In Becoming A Great Mentor

This page provides practical strategies and resources to help you become a more effective mentor and introduces The Graduate College’s mentoring training initiative, the GradMENTOR Training Program.

A professor guiding a student in class.

GradMENTOR Training Program

Mentoring, Engagement, Networking, Training, and Outreach for a Research Community

The GradMENTOR Training Program is a peer-facilitated professional development program at TXST, designed to strengthen faculty mentoring of graduate students. It is built upon the Entering Mentoring curriculum developed by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER). 

The GradMENTOR Training Program helps faculty enhance their mentoring skills across key competency areas.

A logo that says "GradMENTOR Training Program" with a sketch of a tree with the roots as pathways next to it.

Key Competencies

Effective Communication, Aligning Expectations, Developing and Articulating Mentoring Philosophies, Assessing Student Understanding, Cultivating Ethical Behavior, Promoting Mentee Independence, Fostering Well-Being, and Supporting Professional Development.

A professor guiding a student one-one-one

GradMENTOR Certification

By completing the GradMENTOR Training Program, faculty can earn a certification and become Certified GradMENTORs. The completion of an eight-hour workshop is required (offered as two four-hour workshops or one eight-hour workshop in-person or virtually). For more information, contact Dr. Clay Green, Associate Dean of The Graduate College.

Mentoring in Action

What does impactful mentorship look like?

Hear from our 2025–2026 Outstanding Mentor of the Year, Anthony Torres, Ph.D., and his students as they share what mentoring means to them. Torres, a graduate of the GradMENTOR Training Program, reflects on how the program strengthened his approach to supporting graduate students—and why intentional mentoring matters.

The video discusses the mentoring experiences of Dr. Torres and his students, as well as the GradMENTOR Training Program. Play Video

Great mentoring isn’t just support — it’s a lasting legacy. When faculty are equipped with proven strategies for setting expectations, giving feedback, and addressing challenges proactively, they spend less time navigating misaligned goals. Our CIMER-based training equips faculty with strategies to build stronger professional relationships with their students. 

Dr. Andrea Golato
Dean of The Graduate College

Faculty Success Trainings on Mentoring

Two faculty members discussing a book

Ready For More?

Visit our Workshops for Graduate Advisors page to learn more about recruiting and guiding students, managing applicants, and tracking student progress.