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We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked
questions (FAQs) and responses to them. If you have
finished reading them and have an unanswered question, please
contact MentorNet at info@mentornet.net.
MentorNet is The E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science.
MentorNet's mission is:
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To further the progress of women and others underrepresented in scientific and technical fields through the use of a dynamic, technology-supported mentoring network.
- To advance individuals and society, and enhance engineering and related sciences, by promoting a diversified, expanded and talented global workforce.
Overall, women are increasing their presence in the U.S. (college educated) workforce, and now represent 46% of that workforce. They are, however, less than 15% of the engineers and only 32% of all scientists. Underrepresented minorities (excluding Asian/Pacific Islanders) comprise only 7% of the engineering and scientific workforce. Supporting women and others underrepresented as students and early in their training in engineering and scientific pursuits will assist in meeting
current and future labor demands for technical workers, as well as open up interesting and rewarding occupations to more people. The program goals
are to provide protégés with mentoring to enhance their persistence in engineering and related science fields and to facilitate their entry into related careers.
Secondary objectives of the program include better understanding the progression of mentoring and identifying the predictors of successful mentoring relationships,
especially as they apply to electronic mentoring. These goals will aid in improving MentorNet in subsequent years, and will enhance understanding of the mentoring
process to benefit other e-mentoring programs.
MentorNet is a nonprofit organization and represents a growing, inclusive collaboration and partnership among universities, corporations, professional associations, and government, all committing resources in the
form of labor, technical expertise, and financial support to develop and sustain the project. A project of this magnitude requires an annual operating budget and a
consortium of partners. Initial years of MentorNet were funded primarily through grants from a variety of sources, especially our Visionary and Strategic partners. We are always interested in new partnerships. Please visit our Partners section for more information.
No. MentorNet is a nonprofit organization and is financed by our Partners, including our corporate, government agency and national labs sponsors and our participating colleges, universities, and professional organizations.
The MentorNet Community evolved from evaluation
results and participant feedback which led MentorNet to the realization its
mentors and students felt a sense of community from their participation in
MentorNet. In response, MentorNet reorganized its web site to acknowledge that
community and to provide a wider choice of options for participation in
MentorNet's programs. The flagship of this community is the award-winning
One-on-One E-Mentoring Program, but members can also find the MentorNet E-Forum
(a web-based discussion group system), resources for and about diversity in
engineering and science and more.
The MentorNet One-on-One E-Mentoring Program is the flagship e-mentoring program that MentorNet offers. The program connects students, postdocs and early career faculty in engineering and the related sciences with female or male mentors in industry, government, or academia
and provides a framework and training for them to pursue an 8-month mentoring relationship using email.
For more detailed information, please see the One-on-One E-Mentoring Program overview or see the frequently asked questions for mentors
or protégés.
In order to further MentorNet's mission and goals, the
MentorNet Community has been developed to be as inclusive as possible while
keeping its focus on supporting diversity in engineering and science.
There are no hard and fast eligibility requirements to join the MentorNet
Community. The list below describes some of the characteristics of members that
the community has been developed to serve. There are no gender or ethnic/cultural restrictions regarding membership.
- Women and men with
educational or professional backgrounds in engineering, related sciences
and technologies or mathematics.
- Community college,
undergraduate and graduate students considering or pursuing a degree or
certificate in engineering, science, technology, or math,
but not pursuing pre-medicine, pre-dental, pre-nursing or pre-veterinary
studies.
- Postdocs and early career faculty in
engineering, science, technology, or math.
- Female and male
professionals with backgrounds in engineering, related sciences and
technologies or mathematics, interested in mentoring others.
- Science and engineering
professionals and students looking for mentoring and support regarding
their chosen field or career.
- Anyone interested in
exploring careers in engineering, science, technology, or math.
- Anyone interested in
women's issues or diversity and advancement in engineering, related sciences and
technologies or mathematics.
MentorNet's One-on-One E-Mentoring Program has its own requirements for mentors and protégés, which are more restrictive.
To join the Community, go to the Community registration
page
and fill out the short form, supplying your name, email, username, and password. You may then belong just to the Community, or, if you wish to be
a mentor or protégé in our One-on-One E-Mentoring Program, simply follow the One-on-One Programs links to create a mentor or protégé profile.
Women remain severely underrepresented in some of the fastest growing and most lucrative fields in the current economy, such as computer science and engineering. Women represent less than 15% of engineers and only 32% of scientists in today's work force. Even in fields where women are not underrepresented at the undergraduate level, such as biology, they are underrepresented in graduate programs, academic positions and in the workforce. And, unfortunately, many women in all fields still face cultural and environmental pressures that suppress their academic and career opportunities.
For certain racial/ethnic groups, the picture is even more discouraging. Blacks and Hispanics (each) represent about 3% of all scientists and engineers, while other ethnic groups (non Asian/Pacific Islander) comprise less than 0.5%.
What we can say about the engineering and science climate and MentorNet is that if we can get more women and minorities in the fields, then the culture will change. We do not mean diversity only at the undergraduate level, but also in graduate school, in faculty positions, on granting review boards, and in positions of power in firms, companies, and in government laboratories.
Many protégés participating in MentorNet pursue engineering and science because they love it. MentorNet aims to support their goals and dreams, and also provide them with as much information as possible to make them as savvy and marketable as possible when they start pounding the proverbial sidewalk. While MentorNet is not a job placement service, we have had students get prestigious internships and positions through their mentors. These experiences will greatly enhance their marketability and opportunities in the future and increase their economic power. The greater economic power and marketability for those currently underrepresented, the more opportunities they will experience. In addition, we want to provide students with the informal networking opportunities traditionally available to a select few and to give them opportunities so they can learn how to market themselves to use their engineering/science degrees in high growth industries like high tech and biotech. We believe that the more support, information, and access to informal networks we can provide for a diverse group of students while they are still students, the more prepared they will be.
Program Applicants and Participants
MentorNet is an equal opportunity organization. MentorNet will not
discriminate against any program participant because of race, color, religion,
creed, age, sex, national origin (including, without limitation, those for whom English is a
second language or those who are immigrants), ancestry, physical or mental
disability (including learning disabilities), past history of mental
disorder, medical condition including pregnancy, family care leave, cancer
and AIDS, status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the wars including
Vietnam, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other non-program
related factor. Program participation is based on eligibility and will not be
unlawfully influenced or unlawfully affected by the characteristics of any
program applicant or participant. MentorNet will take affirmative action to
ensure that program applicants are considered for participation in the program, and
program participants are treated during their participation in the program, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin or any other non-program related factor.
Such action will include, but will not be limited to: participation as a member of the MentorNet Community, creating a mentor or protégé profile, being matched in the One-on-One E-Mentoring Program and participation in the E-Forum.
Employment Applicants and Employees
MentorNet is an equal opportunity employer. MentorNet will not
discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin (including, without limitation, those for whom English is a second language or those who are immigrants), ancestry, physical or mental
disability (including learning disabilities), past history of mental disorder, medical condition including pregnancy, family care leave, cancer and AIDS, status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the wars including Vietnam, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other non-job related factor. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications and competence, and employment practices will not be unlawfully influenced or unlawfully affected by the characteristics of any applicant or employee. MentorNet will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin or any other non-job related factor. Such action will include, but will not be limited to: employment, upgrading, demotion, transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising, layoff or termination, rate of pay or other form of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship.
We receive many requests from individuals interested in developing an e-mentoring program. Consequently, we wrote a paper,
Electronic Mentoring Programs: A Model to Guide Practice and Research (PDF format), that
introduces and explains the benefits of e-mentoring and the essential
elements of an e-mentoring program.
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