Women in Technology Mentoring Program

Angela Spyropoulos Angela Spyropoulos Women in Technology Mentoring Program Director

Moraine Valley Community College

Why do we need Mentoring Programs? Young girls need female role models Research suggests that roles models,

mentoring and related support systems hold the key to successful participation of women in technologies.

Confidence is the key to success for women in any field. Research suggests it’s more significant when it comes to women’s pursuit of non traditional careers.

Mentoring provides:

Role models Support system Positive, fun

experiences in STEM

Information on career paths

Encouragement Builds Confidence Network with

industry professionals

Information on courses needed & educational plans

A Mentor provides:

Real life experiences Career Guidance, Opportunities that await

them Personal information about a career

This is important for young people making career decisions

First hand interactive relationship Information and facts that dispel

stereotypes and negative impressions A Mentor is an excellent person to answer

specific questions about their field

Mentoring

A developmental, caring, sharing, and helping relationship where one person invests time, know-how, and effort in enhancing another person’s growth, knowledge, and skills, and responds to critical needs in the life of that person in ways that prepare the individual for greater productivity or achievement in the future.

Definition

Mentor

A person looked upon for wise advice and guidance.

Mentee

A person guided and helped especially in the furtherance of his or her career by another, more influential person.

Definitions

Designing your Mentoring Program

Types of Mentoring

Traditional One-on-One Mentoring Places one mentor in a relationship

with one student Mentor and student should meet

regularly Assign mentors to students with

similar career goals or related field of interest

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring(Big Sister/Little Sister) Older, more experienced student (Big

Sister) develops a guiding, teaching relationship with a younger, less experienced student (Little Sister)

Big Sister shows the ropes Big Sister gives advice on what courses

to take in the program Assign students with similar career

goals or related field of interest

Recruiting and ScreeningMentors

Recruiting Mentors

Recruitment is focused on particular attributes Characteristics, personality, temperament

Utilize resources such as instructors Mentors get involved for a variety of

reasons Identify their motivations Speak to them directly during recruitment

messages

Word of mouth is a key strategy Mentors respond best to a direct

appeal Mentors have gotten involved

because they were asked directly Present mentoring as something

fun, simple, and relatively easy

Recruiting Mentors

Matching Mentors withParticipating Students

Process of matching mentors with participating students One-on-one mentoring, you will be

matching one mentor to one student

Mentor assignments vary for a students’ individual needs.

Characteristics to consider in matching mentors to students

Gender Culture Shared background Same career path Related field of

study or interest

Personality/temperament

Approval of student’s parents

Availability for scheduling

Written Applicationfor Students Students need to provide information on the

program application in order to place them successfully with an appropriate mentor Field of Study Degree Sought Graduation Date What program is the student currently in? Does the student want to be a Big Sister or Little

Sister? Personal information such as:Married Children Returning Student Work full/part time

Mentor’s Roles and Responsibilities Provide opportunities for your mentee Provide and promote support networks Assist your mentee in cultivating skills Promote self-esteem and confidence Empower your mentee as a leader Maintain focus on skill development Be available to your mentee

Mentor’sRoles and Responsibilities Initiate contact with your mentee

Introduce yourselves to your student. Little sisters will be nervous. Big Sisters and Mentors should approach them.

Listen with an open mind Encourage Provide emotional support

continued

Mentor’sRoles and Responsibilities Communicate regularly Share information on your own success Give and receive feedback Trust and Respect Lead by example Foster an understanding of women’s

and/or minorities diverse roles to society Foster strategies to address obstacles

women facecontinued

Dos and Don’tsof Mentoring Have an open mind; don’t discount, dismiss

or minimize Provide constructive criticism; don’t patronize

or make light of a perceived obstacle or place undue guilt on the mentee

Provide support, but don’t become a crutch for the mentee

Maintain personal and professional boundaries, but don’t be distant or unapproachable

Kick-Off Event

Kick-off Event

Many mentoring programs begin by hosting a kick-off event such as a dinner or a pizza party

Here students and mentors are introduced to each other

Include the parents in the “meet-the-mentor” event

Ideas for your mentoring program’s introductory session?• At this initial “meet-the-mentor” dinner,

hand-out the Student/Mentor and Big Sister/Little Sister designations sheets

• Go around the room for introductions• Have the girls give real life experiences

i.e. “What is it like being a woman in today’s technology world?”

Planning for the MeetingChecklist

Decide on the date for the meetingChoose a timeReserve a room

Create an agendaSend e-mail invitations to all interested parties, students and mentors. Attach the agenda advisingthe location, date, time, etc.Decide on food/cateringGather any “Women in Technology” speakersCreate designation sheets to hand-out at the meeting

Where will the sessions be held? How often? At the school – Once a month

i.e. School Theater Dinner Social – Once a semester

Helps break the ice

At the MeetingFollow agenda of meeting

DinnerIntroduce the programHave speakersHand-out designation sheets assigning Mentors to Students and Big Sisters to Little SistersDescribe/Preview the websiteHave students and mentors introduce themselvesAssign a person to takes notes for bios and photographsAt the end of the meeting, allow mentors and students to interact with one another (networking)Mentors and students may exchange phone numbers. I only place e-mail addresses on website.

After the Meeting

Assign someone to create a school website or enlist a webmaster for assistanceA Student-Mentor school website is created which includes group pictures taken at the meetingThe website is a way for the students to contactthe corporate mentors they met at the meeting as well as their peers (Big and Little Sisters)The website includes a picture of all attendees, a brief description of the member and a contact e-mail addressThe website will help the members communicate and interact with one another

www.morainevalley.edu/cad/nsfmentors.htm