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How MentorNet Provides Support
MentorNet provides ongoing support and communication to the e-mentoring pairs through regularly delivered discussion suggestions and monthly online newsletters. The discussion suggestions have four functions:
- To keep the lines of communication open between the MentorNet program staff and participants.
- To help “coach” the e-mentoring pairs through the stages of a mentoring relationship.
- To offer a means to educate mentors and students about issues pertinent to studies, professional development, and diversity in engineering and science.
- To serve as a reminder to keep in contact with their e-mentoring partner.
In addition to the discussion suggestions, participants are sent monthly newsletters with articles about engineering and science careers, diversity, and personal stories from mentors and protégés.
HOW MENTORNET INNOVATES
At its founding, MentorNet was focused on serving women in undergraduate and graduate programs who were interested in exploring careers in industry and government; however, strong interest from other underserved populations led MentorNet to expand its reach. Over time, MentorNet began to expand and change its programmatic content to address the needs of:
- Community college students
- Students located in countries other than the United States
- Underrepresented racial and ethnic minority male students at all educational levels
- Female graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career faculty pursuing academic science and engineering careers.
By 2007, almost 40% of protégés were male and represented 108 different nationalities.
In 2003, MentorNet moved to a year-round mentoring calendar, allowing mentors and protégés to be matched at any point during the year for eight-month relationships. At the same time, MentorNet began to offer protégés the option of selecting their mentors.
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