FAIM supports graduate student identity development, fosters accountability for ethical and compliant research practices in the academy, and helps promote intellectual risk-taking that leads to novel and impactful research.

The FAIM framework guides mentors and mentees as they establish and engage in co-constructed, reciprocal, and mentee-centered relationships that help advance scholar access, academic and social sense of belonging, well-being, and success.

This framework also drives equity-based systemic change in mentorship structures, policies, and practices to counter relationship and climate dynamics that hinder access to professional and academic opportunity and success.

Relationships with Faculty and Lack of Access & Opportunity

Negative relationship dynamics with a faculty advisor (bullying, lack of trust and investment, insufficient communication and support, dissonance, etc.) are the most prevalent cause for attrition across North American doctoral programs (Litalien, 2015). Therefore, although only 7% of Cornell doctoral students indicated a “poor” advising experience (Cornell Graduate School, 2023), it is alarming that nationally, ~25%-45% of doctoral students and postdoctorate scholars are dissatisfied with aspects of their mentoring relationships (Sarabipour et al., 2023).

These dynamics doubly hinder the academic and professional success of scholars with social identities historically excluded from and underrepresented in the academy, who also face hostile campus climates (Ponjuan et al., 2011). Therefore, Black, Hispanic/Latiné, and Indigenous (BHI) scholars remain underrepresented across doctoral degree holders in the United States (Irwin et al., 2022; National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 2019; United States Census Bureau, 2022).

Collegiality and Academic & Professional Success

The principles that ground the FAIM framework – including a growth-mindset, kindness and compassion, collegiality, etc. – provide a path towards more positive and productive academic and professional outcomes (degree completion, hiring, etc.).

For example, a sense of community and belonging emanates from mentees feeling affirmed for who they are as whole individuals, which helps advance learning, productivity, and academic and professional success.

Also, collaborative research and writing facilitates learning, including understandings of authorship and data integrity, necessary for ethical and compliant research.

Further, mentors are positioned to support the academic identity development of their mentees helping them mentees gain confidence as scholars and embrace their agency to pursue academic and professional opportunities.