career.
Type of Mentoring to be done
- Professional Guidance – regarding professional goals, selection of career, higher education.
- Career Advancement – regarding self-employment opportunities, entrepreneurship development, morale, honesty and integrity required for career growth.
- Course work specific – regarding attendance and performance.
- Lab specific – regarding Do’s and Don’ts in the lab.