Informal Mentoring within the Tenure track Faculty Experience: A Phenomenological Study
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Authors
Rodis, Hailey
Issue Date
2025
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Affinity , Career support , Informal mentoring , Social support , Tenure track
Alternative Title
Abstract
This descriptive phenomenological inquiry expanded the knowledge that exists about the beneficial extensions of informal mentoring for tenure track faculty members. The pertinence of interactions between seasoned faculty and junior faculty suggests that when a genuine commitment is made to communicate openly and objectively, an educator may gain insight essential to their performance success and employment continuity. The perspectives gained through participant interviews illustrate the potential for mentoring to assist tenure track faculty’s transition into their institution and achieve success. The study explored the ways in which informal mentoring is experienced by tenure track faculty in at least their third year of employment at the institution. Key theories explored in the interview series included Kram’s (1983) phases of the mentorship relationship (1983) and Bourdieu’s (1986) forms of capital. The study findings suggest that tenure track faculty engage in informal mentoring for both career-related and psychological support, functions of mentoring previously identified by Todoran (2023). Additionally, participant experiences shed light on the need for institutionalized support of mentoring, specifically the importance of recognizing and funding mentoring that occurs both formally and informally.