MentorNet E-Forum Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the MentorNet E-Forum?
• Who is welcome to participate?
• What are the topics?
• How do I sign up?
• What are the rules for participating?
• What if I am having an issue with another user / I see inappropriate behavior on the group?

What is the MentorNet E-Forum?

The MentorNet E-Forum is a web-based discussion group system. All MentorNet Community members may participate in the E-Forum and it can be a supportive and engaging place to discuss ideas and make connections. The E-Forum can provide a group mentoring experience that is complimentary or stand-alone to the MentorNet One-on-One E-Mentoring Program.

Who is welcome to participate?

All MentorNet Community members are invited to participate including MentorNet staff and representatives of MentorNet's sponsors and participating colleges and universities.

What are the topics?

Academic Career Development; Barbara B. Lazarus Legacy Forum; Events; Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships; Individual Skills within Academia; Licensure & Professional Development (NSPE supported); Mix and Match: Unofficial Mentor and Protégé Connections; Women Engineers in the Government Sector; Career Options in Biology; Diversity Issues; For Mentors; For Protégés; Graduate Students and Postdocs; Job Search; Our Voices, Ourselves: Leadership Communication for Women; Societal Benefits of Engineering and Science; Women's Issues; Work/Personal Balance. Suggestions for other topics may be made to program@mentornet.net.

How do I sign up?

Once you have become a member of the MentorNet Community, sign in and click on the MentorNet E-Forum link. From there, follow the " Enter the E-Forum" link and on the left side of the screen, you will see the different discussion groups, arranged by topic. Simply click on the desired topic and the messages will come up in your browser. If desired, you can also set your preferences to receive by email alerts of new messages and/or the messages themselves.

What are the rules for participating?

Participation in the MentorNet E-Forum is bounded by the conditions set in MentorNet's Policies, including the Terms of Service and the Participation Guidelines.

What if I am having an issue with another user / I see inappropriate behavior on the group?

You may want to contact the other user off of the list (i.e. in an email directly to that user) to try to resolve your differences. It may simply be a misunderstanding, which can easily arise over email due to style or cultural differences, or the fact that the visual and aural cues used to interpret meaning when speaking face-to-face or over the telephone are missing when using email.

If that suggestion is not appropriate or does not resolve the problem, contact MentorNet staff at: program@mentornet.net.