BRAINS: Broadening the Representation of Academic Investigators in NeuroScience is a National Institutes of Health-funded, national program that addresses challenges to the persistence of diverse early-career neuroscientists. In doing so, BRAINS aims to advance diversity in neuroscience by increasing career advancement and retention of post-PhD,…

Nurse-intern programs, facilitating the transition from student to staff nurse, have flourished. The author presents a study of these programs, revealing how they are structured as well as areas of common concern. (Author)

Describes a career entry program for adolescents entering the work force. The 12-step procedure is organized in four phases: preliminary; resume; search; and interview. A flowchart of career entry strategy and a career data worksheet are included. (Author/BEF)

A Washington University (Missouri) law school program for new faculty has four elements: a publication, "Things I Wish I Had Known as a New Faculty Member"; orientation sessions on teaching, creating and grading exams, pursuing scholarship, and dealing with law reviews; formal mentoring; and a detailed question-and-answer memo about the…

Kennesaw State College (Georgia) has developed initiatives to enhance leadership and team-building skills of classified employees. The programs include a staff leadership training course, open to 20-24 employees annually, and the Staff Training and Orientation Program (STOP) to provide new employees with information about the institution in an…

Discusses how the New England College of Optometry has expanded clinical education so graduates are equipped to handle new and advanced clinical and patient-care responsibilities and meet the changing standards of professional entry-level competency. The reform process, third- and fourth-year curriculum components, rotations, and plans for…

A Finnish program of professional development among entry-level teachers over one year used teacher portfolios to promote reflection and self-assessment on teaching experiences. Developmental essays written by participating teachers were analyzed for their reflectiveness, degree of professional autonomy, and focus on contextual factors and…

In January 2004, the National Collaboration for Youth approved a list of core competencies needed by entry-level youth development workers for effective youth development practice. This chapter provides an overview of these competencies, explaining why and how the list was created, outcomes, and recommendations for next steps. (Contains 13 notes.)

A program in a public research university to provide mentoring for new female faculty beginning on entry to the institution is described. The program emphasizes individual professional development and institutional factors influencing women's advancement. Activities include colleague-pairing, mentor training, a mentoring agreement, and career…

Use of peer mentoring to improve college instruction and the concept of mutual mentoring are discussed, drawing on four faculty mentoring projects in which mentor faculty were paired with other teachers to develop new, alternative teaching methods/materials or gain new knowledge. Cross-disciplinary mentoring and mutual faculty benefits are…

A program for newly appointed lecturers in general practice at the University of Leicester's (England) medical school focuses on development of both teaching and assessment skills and encourages self-appraisal. Participant progress is monitored by direct evaluation and video-recording, with regular feedback an important feature. (Author/MSE)