Philosophy
Faculty mentors are a group of faculty and staff interested in
furthering the integration of the student-athlete within the ideals
and mission of the Institute. These committed individuals believe
that athletics play an integral role in the mission of our
university, and that athletic participation is meaningful and
valuable, meeting essential needs in the health and development of
the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. Faculty mentors
provide an additional resource across all areas of the Institute
– faculty, administration, staff, students and coaches
– in encouraging and reinforcing the ties between the
athletic and academic pursuits of the student-athlete. Faculty
mentors are role models who willingly connect to student-athletes
to provide support through additional counsel and advice when
specific issues arise, particularly in the areas of social issues
and academics. Mentors are dedicated to the idea of building a
harmonious connection between the academic, athletic and social
cultures of our campus.
Faculty
Mentors:
- Are interested in the integration of student-athletes within
the mission of the Institute
- Believe that athletics play an integral role in the mission of
the Institute, and that athletic participation is meaningful and
valuable
- Provide another resource for student-athletes as they balance
achieving success in academics and athletics
- Are role models who connect with student-athletes to provide
support and engagement both in academics and transition to college
life
Suggestions for
Faculty Mentor Interactions with Student-Athletes and
Coaches:
- Attend team practice(s)
- Attend home events or travel to an away event
- Eat pre-game meal with the team
- Attend a team meeting to discuss ways to balance participation
on an athletic team and achieve academic success
- Provide student-athletes and coaches a contact for academic
questions
- Attend end of the season banquet/celebration
- Participate in team's service projects(s)
- Attend team social events (cook outs, movie night, etc.)
Typical time commitment for the faculty member will vary
according to the relationship developed with the team, but will be
at least 10 hours per semester. Some faculty members, however,
develop deep, lasting, and committed relationships with the teams,
and spend even more time with student-athletes and coaches.
If you are interested in becoming a faculty mentor, please don't
hesitate to contact us:
Lauren Haynie (haynie@mit.edu) – Special
Assistant to the Athletic Director/Department Head
Henry (Hank) Smith (hismith@mit.edu) – Professor
Emeritus, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science
Nathan Varady (nvarady@mit.edu) –
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
