MENTORING

Mentoring is a service that enables synchronous or asynchronous communication with an expert in a given field (using a bulletin board, chat or e-mail). The contact with a mentor gives an opportunity of clarifying content-related problems, as well as explaining the way of using an e-learning course.

The mentor’s main function is to take care of a mentee and guide him through the whole educational process – from the first log-in in the system to the passing of final exams and (where applies) choice of further courses suitable for the profile of the employees’ development.

What are the One-on-One Mentoring Programs?

Our One-on-One Mentoring Programs pair community college, undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and untenured faculty as protégés with professionals as mentors for one-on-one, email-based mentoring (e-mentoring) relationships.

Our unique Industry E-Mentoring Program is for protégés interested in working in industry or at a government laboratory or agency, while our Academic E-Mentoring Program is for graduate students, postdocs and untenured faculty pursuing faculty careers.

The program has proven effective by providing "real world" information, encouragement, advice, and access to networks that are otherwise often unavailable to women and people of color in the male-dominated fields of engineering and science This is why over 90% of participants would recommend our e-mentoring programs to a friend or colleague.

What are the benefits?

Protégés in the program consistently report:

• An increased confidence in their success in science or engineering.
• An increased desire to pursue a career in their field.
• An increased desire to work in industry or at a government laboratory.
• A high degree of satisfaction with their learning experience.

Mentors in the program consistently report:

• The personal satisfaction of knowing that they have helped someone else.
• Professional development, including better mentoring skills to use within their company.
• Increased levels of commitment to their fields and their employers.
• Opportunities for self-reflection and self-renewal.

How do they work?

Mentors and protégés sign up for a One-on-One Program through our web site, filling out a "profile" with their information and preferences. Protégés are then presented with up to 5 potential matches. They may either choose one of these potential matches or opt to let us attempt to make the match for them.

Once a match has been made and the mentor has confirmed her/his availability, the e-mentoring relationship begins and lasts for 6-18 months.

Mentors and protégés communicate by email about career goals, balancing work and life, course work, and many other topics. There's no need for previous mentoring experience: mentors and protégés can receive online training, ongoing coaching and consulting to help them make the most of the opportunity.

A Protégé must meet all of the following criteria:

• Considering or pursuing a degree, certificate, or postdoc in engineering, science, technology, or math, or are an early-career faculty person within these fields.
• Currently enrolled as a community college, undergraduate, or graduate student, OR employed as a postdoctoral scholar or untenured faculty member.
• Enrolled or employed at a college or university or any other higher education program.
• Potentially interested in a career in industry, government, the non-profit sector, or higher education, but not pursuing pre-medicine, pre-dental, pre-nursing or pre-veterinary studies.
• Willing to exchange email messages regularly with a mentor over an 6-18 month period.
• Regular access to email.

A Mentor must meet all of the following criteria:

• Male or female with a degree or professional background in engineering, related sciences and technologies or mathematics.
• Professional work experience.
• Willing to mentor, via email, a community college, undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc or untenured faculty member. (You may state your preferences for specific levels in your profile.)
• Willing to exchange email messages regularly with a protégé over an 6-18 month period.
• Regular access to email.
• Ability to travel.