Mentoring & Coaching Academy
The Butler Center’s Mentoring and Coaching Academy (MCA) is a cohort-based program designed to strengthen the mentoring and coaching skills of faculty and foster a supportive network across Purdue. This program is open to full professors who are motivated to enhance their mentoring effectiveness (especially in the faculty mentoring space) through hands-on coaching skill training and peer mentoring. We are looking to form a cohort of 10–15 full professors who will commit to meeting monthly in person in a series of 9 workshops held on Friday afternoons from 12-2pm during the academic year, with lunch provided preceding each session.
The MCA workshops will feature presentations, interactive discussions, and hands-on exercises, wherein participants explore key mentoring and coaching practices such as listening, asking powerful questions, navigating emotional challenges, and self-care/self-management strategies. The program will also bring in various experts in faculty development and leadership coaching to serve as guest speakers, co-facilitators, and/or mentors.
By the end of the nine-session program, MCA participants will have sharpened essential mentoring/coaching skills, expanded their professional networks at Purdue (and beyond), and gained practical tools to foster growth, connection, and resilience in their own mentoring relationships. Faculty working on mentoring programs in each unit/college would be particularly suited for participating in this program.
Call for applications is open for the month of November (closes on December 1). The deadline has been extended to Wednesday, December 10.
Expected Benefits:
- Building expertise in mentoring and coaching methods and best practices
- Practicing and strengthening key mentoring and coaching skills
- Solving interpersonal dilemmas in ongoing workplace relationships
- Engaging a vibrant and impactful community of Purdue faculty mentors and leaders
Structure & Schedule:
- A cohort of 10-15 full professors from Purdue West Lafayette and Indianapolis.
- Each workshop will be around 2 hours (12-2pm) on the following 9 Fridays: January 30; February 27; March 27; April 24; August 28; September 25; October 30; November 20; December 11.
- In-person only.
- Informal lunch from 11:30am to noon.
Format:
- 15- to 30-min presentation followed by Q&A, group discussions, and hands-on exercises.
- Butler Center Director (Dr. Sang Woo) will run the workshop meetings. OVPFA will be invited to co-lead, participate, and/or facilitate as needed.
- Occasional invited speakers and special guests from Purdue and other institutions.
Participant Requirements:
- Attend all in-person meetings (no make-up or remote options guaranteed).
- Complete monthly assignments - applying the skill learning to ongoing mentoring relationships.
- Participate virtually in monthly (small-group or individual) mentoring conversations with one of the mentoring/coaching experts.
- Write a 1-page proposal delineating tangible changes to their individual and/or department-level mentoring practices and share it with the department/college leadership team as well as Butler Center and OVPFA (due Dec 18, 2026).
Applicant Eligibility
- Full professor at Purdue - West Lafayette and Indianapolis
- Able to meet in person for the nine monthly meetings (2.5 hours each) and participate in monthly virtual mentoring calls (1 hour each)