by Christopher Grabau, Program Director, Reinert Center
Graduate student success often requires more than mastering coursework and research. It demands building a diverse network of professional relationships and experiences that can extend beyond your coursework or your primary advisor.
Recent research from the University of Michigan’s Rackham Graduate School (2024) emphasizes the importance of cultivating a network of mentors rather than relying solely on a single advisor. Their research on graduate mentoring has shown that very few individual mentors were able to meet all of their mentees’ needs in all areas, for example, instrumental/task, psychosocial, and networking support. This sentiment is also supported by Felten and Lambert’s book, Relationship-Rich Education (2020), which emphasizes how multiple meaningful professional connections enhance not just learning outcomes but also help accelerate career development.
All graduate students can benefit significantly from connecting with the Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning at Saint Louis University, especially those who are currently teaching or plan to teach in the future. The Center offers a number of teaching-focused development opportunities that complement the guidance you already receive from your department. Whether you’re a first-time instructor, have a bit of classroom experience, or plan to work with clients or patients in the future, the Reinert Center addresses essential aspects of pedagogical development. Graduate students can leverage this expertise in several key ways…
- Feedback on teaching philosophy statements and course materials
- Guidance on student evaluations and teaching feedback
- Review of academic job materials focused on teaching
- Evidence-based teaching practices for university instruction
- Strategies for effective instructor-student interactions
- Methods for documenting teaching development and effectiveness
- Techniques for using pedagogical strategies in non-classroom teaching-like interactions
Below is a list of resources to explore, along with ideas for how you can use them to strengthen and expand your mentoring network.
University Teaching Skills Program
The University Teaching Skills Program provides free. structured professional development in pedagogy that can help connect participants with experienced mentors and colleagues. Graduate students at SLU can pursue several certificate tracks at no cost:
- Foundations in University Teaching Skills
- Principles in University Teaching Skills
- Online University Teaching Skills
Each track provides personalized feedback on teaching practices and supports the development of a professional teaching portfolio or reflection.
Strategic ways our University Teaching Skills Program can boost mentoring relationships
By participating in the Teaching Skills Program, you’ll find opportunities to build mentoring relationships with faculty and peers that are focused on the development of your pedagogical skills. Participation in our programs can help deepen your relationship with teaching as well as provide an opportunity to build professional relationships with others (colleagues and mentors).
Teaching Consultations
Confidential, one-on-one consultations can address all aspects of course instruction, including:
- Syllabus development and course design
- Student engagement strategies
- Assessment methods and grading practices
- Classroom management techniques
Utilize Teaching Consultations to help target areas of growth and development
Individual consultations at the Reinert Center offer a non-evaluative, confidential space for reflection on your teaching. The ideas and topics you develop in these conversations can help you engage in more meaningful interactions with mentors and strengthen your advising relationships. All graduate students can schedule a consultation at anytime by completing the following form: Schedule a consultation
Teaching Feedback Services
Formative confidential feedback designed to help you reflect on your relationship with teaching through:
- Classroom observations with detailed feedback
- Mid-semester student focus groups (SIGFs)
- Video Review of Teaching
Incorporate feedback to help focus discussions about your development
Although feedback from the Reinert Center is confidential and non-evaluative, it can be a valuable tool to help identify areas of growth and development. As a resource for self-assessment, teaching observations and student feedback can also help spark reflective dialogue with mentors.
Pedagogical Resources
The Center’s website includes numerous self-directed resources addressing key teaching topics:
- Inclusive classroom practices
- Syllabus design principles
- Ignatian pedagogical approaches
- Supporting international students
- Teaching and learning in the age of genAI
- Assessment strategies
Utilize resources to help focus mentoring needs.
Our online resource library provides practical tips and strategies to support your teaching and professional growth. These resources can also serve as a springboard for more focused discussions with mentors.
Getting Started
Graduate students can begin utilizing these resources immediately. The combination of structured programming, personalized support, objective feedback, and self-directed learning creates multiple pathways for professional growth.
Visit the Reinert Center’s website or contact us directly (cttl@slu.edu | 314-977-3944) to learn more about our services.
References
Felten, P., & Lambert, L. M. (2020). Relationship-rich education: How human connections drive success in college. Johns Hopkins University Press.
University of Michigan, Rackham Graduate School. (2024). Graduate student mentoring guide: A guide for students. https://rackham.umich.edu/downloads/student-mentoring-handbook.pdf
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