Assessment of the mentoring relationship between the faculty and graduate students at Purdue University

Purdue University is world renowned for many of its graduate programs. In 2006-2007 academic year, there were more than 7,000 graduate students enrolled at Purdue University[1], West Lafayette campus and about 2,000 tenure track faculty worked with these graduate students both in Master and Ph.D. level. Several studies on the relationship between graduate student and their advisors have been conducted in the past. These studies are concerned with various issues affecting the mentoring relationship. However, there has never been a study on this mentoring relationship specifically at Purdue University. This project is a study of the mentor relationship between mentor and mentee, or faculty and graduate students at Purdue University. Graduate students were invited to participate in the survey through email. The survey was conducted online anonymously. This study consists of quantitative and qualitative analysis. The existing mentoring relationships are identified in order to see what types of relationship are beneficial and not beneficial. Statistical analysis is provided to support the findings. Results of this study clarify perceived problems between the faculty and graduate students and identify what the faculty and graduate students expect from each other, and what they need to improve their relationship.