The Robert M. and Jan Randoph Mentoring Program

Complete the Randolph Mentoring Program application which is available here.

The Randolph Mentoring Program Applicant must provide evidence of enrollment in a doctoral program that begins no later than the fall of the application year or is no closer than 2 years from graduating from a doctoral program.

Applicants must submit an essay that includes:

• A description of the formative connection within the tradition of the Churches of Christ and spiritual journey of the applicant.
• A description of a career goal of becoming a faculty member in higher education.
• A description of commitment to engaging in the program and its goals.
• A reference letter with contact information who can comment on the applicant's academic development. (An online form may be used.)
• A reference letter with contact information who can comment on the applicant's spiritual development and formative connection to the Churches of Christ. (An online form may be used.)

• Each year a cohort of mentees will be recruited in the late fall and seated in the summer.
• Cohort sizes will depend on the availability of funding.
• When possible, efforts will be made to pair mentors and mentees with the same or similar disciplines for the purpose of facilitating discussion related to the academic discipline, related professional practice, networking among colleagues, department specific expectations, and classroom discussions.
• Efforts will be made to attain substantial cohort and mentee diversity in respect to gender, race, and academic disciplines.

Member universities may offer a one-year Faculty Fellow appointment for persons in the third year of the Randolph Mentoring Program. The appointment will be for a reduced course load, providing time to write the dissertation at the same time that the Faculty Fellow and the university evaluate their mutual fit. Faculty Fellows will be given the opportunity to teach undergraduate majors within their academic field as they contribute to the campus’ scholarly community and engage the culture of a faith based university. Faculty Fellow opportunities at participating universities will vary based on academic needs and involve a competitive application process.

In order for the Randolph Mentoring Program to endorse Faculty Fellows Programs potentially offered by member universities, such programs should meet the following guidelines:

• Mentees apply for the fellow positions in a competitive process.
• Appointment is for one academic year as defined by the institution.
• The appointment comes with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of new full-time faculty.
• Funding for the position’s salary and benefits is provided by the participating university.
• The appointment includes a reduced teaching course load at the undergraduate level within the Faculty Fellow’s academic discipline.
• Faculty Fellows are expected to contribute to the campus scholarly community the same as any new full-time faculty member at the host university.
• The host institution provides reasonable opportunities for the Faculty Fellow to learn about and interact with the institutional culture of a Church of Christ affiliated university.
• Teaching load, class enrollments, and other work assignments constitute a reasonable workload for a fellow who is simultaneously working to complete a dissertation and doctoral degree or engaging in post-doctoral research.
• An optional second year Faculty Fellow’s appointment may be extended by the host institution if mutually desired and agreed upon with the Faculty Fellow.
• To participate in the Faculty Fellow Program, a mentee must be eligible for employment within the United States.
• Mentees with multiple Faculty Fellow offers from participating universities should consult with their mentor in making the decision about which offer to accept.

• Mentors must be approved by the Program Director in consultation with the Board..
• Must be a senior scholar, with a strong academic record, and accumulated life experience equipping them to engage in an effective ongoing mentoring relationship.
• Must have a lengthy formative connection within the tradition of the Churches of Christ.
• Must be supportive of the mission of Church of Christ affiliated universities.
• Efforts will be made to attain substantial diversity among mentors in respect to gender, race, and academic disciplines.
• A program training document will be provided to approved mentors detailing the theological underpinnings of the mentoring program.

The Randolph Mentoring Program operates on the generous contributions of participating institutions and donors. The program will operate as funding allows. Should funding be projected to run short of expenses during a given fiscal year, then mentees and mentors will be notified of the discontinuance of program reimbursement as far in advance as possible. 

• Mentors and mentees may submit detailed expense receipts to the Program Director (or designee) for approved registration, travel, and food expense reimbursement. Detailed receipts must include itemization of expenses incurred (NOT just the credit card receipt).
• Air travel costs submitted for program reimbursement should be kept as reasonable as possible and be for general seating only. Extra expenses for priority seating such as business class or exit rows should be covered by the mentor or mentee and are not eligible for program reimbursement.
• Hotel costs submitted for reimbursement should be at locations recommended by the conference or host institution and should be for a general room. Extra expenses for preferred rooms, suites, or amenities should be covered by the mentor or mentee and are not eligible for program reimbursement.
• Program resources are limited and mentor or mentee expenses that are eligible to be charged to their institution’s professional development budget should NOT be submitted for reimbursement from the Randolph Mentoring Program.

• Member institutions must have a historic relation and maintain a formative connection within the tradition of the Churches of Christ.
• Member institutions will provide an appropriate and equitable amount for a three-year commitment to the Randolph Mentoring Program.
• Member institutions may renew their program commitment every three years.
• Each university will provide a comprehensive list of their university’s recent graduates currently enrolled in a terminal degree program (PhD emphasized), so that they may be informed of this program and its mission and benefits.
• Each year, the Randolph Mentoring Program Director will inform participating universities of mentees who will have completed two years of the Randolph Mentoring Program, completed their doctoral coursework, and who will be entering the dissertation stage of their doctoral program (the timing of these elements may be reasonably negotiated between the host institution and the mentee).
• Participating institutions may seek to extend a Faculty Fellow appointment to interested and eligible mentees. This is optional and pending each institution’s funding availability as well as the ability for the institution to match a fellowship with a qualified mentee’s academic discipline.

Each participating institution will appoint and maintain one faculty representative to serve on the Randolph Mentoring Program Board, which is responsible for establishing and overseeing the mission and vision of the program and provide regular oversight of the program’s financial resources and programming. The board will meet a minimum of one time each semester during the academic year.

The Board will appoint a Program Director who must be a representative from a participating institution and who will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the program’s implementation, approving program-related expenditures, and ensuring that the program operates within its financial resources. The Director may recruit and appoint coordinators for program-related events and activities, such as the annual retreat. The director will serve one-year terms and be reviewed annually by the board following the program’s annual retreat, with potential for reappointment if willing to continue to serve. 

• The Program Director will oversee the application, acceptance, engagement, and performance of mentees and mentors in consultation with the Board and make determinations about their eligibility for ongoing participation in the program when necessary. Mentors, mentees, and applicants may submit a written appeal of any decision by the Program Director to the Randolph Mentoring Program Board. The Board’s decision about appeals will be communicated in writing by the Board and will be final.
• Lipscomb University will be the participating institution with responsibility for hosting the program’s fund account, which facilitates all revenues and expenses for the program.
• The director will provide an annual accounting of the financials of the program to the Board.

Board Members

• Dr. Trace Hebert, Lipscomb University, Randolph Mentoring Program Director
• amorris14 [at] harding.edu (Dr. Andrea Morris), Harding University
• mwh00c [at] acu.edu (Dr. Mark Hamilton), Abilene Christian University
• kindy.delong [at] pepperdine.edu (Dr. Kindy Delong), Pepperdine University
• dsteil [at] harding.edu (Dr. Dana Steil), Harding University
• jeff.simmons [at] oc.edu (Dr. Jeff Simmons), Oklahoma Christian University