NASEM Report on Mentoring Recommends Wider Use of Ombuds

A new report (The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says that U.S. colleges and universities should take a more intentional, inclusive, and evidence-based approach to mentoring students – a shift that could engage and help retain a broader group of students. The report identifies Ombuds as a resource to address negative mentoring experiences.

Here's an excerpt:

Mentorship education for both mentors and mentees can help to reduce or prevent negative mentoring experiences. However, negative mentoring experiences do and will occur, and direct steps should be taken to mitigate harm from such occurrences.

7.1: Institutional leadership should appoint and make visible one or more neutral third parties (e.g., ombudspersons, research integrity office) to serve as a point of contact to identify, investigate, and address negative mentoring experiences. These individuals, offices, or committees should be selected based on their potential to engender a sense of trust and approachability among mentees and mentors. The appointed neutral third parties should also be prepared to carry out their role effectively by participating in professional development on mentorship, conflict management, and workplace laws and ethics.

7.2: Program leaders and department chairs should periodically review mentorship assessment results to identify and mitigate negative experiences. They should be open to the possibility of having to serve as a neutral third party to improve ineffective or negative mentoring experiences, and they should also be prepared to carry out their role effectively by participating in professional development on mentorship, conflict management, and workplace laws and ethics.

7.3: Mentors should recognize that negative mentoring experiences can occur even with well-intentioned mentors and mentorship practices and be open to addressing unintended negative mentoring experiences with a neutral third party. In addition, mentors should become familiar with and recommend resources, such as ombudspersons, who can help identify, investigate, and address negative mentoring experiences.

7.4: Mentees should maintain relationships with a network of faculty outside of their primary advisor, research supervisor, or mentor, and when necessary, seek out an ombudsperson or other neutral third party who can serve as a resource to address negative mentoring experiences.

The full-report and an interactive website detailing NASEM's recommendations are available online. (The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM.)

Related posts: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Endorses Ombuds for Higher Ed's Sexual Harassment Problem; Title IX Researchers Seek Input from Higher Ed Ombuds; IOA Posts First Press Release; IOA Signs on to National Academies' Initiative to Prevent Sexual Misconduct; National Academies and Universities are Incorporating Ombuds in Effort to Combat Gender Discrimination.