The Mentoring Institute develops, coordinates, and integrates research and training activities in mentoring best practices at The University of New Mexico. Through the application of instructional design standards, the Institute provides certification and evaluation services for a diverse array of staff, faculty, and students' mentoring programs, in a centralized effort to recruit, train, and develop qualified mentors for UNM, Albuquerque and New Mexico's community.

The Mentoring Institute does not replace or direct the mentoring programs that exist or are starting up at UNM and beyond. Instead, it provides a variety of services to these programs, in order to build them up and to enhance the culture of mentoring throughout the university, and the state it serves.