Suggested Topics for Mentors and Their Mentees

• Organizational Development
  • Daily planning (calendars)
  • Organizing work area
  • Setting up personal files
  • Handling (returning) phone calls/e-mails
  • Paperwork
  • Office staff relationships (with co-workers, COSS, etc.)
  • Guidance and advice with completing the Field Faculty Guide and Online Onboarding
• Organizational Structure
  • Organizational charts for the district and county and Extension overall
  • Policies and procedures for the district, county and as a university employee
  • Roles and job descriptions within the district, county and Extension
• Financial Management
  • Budget management
  • Spending procedures
  • Grants/alternative funding
  • Reimbursement process
  • Accounts
• Time Management
  • Scheduling meetings and programs
  • Mail, e-mail
  • Office conferences
  • Volunteer utilization
  • Reporting (ERS)
  • Deadlines
  • Farm/home visits (purpose; techniques; approaches)
  • How to set priorities
  • Utilizing calendar and managing events/programmatic activities
  • Balancing job and family
• Programming
  • Program techniques
  • Program development process (advisory systems; impact planning and evaluation)
  • Programming for special audiences (disabled, migrant, senior)
  • County delivery system
  • Utilizing extension specialists and other resources
  • Utilizing volunteers
  • Delivery methods
  • Evaluation; thank you notes; reporting
  • Networking with other agencies/associations/departments
  • Co-sponsoring of programs with other agencies/
• Public Relations/Marketing
  • Marketing programs and activities
  • Community involvement
  • Newsletters/news articles
  • Impact/success stories
  • Relationships with co-workers
  • Relationships with local media
  • Relationships with volunteers
  • Professional image
  • Customer service
  • Relationships with key leaders (county and state officials)
  • Response to clients
  • How to respond to sensitive situations
  • Conflict resolution
  • Professionalism
• Professional Development
  • Membership in agent and appropriate professional associations
  • Public service promotion
  • Advanced degrees
  • In-service trainings and educational opportunities
  • Self-directed study (community workshops; continuing education classes)
  • Extension Title Promotion System
  • List of relevant specialists to contact
• Volunteer Management/Advisory Leadership Council
  • Risk management issues involving volunteers, programs and clubs
  • Volunteer recruitment and management
  • Delegation of tasks to volunteers
  • Guidance for how to work with an Advisory Leadership Council
• Resource Development
  • Identifying external mentors
  • External agency contacts
  • Local leader identification
  • Office reference materials
  • Schedule meetings with relevant specialists and develop discussion topics
• Other
  • Challenges of being a new agent/program assistant
  • The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Vision and Mission
  • Extension cultural norms