The E-Mentoring Network for Women in Engineering and Science MentorNet: The E-Mentoring Network for Women in Engineering and Science Reflections on Partnerships AAES Diversity Summit September 17, 2003 Washington, D.C. Carol B. Muller, Founder and CEO, MentorNet © MentorNet 2003

© MentorNet 2003 MentorNet’s mission To further women's progress in scientific and technical fields through the use of a dynamic, technology-supported mentoring program. To advance women and society, and enhance engineering and related sciences, by promoting a diversified, expanded and talented workforce.

© MentorNet 2003 MentorNet’s Online Community Today One-on-One e-mentoring programs – pair women studying engineering and related sciences with professionals in industry, government, and higher education for eight-month-long, structured mentoring relationships, conducted via E-Forum: Topic-based discussion groups Resume database Bits’n’Bytes: Online newsletter Resources and related information, including links to other sites

© MentorNet 2003 MentorNet’s One-on-One Program Online information & participant profiles Bi-directional sorting of protégés and mentors, with protégés selecting final match, based on backgrounds and preferences, using customized algorithms to optimize matches Online training: –Guides for mentors and students –Interactive online case studies “coaching” –customized discussion suggestions sent every 1-2 weeks to all mentors and protégés –Support from program staff to address problems and issues Online participant surveys to inform evaluations

© MentorNet 2003 MentorNet Community by the Numbers Nearly 20,000 individuals matched in one-on-one e- mentoring relationships As of June 2003: –More than 10,000 active community members: 58% students 78% female, 20% male (2% unidentified) –1,140 resumes posted –More than 1,100 participants in 11 E-Forum Topic- based online discussion groups (most popular: work/personal balance, job search, women’s issues, for mentors only) –Online newsletter sent to nearly 17,000

© MentorNet 2003 MentorNet Growth: One-on-One Program Participation, (Beginning in , fees were required for all participating campuses.)

© MentorNet 2003 MentorNet One-on-One Participants, students applied, 2,816 matched 80 colleges and universities Volunteer mentors from 950 employers Mentors: 65% women, 35% men Students: 91% women, 9% men Students’ degree programs: –5% two-year college students –78% four-year college undergraduates (43% frosh/soph; 35% junior/ seniors) –9% masters students –8% PhD students Students’ fields of study: –78% engineering/ computer science –11% biological sciences/biochemistry –2% math –4% chemistry –3% geology/ environmental sciences –1% physics –1% other 95 nationalities represented among MentorNet’s mentor and student participants

© MentorNet 2003 The MentorNet Partnership MentorNet provides e-mentoring infrastructure for higher education, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations Large-scale, multi-institutional online network: –More extensive, diverse pools of participants –Accesses extensive networks –Focused expertise –Economies of scale Partnering organizations provide: –Financial resources –Marketing channels

© MentorNet Partnership Pricing Colleges and universities: –>5,000 students: $1,000 –5,000-15,000 students: $2,000 –15,001-30,000 students: $3,000 –30,000+ students: $4,000 Corporations (also Government Agencies): –$50,000 (+) – Strategic Partners –$25,000-$50,000: Leadership Circle –$10,000-$25,000: Sustaining Partners –$8,000: Basic Partners –$5,000: Trial Membership Government labs –$5,000 Partners –$10,000 Sustaining Partners

© MentorNet Affiliated Partners Program Cooperative agreements with other nonprofit organizations, principally professional societies Designed to provide mutually beneficial activities No funds exchanged Recognition within MentorNet program and collateral of Affiliated Partners Use of Affiliated Partners’ channels of communication to members for outreach to prospective participants Collaboration on communications

© MentorNet 2003 Partnerships – Stages* Stage 1: Philanthropic: “supplicant- benefactor” relationship Stage 2: Transactional: “two-way value” exchange Stage 3: Integrative: “strategic alliances” * From James E. Austin, The Collaboration Challenge, Jossey-Bass, 2000.

© MentorNet 2003 Partnerships – Lessons Learned Require TIME Depend on individuals, a vulnerability Require clear definition Often require frequent communications Easier when organizational values, missions, styles are aligned

© MentorNet 2003 An Affiliated Partner’s Perspective -- NSPE Introducing Al Gray…

© MentorNet 2003 Thank You