Governing bodies talk of importance of mentoring
Student Government Association, Faculty Senate and Staff Assembly met Tuesday to discuss how to increase mentoring at TCU, among other topics.
By Amy Johnson
Staff Reporter

Bob Bolen, senior advisor to the chancellor and former mayor of Fort Worth, said Tuesday that mentoring is rewarding for both the mentor and the student at the second ever joint meeting between the Faculty Senate, Staff Assembly and Student Government Association.

“Being a mentor is the icing on the cake for me,” he said. “When you (as a student) get a mentor who really cares, it’s one of the greatest advantages you will get from school.”

Peggy Watson, the Faculty Senate chairwoman, said mentoring was chosen as the main topic because it was one of the reoccuring themes from the joint meeting last semester. The three organizations held a joint meeting last spring in an attempt to brainstorm solutions for campus issues. After Bolen’s speech, participants broke into groups to discuss the importance of an effective mentoring program at TCU.

Mentors voice their experiences so students can skip the bad things in life and get to the good ones, Bolen said.

“You have to give before you get,” he said. “That means students have to learn to listen.”

Emily Burgwyn, director of Student Affairs Information Services, said “mentoring brings students out of their cocoon.”

“It helps them find the outside of their box and enables them to see what’s out there,” she said.

Cornell Thomas, special assistant to the chancellor for diversity and community, said mentoring is one of the core missions of TCU.

“Personal interaction is very important,” he said. “It’s one of the reasons we’re trying to lower enrollment.”

Karen Baker, Staff Assembly chairwoman, said one issue that came out of the meeting last semester was a campus daycare for faculty, staff and students.

Bonnie Melhart, chairwoman of the daycare committee, gave a brief presentation on the progress of the committee.

The daycare committee has visited local universities and corporations such as Motorola, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Arlington, Bright Horizons, KinderCare and Zale Corporation to research their daycare facilities, she said.

“A proposal to SGA, Faculty Senate, Staff Assembly and (Chancellor Michael) Ferrari is expected before the end of this semester,” Melhart said.

Amy Johnson