IEEE Mentoring ProgramIEEE Mentoring Program Pilot Pilot
Membership Development Retreat
1 May 2005
Cathy Downer, IEEE RAB Membership Development ([email protected])
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Why A Mentoring Program? Focus groups run with GOLD members told us
Value an IEEE member as their mentor Participate and learn from others Value networking opportunities Would pay small administrative fee once to participate Wanted to sign up right now for a mentoring program
Responses from Graduating Student Survey told us Value an IEEE member as their mentor Valuable enough to retain their membership upon graduation
Positive responses from the 2004 Annual Member Satisfaction Survey
Need to offer a unique program to this group of IEEE members
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Program value to Membership Provides support structure for transition from student to
professional member
Shows IEEE’s interest in providing help to new engineering professionals
Builds on member to member relationship based on IEEE membership
Value for members to connect & network via their professional association
Could be solution to retention of graduating students and new professionals
Mentoring partnerships won’t change if jobs change
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Program Format Web based program with login & password
Program site has links to mentoring resources, orientation guide, application & profile forms, calendar, discussion forum, action plan, partnership evaluations
Mentee self-selects from mentor profiles for match, then contacts
Communication via email or phone
Partnerships can be close or out of local area
Mentoring partnership will last one year with six month assessment and final evaluation at year’s end
“Turn-key” operation for IEEE
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Program Participants - Mentors
Older, more experienced IEEE members In executive, management, or supervisory positions In academic or research position, consultant In an IEEE volunteer leadership position IEEE PACE leaders
Could include “older” GOLD members In management or supervisory position In academic or research position, consultant In an IEEE volunteer leadership position
Share career experiences, rather than technical expertise to specific work problem
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Program Participants - Mentees
IEEE members, GOLD members, not Students
Recently graduated and entering workforce (1st or 2nd job)
Could be unemployed or undecided on present or future career decisions
Looking for place to learn from others who have already been there
Connect with established engineering professionals
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Mentoring Pilot Project
Vendor: The Training Connection, Inc. based in Virginia
Web based program on vendor’s server Client list includes many departments within the US
Government (Army, Navy, Energy, Agriculture, Interior, Education, Defense, Small Business Administration, Forest Service, Veterans Affairs; and Prince William Country Social Services)
Yearly license fee for program, resource materials, web site development
GOLD members reviewed vendor’s demo site for navigation, program ease & understanding
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Mentee Program Process
Mentee enters site, logs on
Prompted to complete a User Profile
Prompted to complete an Application Form
View Status Page
Sends request to enter into mentoring partnership
Program’s Planning Tools assist mentee for self-development
Other Program Features Mentoring Agreement Form Close Out Evaluation Calendar Private diary Discussion forum (open to all participants) Six-month and Final Evaluation forms
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Mentor Program Process
Mentor enters site, logs on
Prompted to complete a User Profile
Prompted to complete an Application Form
View Status Page
Receives request to enter into mentoring partnership
Can accept or decline request
Begins communication with mentee
Review and discuss Mentoring Agreement with Mentee
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Pilot Project Region 1 selected for Pilot
Smaller geographic size Density of available IEEE members to large cities Potential to meet face-to-face Proximity to IEEE Piscataway
Have support from Region 1 Director, IEEE-USA and WIE Mentors asked to join and complete profile & application
forms first Mentees join after sufficient, searchable pool of mentors in
place Vendor developing orientation program for mentors &
mentees using internet conferencing Highlight sensitive issues in mentoring partnerships Program features and resources Overview of web site
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Mentoring Program Risks
Lack of mentors participating
Too many mentees signed up for program
Need to match mentor with more than one partner
Disappointment for mentor with long wait for match
Disappointment in choice of mentors for mentee to select from
Geographic location Competencies selected Experience or technical background Wanting an “older version of me”
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Overcoming Risks
Encourage mentors to participate in program first
Communicate roles & responsibilities for each partner, point out program resources
Communicate orientation resource as guide to program functions
Utilize web conferences for pilot orientation
Pilot program to Region 1 prior to entire IEEE membership
Learn from pilot and adjust
Communicate program – use success stories
Questions
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