Filling the Gaps: How the Mentor Role Fits Into the Existing Doctoral Program Support Structure

• In Event: The Mentoring Experience for Students in Higher Education

Abstract

Doctoral programs are structured to maximize doctoral student support, through the provision of a faculty advisor, dissertation chair, and other faculty mentor figures. However, the power differential between students and faculty may leave gaps in this support system. This study investigates how mentoring programs may help fill in the gaps in doctoral student support, and how mentors may support the needs of both students and faculty. After qualitative analysis on interviews with mentors and mentees in our EdD mentoring program, the following four themes emerged: 1) differentiating support roles; 2) mentoring filling a gap in doctoral student needs; 3) mentoring as support for doctoral student success; and 4) suggestions for mentoring program improvement. Implications of these themes are discussed.

Authors

• Kat R McConnell, Marquette University

• Rachel Louise Geesa, Ball State University