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[mbaguy2005]

Can anyone tell me how should I go about to network if I am new to higher ed and a university? The idea of having a mentor or a good friend from the univ would be very appealing

The office I work in is not very talkative, so i kind of feel I need to look outside of my office

What should I do in this situation? I wouldnt know what to ask or say.

[michigander]

Some schools have an array of faculty and staff organizations -- everything from a bowling league to a union to a l/g/b/t staff forum.  If your school has any, one of them might be a place for you to start.  Many schools have organized brown-bag lunch discussions of a variety of topics.  This is another way to meet people with similar interests to start networking.  How big is your school?  If it's one of the smaller ones where faculty and staff eat together in a special dining room, you can ask to share tables with people who are eating alone to try to strike up a conversation and find a friend.  Get appointed to a committee where you might meet interesting colleagues.  Are there employee listserves or other on-line communities?  You can meet people there.  One you start meeting people, they can introduce you to more people.  How does a person start to make friends after moving to a new city?  It's the same thing.

[neniaf]

Michigander's suggestions are all excellent ones; I would add that you should not assume that ONE mentor is the only model to follow, but that you could have a variety of people who each have one or two insights to pass along or who can provide varied support.