The NDSU Ag Affairs Mentor Program is a formal mentor program designed to enhance career development, networking opportunities, and employee recruitment and retention. New staff members will have the opportunity to be mentored. The mentor program is open to Extension agents, Extension specialists, research scientists on and off campus, and tenure/non-tenure faculty.

The purpose of this program is to address the NDSU Ag Affairs Strategic Plan goal: Increase the investment in Ag Affairs team members to maximize job satisfaction and quality of research, teaching and Extension programming provided to students and stakeholders.

If you are interested in becoming an Ag Affairs mentor, please fill out the application at https://forms.gle/EKMkcSy51pex7b2o7. Part of the application process is to complete a personality assessment (https://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/)and provide your results. These results will be used to match mentors/mentees.  

Qualifications and expectations of an Ag Affairs mentor are:  

• Minimum of three years of service in current position 
• Complete the face-to-face mentor training on campus April 8-9, 2024 
• Commit to mentoring a new Ag Affairs staff member for 12 months 
• Complete three-month, six-month and 12-month evaluations 
• Approval from supervisor 

Benefits of becoming an Ag Affairs mentor are:  

• Formal mentorship training 
• Opportunity to grow professionally and personally 
• A $1,500 stipend for completing the 12-month mentor relationship 

For questions about the Ag Affairs Mentor Program, contact Shana Forster, 701-857-6779, shana.forster@ndsu.edu.