Mentored Experience Requirements (MERs)
As part of the university-wide degree requirements, PhD students and some master’s programs (i.e., MFA in Writing and MFA in Dance) at WashU must complete program-defined Mentored Experience Requirements (MERs). The MERs is an accomplishment that is noted on the student’s academic record when complete. Each program established a Mentored Experience Implementation Plan (MEIP) in which required MERs units and pathways for completion are defined and specified in the Bulletin.
Students are advised by their program to plan their assignments and chosen pathways each semester until the MER is completed. Program advisor titles differ by school and program. Some program advisor titles may include Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), Director or Associate Director of Doctoral Studies (DDS or DADS), Graduate Academic Coordinator (GAC)/Graduate Program Administrator (GPA) or Program Coordinator.
Mentored Experience Implementation Plans (MEIPs)
A MEIP is a program-defined plan for students to complete their MERs and engage in Mentored Teaching Experiences (MTE) and/or Mentored Professional Experiences (MPEs). All MEIPs include:
- Philosophy related to the role of teaching or professional experiences;
- Preparatory engagement required before engaging in MTE;
- Approved pathways by your program that specify the number of MTE or MPE units required to complete the MERs.
Mentored Teaching Experiences consist of semester-long assignments as either an Assistant in Instruction (AI) or a Mentored Independent Teacher (MIT).
Mentored Professional Experience (MPE) are offered by some programs as part of their plan. MPE’s are unpaid experiences that allow students to develop skills and experiences relevant to their intended career outcomes.
No student is allowed to do an MTE or MPE in the same semester and students should not engage in more than 20 MER units cumulatively within a semester.
Programs may offer optional Teaching Intensive Pathways (TIP) or Professional Intensive Pathways (PIP) for students who want to continue to build on the MER requirements after meeting the standard requirement.
To learn specific details about MEIP elements or to find your program’s MEIP, see the Bulletin. Each program provides additional detail under its program degree requirements page.
Resources and Forms
- Student Guide (PDF)
- Student Guide (Downloadable Word document for program or school to customize)
- PDF Fillable Forms
- MTE Mentoring Plan (for AI or MIT assignments)
- Guide for Faculty and Staff Administrators (Coming Soon)
- Workday Help for Students
- Workday Help for Faculty or Staff Advisors or Administrative Staff