A faculty member's first year is a demanding one, yet there has been no institutional program to support faculty during this time.
New faculty find few sources of assistance.
The new professor may find a helpful department chair or supporting senior colleague, but this assistance is more likely the result of good fortune than good planning. Recently, there is talk of providing new faculty with systematic assistance to enable them to meet the expectations which have been set for them in terms of instruction, publication, community service , and other accomplishments. The usual role of a mentor as teacher, advisor, guide, is valuable. Yet for obvious reasons mentors, good and not so good, are hard to find. Not many senior faculty are willing to make the kind of sacrifice that the role of mentor requires.