Thanks to the vision and generosity of Neal F. and Barbara Farrell, whose three daughters graduated from Saint Mary's College, the Center for Academic Innovation offers new faculty extensive, multi-faceted mentoring and support. The Farrell Mentor Program provides a strong foundation of information, wisdom, and collegial fellowship on which to build a successful and rewarding career at Saint Mary's.
Tenured faculty mentors who are chosen for their teaching excellence, scholarship, and institutional experience meet regularly with new full-time, tenure-track faculty throughout their first year, answering questions, sharing advice, and discussing substantive professional topics. These meetings encourage and celebrate the close interdisciplinary connections possible at a small liberal arts college, and provide a collegial introduction to the distinctive culture and mission of the Saint Mary's College academic community.
In addition, new tenure-track faculty are joined by all new full-time faculty in a year-long administrative orientation program consisting of meetings with academic administrators and support personnel who provide necessary and helpful information on policies, procedures and resources.
The Farrell Pretenure Faculty Group, co-directed by two pretenure faculty facilitators, plans and organizes frequent peer mentoring and fellowship gatherings for all pretenure faculty, from their first year of appointment through tenure.