No matter how formal or informal your agreements with your mentors, as you progress through your program you might need to revisit the roles and responsibilities each of you has assumed. Some responsibilities that pertain to students and to faculty members are matters of departmental policy and are not negotiable. Nonetheless, you should fully explore your expectations of each other on several dimensions.

If the person you consider a mentor is also your advisor or thesis/dissertation chair, key dimensions to discuss include:

Develop a work plan that includes short- and long-term goals within reasonable (achievable) timelines. Talk with your mentor and your graduate program coordinator to make sure these plans meet departmental requirements. At least once a quarter, update your mentor on your progress, as well as any obstacles you have encountered. Explore additional training and experience you need in order to achieve your goals. If you need to modify your timeline, work with your mentor to agree on a new work plan.

Discuss how often you and your mentor will meet, and what other modes of communication can keep your conversations going (e.g., occasional e-mails). Be sure you request the amount of meeting time you believe you need to progress on your goals. If your mentor will have a heavy travel schedule or go on sabbatical during the time you are pursuing your degree, ask him or her to suggest other people or resources you can consult during that time. While a mentoring relationship is one of mutuality, be prepared to lead meetings with an agenda to maximize your time together. Finally, find out under what circumstances, if any, the mentor feels it is appropriate to be called at home, and let him or her know if you can be called at home, too.

Clarify how often the mentor will be able to give you feedback on your work and your progress, including how long he or she typically needs to return papers or drafts of articles. Inquire about his or her current workload so you can plan your deadlines appropriately, and offer sufficient lead time when handing in your work. Ask the mentor if he or she tends to provide lots of feedback or sparse feedback, so that you will know what to expect.

Agree in advance on the best way to remind the professor about getting your work back to you. For instance, you can ask: "When you are very busy, how should I remind you about a paper of mine that you have? Should I e-mail you, call you, or come by your office? How much in advance should I remind you — one week ahead, or would you prefer two?"

Discuss your mentor's expectations for drafts of your work before you submit them for feedback. Some professors prefer not to receive very rough drafts and might suggest you share those with a trusted peer or writing group, and revise them before handing them in. When it comes to successive revisions, help your mentor be more expedient by highlighting the revised sections with each document version.

Find out your mentor's philosophy about presenting or co-authoring papers. Whether he or she is a senior or junior faculty member might influence the response. Nonetheless, be explicit about the kinds of publishing or presentation opportunities you seek. You may be able to work out a plan that alternates credit for first and second authorship (or first and second presenters) depending on the nature of the joint project and the roles you might play over time.

If you are working closely with a mentor on a research project, clarify who owns the data being collected and whether others will be able to have access to them. Consideration for the ownership and sharing of research is important in all disciplines. Discuss the ownership of any copyright and patent agreements that might result from a project. For further information, contact the UNL Office of Research.

All research involving human subjects performed or supervised by UNL faculty, staff, or students must be reviewed by the UNL Research Compliance Office. It is your obligation as a researcher to seek Human Subjects review and approval prior to the beginning of research activities. Research with human subjects cannot be retroactively reviewed and approved. Moreover, performing a human subjects study without prior review and approval is considered "serious non-compliance" according to federal regulations, and must be brought to a full Institutional Review Board for inquiry and action. More information is available from the Office of Research Responsibility.

Students and mentors who develop close relationships sometimes discuss confidential issues. Be explicit about the confidentiality you want your mentors to offer you regarding touchy or sensitive issues you might speak about, and offer strict confidentiality to your mentor. An exception to confidentiality is the obligation of all UNL employees, including graduate assistants, to report instances of sexual harassment to organizational superiors.

Before you approach the job search phase of your graduate experience, think about the letters of recommendation you might need and identify people in the best position to speak to your abilities and achievements. Ask how much advance notice your mentors like to receive for a recommendation letter, and how you can remind them. Be sure to provide key details about the fellowship, grant, program, or job the letter of recommendation supports. Attach an updated copy of your curriculum vitae, highlighting key sections. You should ask one or more mentors to visit the classes you teach or labs you run so they can reflect knowledgeably on your professional abilities.