IEEE Mentoring Program Pilot Membership Development Retreat 1 May 2005 Cathy Downer, IEEE RAB Membership Development

2 Why A Mentoring Program? l Focus groups run with GOLD members told us l Value an IEEE member as their mentor l Participate and learn from others l Value networking opportunities l Would pay small administrative fee once to participate l Wanted to sign up right now for a mentoring program l Responses from Graduating Student Survey told us l Value an IEEE member as their mentor l Valuable enough to retain their membership upon graduation l Positive responses from the 2004 Annual Member Satisfaction Survey l Need to offer a unique program to this group of IEEE members

3 Program value to Membership l Provides support structure for transition from student to professional member l Shows IEEEs interest in providing help to new engineering professionals l Builds on member to member relationship based on IEEE membership l Value for members to connect & network via their professional association l Could be solution to retention of graduating students and new professionals l Mentoring partnerships wont change if jobs change

4 Program Format l Web based program with login & password l Program site has links to mentoring resources, orientation guide, application & profile forms, calendar, discussion forum, action plan, partnership evaluations l Mentee self-selects from mentor profiles for match, then contacts l Communication via or phone l Partnerships can be close or out of local area l Mentoring partnership will last one year with six month assessment and final evaluation at years end l Turn-key operation for IEEE

5 Program Participants - Mentors l Older, more experienced IEEE members l In executive, management, or supervisory positions l In academic or research position, consultant l In an IEEE volunteer leadership position l IEEE PACE leaders l Could include older GOLD members l In management or supervisory position l In academic or research position, consultant l In an IEEE volunteer leadership position l Share career experiences, rather than technical expertise to specific work problem

6 Program Participants - Mentees l IEEE members, GOLD members, not Students l Recently graduated and entering workforce (1 st or 2 nd job) l Could be unemployed or undecided on present or future career decisions l Looking for place to learn from others who have already been there l Connect with established engineering professionals

7 Mentoring Pilot Project l Vendor: The Training Connection, Inc. based in Virginia l Web based program on vendors server l 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) l Yearly license fee for program, resource materials, web site development l GOLD members reviewed vendors demo site for navigation, program ease & understanding

8 Mentee Program Process l Mentee enters site, logs on l Prompted to complete a User Profile l Prompted to complete an Application Form l View Status Page l Sends request to enter into mentoring partnership l Programs Planning Tools assist mentee for self-development l Other Program Features l Mentoring Agreement Form l Close Out Evaluation l Calendar l Private diary l Discussion forum (open to all participants) l Six-month and Final Evaluation forms

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10 Mentor Program Process l Mentor enters site, logs on l Prompted to complete a User Profile l Prompted to complete an Application Form l View Status Page l Receives request to enter into mentoring partnership l Can accept or decline request l Begins communication with mentee l Review and discuss Mentoring Agreement with Mentee

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12 Pilot Project l Region 1 selected for Pilot l Smaller geographic size l Density of available IEEE members to large cities l Potential to meet face-to-face l Proximity to IEEE Piscataway l Have support from Region 1 Director, IEEE-USA and WIE l Mentors asked to join and complete profile & application forms first l Mentees join after sufficient, searchable pool of mentors in place l Vendor developing orientation program for mentors & mentees using internet conferencing l Highlight sensitive issues in mentoring partnerships l Program features and resources l Overview of web site

13 Mentoring Program Risks l Lack of mentors participating l Too many mentees signed up for program l Need to match mentor with more than one partner l Disappointment for mentor with long wait for match l Disappointment in choice of mentors for mentee to select from l Geographic location l Competencies selected l Experience or technical background l Wanting an older version of me

14 Overcoming Risks l Encourage mentors to participate in program first l Communicate roles & responsibilities for each partner, point out program resources l Communicate orientation resource as guide to program functions l Utilize web conferences for pilot orientation l Pilot program to Region 1 prior to entire IEEE membership l Learn from pilot and adjust l Communicate program – use success stories

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