Maxims for Mentoring.

This paper describes five maxims for an effective faculty mentoring program developed at Western Carolina University (North Carolina) designed to increase retention of new faculty. The first maxim, "ask what the program will do for the school," emphasizes that a program should not be undertaken until this question has been specifically and thoroughly answered. This section notes that at Western Carolina University (WCU) the mentoring program was set up to help new faculty and their families. typically from urban areas, adjust to a rural southern lifestyle. A description of the second maxim, "formality follows functionality," details how the WCU planners designed the function of their program and then let the content of the elements influence their decision about administrative policies and procedures. The third maxim, "choices increase chances for compatibility," discusses the central importance of the matching procedures that bring suitable mentors and mentees together. The fourth maxim, "helpers need helping too," shows the importance of support for mentors in manuals and support groups. The final maxim, "hindsight improves foresight," discusses the value of evaluation after the program's first year of operation. Three figures are included. (JB)