Suggested Topics for Mentors and Their Mentees

Mentees: Use this list to help you think of questions for your mentor during your mentoring sessions. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of topics that you work your way through during the mentoring year, just a resource of possible topics if you aren't sure what to ask. You don't know what you don't know, and that's okay!

If you come across additional topics you think should be added to this list, please email Eleanor Baker at eafrede2@ncsu.edu

• Organizational Development
  • Daily planning (calendars)
  • Organizing work area
  • Setting up files, Google Drive
  • Handling (returning) phone calls/e-mails
  • Office staff relationships (with co-workers, COSS, etc.)
• 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 (if applicable)
  • Accounts for program funds (varies depending on the county)
• 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 (needs assessment, program planning)
  • County program delivery system
  • Utilizing Extension specialists and other resources
  • Utilizing volunteers
  • Delivery methods
  • Evaluation and reporting
  • Networking with other agencies/associations/departments
  • Co-sponsoring of programs with other agencies/departments
• 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 stakeholders, local government 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
  • Graduate coursework and/or advanced degrees (using the UNC system tuition waiver)
  • 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 a County Advisory Council
    • Guidance for how to create (if necessary) and work with a Program Advisory Committee
• 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