Mutual Mentoring Grants

The Office of the Vice President and Provost, in collaboration with AdvanceVT, is delighted to introduce the Mutual Mentoring Grants program. This initiative focuses on empowering faculty at Virginia Tech by fostering collaborative networks that facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences within specific areas such as research, teaching, tenure, work-life issues, cultural matters, identity groups, and more.

Though high-impact initiatives in support of faculty in all disciplines continue through the work of the Faculty Affairs team in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and InclusiveVT, faculty—often women faculty—continue to encounter challenges stemming from biases related to sex or gender, caregiving responsibilities, and other factors.

We cordially invite faculty to form groups and submit proposals for semester- or academic year-long programs tailored to our shared goals of supporting and empowering faculty to overcome these challenges. Each group should appoint a convener, a faculty member, to be the primary contact and facilitate the group's collective work and funds. Group members may be invited to participate in workshops or evaluation activities to enhance the program.

We have designed the Mutual Mentoring program to address the unique experiences and challenges often faced by women. However, all faculty members are eligible to participate. We do not discriminate based on race, sex, gender or national origin.

To be considered for this grant, proposals should be submitted electronically to Leslie Stevens on or before May 15, 2024, for evaluation. Successful submissions will receive funding in July or August 2024. The maximum amount granted will be $1,000 and limited to 10 per academic year.

Proposals will be considered based on the following criteria:

• Clear articulation of goals.
• Purposeful engagement of faculty in building supportive communities at Virginia Tech to overcome the unique challenges faculty may face based on sex and gender-based bias and caregiving responsibilities.
• Provision of opportunities for faculty with shared experiences, especially experiences related to being primary caregivers or facing professional challenges uniquely connected to identity, to engage in activities that address their professional development, work-life integration, and professional climate needs.
• Creative approaches to addressing the unique challenges that faculty may face in academia related to sex- or gender-based bias in ways that support them both as individuals and as faculty members.
• Promotion of leadership skills and increased visibility within the university.
• Potential for positive impact on individuals, groups, and the broader university community.

Note: Proposals that condition participation on gender, sex, race, color, or national origin will not be accepted.

Upon approval, funds will be allocated to the group facilitator's department after consultation with the convener. Please note that funds cannot be used for salaries, hardware, software, equipment, alcohol, or capital improvements. All expenditures must adhere to Virginia Tech's policies and procedures. Please familiarize yourself with the rules concerning state funds.

Questions?

Leslie Stevens
Project Director, Faculty Affairs
Co-Director, AdvanceVT
540-231-2538
leslie@vt.edu

Madeline Schreiber
Faculty Fellow, Office of Faculty Affairs
Professor, Geosciences
540-231-3377
mschreib@vt.edu