Identifying mentors for student employees on campus

Abstract

Purpose – This exploratory research project aims to seek an effective process for identifying supervisors of part-time student employees who also serve in a mentoring capacity. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a review of literature and an evaluation process focused on established traits and functions of mentoring as applied to supervisors of student employees on a college campus. Findings – Supervisors of student employees may have the desire and capacity to engage students on a higher level but are not viewed and supported to meet this need based on their position within the organization. Untapped resources are being overlooked that would develop the supervisor and the student while advancing the overall institutional mission. Research limitations/implications – A study identifying mentors for part-time undergraduate student employees in higher education settings was necessary as a precursor to future research on the human resource development needs of professional staff in higher education. Practical implications – The results of this study confirmed that the approach utilized for identifying mentors through specific traits is effective and that common barriers exist across the institution that negatively impact supervisors from serving as mentors. These results will be used to address future research related to the value of training and educating the supervisors of undergraduate student employees on college campuses. Originality/value – Research exists on 360 evaluative processes, mentoring and the benefits of student development outside the classroom, but no research could be identified that addressed the opportunities of using this approach to potentially resolve organizational issues.