Mentor Program

A new employee’s onboarding is greatly enhanced by assigning a mentor, a fellow employee (other than the manager) who provides advice and guidance on the different aspects of working at the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UI Extension and the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station. A mentor is also a “sounding board” who offers encouragement as the new employee acclimates to our culture and workplace.

A successful mentor is an employee who fully understands the CALS culture and environment (has been employed with CALS at least one year) and wants to be a mentor.

Additional criteria include:

• Time to be accessible and available to the employee
• Familiar with the employee’s role and work unit
• A solid performer
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Exemplifies CALS values
• Patience and empathy
• Well regarded and trusted by others.

Individuals may volunteer to be considered as a mentor or recommend others to the CALS Employee Engagement Mentor Program.

The mentoring of new staff offers significant benefits to:

New Employee

• One-on-one assistance
• Jump-start on networking
• Single point-of-contact
• Knowledge of “how things really get done.”
• Smoother acclimation period

Mentor

• Recognition as a strong performer
• Expanded network
• Opportunity to motivate others
• Fresh perspective
• Enhanced leadership and mentoring skills

College

• Increased employee motivation, retention and morale
• Increased employee communication
• Enhanced employee development
• Shared quality work processes
• Increased employee productivity