The 'AI Mentor Coach': An Interactive 5-Step Prompt for Faculty Development

Faculty, especially new faculty, are experts in their discipline but novices in the "hidden curriculum" of managing and mentoring people. This document provides a 5-step generative AI prompt that turns an AI chatbot (such as Gemini or ChatGPT) into an "AI Mentor Coach." Based on the "flight simulator" concept, this tool provides a confidential, non-judgmental space for faculty to practice difficult, high-stakes conversations (e.g., managing a top-performing student who creates a toxic team dynamic, addressing unprofessional student communication, or other sensitive challenges). The prompt uses a 5-step coaching model that requires the AI to listen, reframe, and ask for the user's ideas first, helping the user move from a state of panic to one of agency. This tool is intended as a supplemental resource for faculty development.