Undergraduate Research Mentorship

Communication and alignment of expectations is critical in research mentorship and can help foster ethical research. One way this can be achieved is through a Mentor-Mentee Agreement/Compact. The guiding principle of these documents are intended to support the development of a positive mentoring relationship between the student and their research mentor. A successful student-mentor relationship requires commitment from the student, mentor, graduate program, and institution.

Some helpful information to include in your mentorship agreements include:

• Learning objectives for undergraduate researchers
• Project goals and anticipated outcomes
• Timeline of activities and meetings
• Training requirements and plans
• Communication preference and contact information
• Expectations and cultural norms
• Compliance procedures and ethics
• Authorship and plans for dissemination (conferences, publications, etc.)

Example Documents: