Effective mentoring is essential for a successful research or creative work experience for both the student and the faculty mentor. The role of the faculty mentor is to provide the student with guidance and support, and to act as a role model, to facilitate the development of the student’s skills and ethical behavior. Faculty research mentors support student researchers by:

• Assisting in the development of a project that supports the student’s goals, challenges their skill development, and is feasible in a given timeframe. 
• Supports student skill development, ensuring adequately training in the proper methodology and techniques of the research process and be sure they understand the importance of ethical behavior. 
• Meets regularly with students to ensure progress, discuss the experience, and troubleshoot challenges.
• Provide the student with opportunities to connect other faculty, scholars, and students in the discipline. This could include individual or group meetings where students discuss their progress, departmental seminars or meetings, journal clubs, attending an UR workshop or talk together etc.
• Foster opportunities for students to talk to others about their research and help them understand the importance of explaining their projects to the general public.
• Encourages students to present their research, helping them develop a professional presentation and secure dissemination opportunities. Faculty mentors should encourage their students to present at Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day, Thursday Forums, or Deparmental Symposiums. Undergraduate Research encourages faculty mentors to support students applying for presentation grants for travel to a national conference or submitting for journal publications.