One of the most common terms in postsecondary education is "mentoring." Nearly all colleges and universities offer some type of mentoring. Sometimes mentoring is focused on certain students, such as at-risk first-year students, student-athletes, or honors program students. A number of institutions provide mentoring for new faculty and staff. But just what is mentoring, and why should individuals be mentored or mentor others? This article defines mentoring, offers several theoretical constructs that expand on the definition of mentoring, and explains how mentoring can be beneficial for both the mentee and the mentor.