The FAIM core mutual expectations are foundational and applicable to all mentoring relationships between faculty mentors and graduate student mentees.

Discussing, setting, and communicating core mutual expectations facilitates mentors and mentees examining assumptions about the academy and one another, and connecting across difference. Each core mutual expectation area contributes to academic and professional success.

Collaboratively Defining Expectations

Within FAIM, inclusive mentorship is defined as a co-constructed and reciprocal relationship between a mentor and mentee who take a strengths–based and identity-informed approach to working together to support their mutual growth, development, and success (NASEM, 2017; Windchief, 2019).

Mentors and mentees share an active responsibility to define, communicate, and regularly revisit their agreed-upon mutual expectations, making refinements as necessary.

Core Mutual Expectations Categories

The FAIM core mutual expectations transcend disciplines and are important cornerstones of inclusive mentorship within graduate education.

• Communication
• Milestone timeline and funding plans
• Health and well-being
• Teams & relationships
• Feedback on scholarly performance and materials
• Conflict resolution
• Authorship on publications and other scholarly products
• Service and contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Professional & career development

Benefits from Shared Responsibility

Mentors

Shared responsibility helps a mentor increase their mentee’s productivity and fosters investment from their mentee. When co-constructed, mutual expectations can help a mentor:

• take a mentee-centered approach informed by conversations with mentees.
• build trust with their mentee.
• prepare their mentee to be their colleague.
• learn from their mentee.
• encourage original thought and academic and professional productivity.
• teach and employ ethical research standards, guidelines, and practices.
• gain an academic partner.
• potentially build life-long fulfilling relationships.
• develop compelling grant proposals.

Mentees

Shared responsibility helps a mentee succeed academically and professionally. When co-constructed, mutual expectations can help a mentee:

• feel a sense of agency in their academic and professional trajectory.
• practice self-efficacy and self-advocacy.
• develop an independent scholar identity.
• understand their role and responsibilities in their mentoring, professional, and academic relationship with their mentor.
• feel trust, investment, respect, and understanding with their mentor.
• navigate the hidden curriculum in academia, that might otherwise hinder the mentee’s sense of agency, satisfaction, inclusion, and academic and professional success.
• learn and implement ethical research standards, guidelines, and practices.
• prepare to be a mentor to others.
• acclimate to the discipline and field.