Cultivating a Culture of Mentoring: Strategies for Sustainable Support in Higher Education
Location
Morgan
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
Mentoring in higher education is often framed as an individual responsibility or an informal practice, yet its potential as a transformative institutional culture remains underexplored. This session proposes a framework for cultivating a culture of mentoring that is intentional, inclusive, and sustainable across academic departments and administrative units. Drawing on research and practice, the presentation will highlight how institutions can move beyond basic mentoring into the fabric of their organizational identity.
This session will explore key components of a mentoring culture, including leadership buy-in, structural support, equity-minded practices, and recognition of mentoring labor. Participants will engage in discussion about mentoring practices and formats at their institutions. This session will also address challenges such as mentor burnout, lack of institutional initiatives, and disparities in access to mentoring.
Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for designing mentoring ecosystems that support students, faculty, and staff across career stages. This proposal is especially relevant for academic leaders, program directors, and faculty committed to fostering belonging, retention, and professional growth in higher education.
Keywords
Mentoring culture, higher education, mentoring practices
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Lovelace, Jennifer, "Cultivating a Culture of Mentoring: Strategies for Sustainable Support in Higher Education" (2026). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 86.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2026/2026/86
Cultivating a Culture of Mentoring: Strategies for Sustainable Support in Higher Education
Morgan
Mentoring in higher education is often framed as an individual responsibility or an informal practice, yet its potential as a transformative institutional culture remains underexplored. This session proposes a framework for cultivating a culture of mentoring that is intentional, inclusive, and sustainable across academic departments and administrative units. Drawing on research and practice, the presentation will highlight how institutions can move beyond basic mentoring into the fabric of their organizational identity.
This session will explore key components of a mentoring culture, including leadership buy-in, structural support, equity-minded practices, and recognition of mentoring labor. Participants will engage in discussion about mentoring practices and formats at their institutions. This session will also address challenges such as mentor burnout, lack of institutional initiatives, and disparities in access to mentoring.
Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for designing mentoring ecosystems that support students, faculty, and staff across career stages. This proposal is especially relevant for academic leaders, program directors, and faculty committed to fostering belonging, retention, and professional growth in higher education.
