Faculty Mentors

Faculty engagement is central to STEP at Ohio State. Research shows that meaningful interaction with faculty—both in and beyond the classroom—is a key predictor of student success. STEP fosters an environment where faculty and students build enriching connections that promote academic, intellectual, personal, and professional development. 

Each STEP mentor is matched with a cohort of up to 15 second-year students, guiding them through the exploration of education-enhancing experiences, fostering belonging through one-on-one and group interactions, and supporting their transition to career-ready professionals in an evolving global landscape.  

Faculty selected to serve as STEP mentors are expected to engage in a structured set of responsibilities and are provided compensation in recognition of their contributions. This includes:  

• Delivering a structured curriculum in 90-minute weekly cohort meetings during the Fall semester.  

• Guiding mentees through at least three individual or group meetings during the Spring semester to prepare a STEP Signature Project proposal, for which eligible tranformational experiences may receive up to $2,000 in STEP funding. 

• Participating in two STEP workshops during the Fall semester, one workshop in the Spring semester, and one end-of-year faculty mentor professional development and recognition event.  

• Serve as a reviewer of student projects at one STEP Expo each year