What is Midwest Experiences in Mentoring Excellence?
Midwest Experiences in Mentoring Excellence (MEME) is a collaborative, multi-institutional initiative funded by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) aimed at deepening the support network for underrepresented scholars and increasing diversity among STEM faculty through culturally responsive mentoring.
As a part of Aspire Alliance's IChange network, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis along with Ball State University, Cleveland State University, Iowa State University, Michigan State University, and University of Cincinnati are working collectively to provide improved mentoring experiences for faculty from underrepresented groups.
The main aim of this initiative is to help advance the Aspire Alliance’s efforts to deepen the preparation of all STEM faculty to be inclusive and effective in their teaching, research mentoring, and advising; diversify the faculty through effective recruitment, hiring, and retention; and foster institutional cultures that recognize and value inclusivity and diversity broadly, and in the context of STEM faculty work specifically.
Our Goals
1) Make available culturally responsive mentor training to all STEM faculty with mentoring responsibilities.
2) Transform current departmental mentoring practices by leveraging and consolidating resources within a regional collective.
3) Increase satisfaction among underrepresented faculty by mitigating experiences of vulnerability when there are too few underrepresented mentees and/or mentors in a given department.