Continuing Mentorship
Statement of Understanding
Phenomenology of Practice Project (PoPP)
Purpose of Continuing Mentorship
Continuing Mentorship offers an opportunity for sustained conversation and guidance for graduate students, researchers, educators, and others engaged in phenomenological inquiry and writing.
Unlike a single consultation, mentorship allows a relationship to develop over time. As the mentor becomes familiar with a participant's research question, developing writing, and methodological concerns, conversations can return to earlier questions, consider emerging possibilities, and follow the changing direction of the inquiry.
The intention is to provide thoughtful, individualized guidance grounded in the phenomenology of practice tradition, while recognizing that each participant brings particular experiences, interests, and circumstances to the work.
Nature and Scope of the Arrangement
Continuing Mentorship is ordinarily offered as an initial three-month arrangement, with the possibility of renewal by mutual agreement.
The arrangement includes:
Two scheduled 60-minute online conversations each month, ordinarily spaced approximately two weeks apart.
Opportunities to discuss developing phenomenological writing, research questions, methodological concerns, philosophical sources, and interpretive possibilities.
Reading of up to three double-spaced pages of preparatory material before each meeting, where appropriate.
Continuity of conversation and guidance as the inquiry develops.
Meetings are conversational and responsive rather than prescribed in advance. Participants are encouraged to identify the questions or concerns that would be most helpful to explore.
Mentorship does not ordinarily include extensive manuscript review, detailed written feedback, copyediting, or ongoing correspondence between meetings. Substantial written responses may be arranged separately through PoPP's Reading and Responding to Writing offering.
The Rhythm of Inquiry and Writing
Phenomenological inquiry does not always unfold according to a predictable schedule. There may be periods of sustained writing and discovery, as well as times when a participant encounters uncertainty, difficulty, competing responsibilities, or a sense of being unable to move forward.
New writing is not required for every meeting.
A mentoring conversation may involve considering a new passage, returning to earlier writing, revisiting previous feedback, discussing a philosophical source, or exploring a question that has emerged since the last conversation.
Participants are encouraged to take an active role in determining how each meeting might best support their inquiry. The intention is to establish a dependable rhythm of engagement without treating the production of new writing as the sole measure of progress.
Preparation and Communication
Where participants wish to share writing or other preparatory material, up to three double-spaced pages may be submitted at least three working days before a scheduled meeting.
This material is intended to orient and inform the conversation. It does not include a separate written review or annotated response.
Brief correspondence concerning scheduling, clarification of arrangements, or the focus of an upcoming meeting is welcome. Substantive methodological consultation, extended discussion of writing, and detailed feedback ordinarily take place during scheduled meetings.
Scheduling, Rescheduling, and Missed Meetings
Meeting dates will be arranged in advance, with reasonable consideration for participants' professional commitments and time zones.
Participants are asked to provide at least 48 hours' notice when requesting a change to a scheduled meeting. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate unexpected circumstances, subject to availability.
Where sufficient notice is provided, a meeting may be rescheduled by mutual agreement within the same monthly period, where scheduling permits.
A participant's need for additional writing time does not ordinarily require postponement. Meetings may proceed without new writing and can provide an opportunity to explore difficulties, questions, or emerging directions.
Missed meetings and unused meeting time do not ordinarily carry forward into subsequent months. Where PoPP is unable to provide an agreed meeting, an alternative date will be offered or an appropriate refund or credit arranged.
Fees and Payment
The fee for Continuing Mentorship is CAD $300 per month. The initial three-month arrangement therefore has a total anticipated cost of CAD $900 if completed.
Participants may authorize automatic monthly payments at the beginning of the arrangement. Where this option is selected, payments will be collected on the agreed dates, with a courtesy reminder ordinarily sent seven days before each subsequent charge.
Participants may discontinue mentorship before the end of the three-month period by notifying PoPP at least 48 hours before the next scheduled charge. No further payments will be collected following timely notice of withdrawal.
The initial arrangement and its associated automatic payments will conclude after three months. Renewal is not automatic and requires mutual agreement and renewed payment authorization.
Payment arrangements, scheduled charges, and any applicable taxes will be confirmed before mentorship begins.
Ending or Renewing Mentorship
The initial three-month period is intended to provide continuity for the developing inquiry rather than impose a fixed financial obligation.
Participants may discontinue mentorship if their academic, professional, personal, or financial circumstances change. They are not required to provide a reason for withdrawing.
Where a participant withdraws before the next scheduled monthly charge, no fee will be collected for that subsequent month, provided the agreed notice period has been met.
Where a participant withdraws during a month already paid for, any refund will take account of meetings and preparation already provided, individual circumstances, and applicable law.
Either party may request to conclude the mentoring relationship. If PoPP is unable to continue providing the agreed mentorship, any unused prepaid services will be refunded.
Renewal will depend upon the participant's developing needs, the usefulness of the mentoring relationship, and the mentor's availability. Any continuation, including its duration, meeting arrangements, and fee, will be agreed upon in advance.
Privacy, Confidentiality, and Mentoring Records
Materials shared during mentorship, including developing writing, research questions, and the substance of conversations, will be treated confidentially and used only for the purposes of the agreed mentoring relationship, except where disclosure is required by law.
Brief mentoring records may be maintained to preserve continuity between meetings. These may include questions discussed, guidance offered, directions considered, and matters agreed upon for future attention.
Meetings will not be recorded without the express agreement of both parties.
Mentoring records, submitted writing, preparatory materials, and related correspondence within PoPP's control will ordinarily be deleted within 30 days after the mentoring relationship concludes. Where an arrangement ends early, this period begins when the arrangement is formally closed.
Copies retained in third-party backups may remain subject to the provider's retention practices. Financial and administrative records required for legal or tax purposes may be retained separately.
Participants are asked to anonymize identifying information about research participants or other third parties unless appropriate authorization has been obtained.
Academic Responsibility and Independence
Continuing Mentorship is an independent educational offering. It is not affiliated with a university and does not constitute formal academic supervision, institutional assessment, or professional accreditation.
Where a participant is enrolled in a graduate research program, mentorship is intended to complement, rather than replace, the responsibilities and guidance of their appointed supervisor or supervisory committee.
Participants retain full responsibility for their research decisions, writing, academic integrity, and compliance with the requirements of their institution.
Mentorship offers possibilities for reflection and development. It does not guarantee a particular research outcome, degree progression, publication, or acceptance of a manuscript.
Mutual Understanding
Continuing Mentorship is grounded in a shared commitment to thoughtful inquiry, respectful conversation, and the developing possibilities of phenomenological research and writing.
Before beginning, the participant and mentor will confirm the scope of the arrangement, meeting schedule, fees, payment authorization, and any particular circumstances requiring consideration.
Participation indicates that these arrangements have been reviewed and mutually agreed upon.