FIAP/MentorNet Program
Updated October 1, 2007
FIAP/MentorNet Program Coordinator:
Brymer H. Chin
bhchin@alum.mit.edu
(908)753-4190
Introduction
MentorNet is an organization that matches students majoring in science and engineering with mentors to provide support for professional and personal development. For individualized service, a student is paired one-on-one with a single mentor. Since the program is based on e-mentoring (communication primarily via e-mail), it is global in scope. After a pilot program in 1997, MentorNet staged full-scale operations in 1998. It has a proven track record of success and will soon be celebrating its tenth anniversary. Although MentorNet was originally conceived as an outreach program to match female students in science and engineering with professionals working in industry or government, its mission has broadened to encompass a more extensive mentoring program. Details may be found on their website www.mentornet.net.
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FIAP/MentorNet Partnership
In Oct 2006, FIAP formed a partnership with MentorNet to provide a pilot mentoring program for FIAP students. The pilot program proved to be successful, and FIAP has renewed the partnership through Oct 2008. For a personal account of one physicist’s long-term involvement with the program, please refer to http://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200512/backpage.cfm and http://www.mentornet.net/documents/about/experiences/Insights/insight1.aspx
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Recent Changes (September 2007)
The MentorNet program previously had two tracks: (1) Industry E-Mentoring Program for students interested in pursuing a non-academic career (for example, in an industrial or government R&D program), and (2) Academic E-Mentoring Program for students interested in pursuing a career as member of faculty in a college or university. These programs were merged in Feb 2007. The enrollment process has been substantially streamlined, with further refinements recently processed in Sept 2007.
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Eligibility (Proteges and Mentors)
Eligibility Requirements for Proteges
MentorNet uses the term “protege” to refer to a person who wishes to be matched with a mentor. For consistency, that term will also be used here. In the MentorNet context, a protege may be an undergrad student, a grad student, or a postdoc. In the broader MentorNet program, a protege may also be an un-tenured faculty member seeking a tenured faculty member as a mentor. This portion of the program, however, is not currently being supported by FIAP. General eligibility requirements for the MentorNet program are listed on their website and are checked during the registration process. For the FIAP program, proteges must be members of FIAP. FIAP membership is verified by entries in the APS Member Directory. Prospective proteges should check their directory listings prior to enrollment. The program is global in scope. It is available to all eligible FIAP members around the world.
Eligibility Requirements for Mentors
General eligibility requirements for the MentorNet program are listed on their website. Mentors do not need to be members of FIAP or APS. See, below, however for special designations during enrollment. Past experience has shown that the program is limited by the available pool of mentors. FIAP encourages their members to enlist colleagues as mentors. The Society of Physics Students (SPS) has recently also joined the MentorNet program; hence, there is a strong demand for physics mentors. Past experience has also shown a consistent shortage of academic mentors and mentors in biology-related fields, including biophysics and bio-engineering. Also in strong demand are engineers and scientists who are now working in non-technical fields, such as business and law. The program is global in scope. FIAP encourages professionals around the world to serve as mentors.
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Enrollment Procedures (Proteges and Mentors)
The new enrollment procedure is straightforward. Only specific details are highlighted below. For enrollment, go to www.mentornet.net, and click on “Be a Mentor, Get a Mentor, SIGN ME UP!” Previously-enrolled proteges and mentors may edit their existing profiles and re-activate them. Since new fields have been recently added, all previously-enrolled proteges and mentors should update their profiles.
Enrollment Procedures (Proteges)
- APS Membership ID. Please have your APS membership ID number available. This must be entered during enrollment and will be used to verify eligibility. Even if you are a student at a participating college or university, please enter your ID.
- Procedure to Get a Faculty Member as a Mentor (New). Under Protege Profile – One-on-One E-Mentoring Program, there are now new screens.
Step 3 of 6: Type of Mentor.
Are you looking for a faculty mentor?
_No, I do not want a Faculty Mentor.
_Yes, I do want a Faculty Mentor.
_I have no preference either way.
Select “Yes, I do want a Faculty Mentor.”
Step 4 of 6: Fields/Careers. The “Top Career” Field will default to “Academic – Higher Education (College/ University)”
Step 5 of 6: Match Preferences. The “Work Sector of Mentor” will default to the available fields for selection:
_Academic Institution (Faculty, Non-Tenured)
_Academic Institution (Faculty, Tenured)
Only grad students and postdocs are eligible to get a tenured faculty member as a mentor. For undergrads, this option will be greyed out. Protege status (undergrad, grad, or postdoc) is specified earlier in the enrollment process. Since available tenured faculty members are scarce, grad students and postdocs should consider non-tenured faculty members as well.
- Available Mentors. At the end of the enrollment process, you may view any available mentors which meet the requirements specified in your match preferences. If there are none, you have three options:
- Edit your profile to relax your requirements.
- Wait a few days or weeks, and check to see whether suitable mentors have recently enrolled.
- Have the MentorNet computer matching program generate a match.
Enrollment Procedures (Mentors)
- Reference. Step 1 of 6: Requirements/References. You are now required to enter a reference. Please enter:
Name of Reference: Brymer H. Chin
Position: FIAP
Organization: FIAP
Email address: bhchin@alum.mit.edu
- Match Preferences. You are free to specify your preferences. To increase the chances of a FIAP protege getting matched with a mentor, please consider first restricting your match to a FIAP protege. If you don’t receive a match within a week or two, then relax your requirements.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the FIAP/MentorNet Program Coordinator.
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