Professional Mentoring Program through Virtual Media: Challenges and Impact

Rana Khan 

Arhonda Gogos

Heloisa Siffert

Agenda

UMUC and Biotechnology Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Program 

Mentoring program at UMUCOverview

Sustainability 

Process

Evaluation of the program

Program Launch and Results

Testimonials

Challenges and Future Plans

UMUC is one of 11 accredited, degree granting institutions in the University System of MarylandOffers about 15 graduate degree programs completely online43% of total students were minority in 2008In FY2009,>196,000 online course enrollments

University of Maryland University College

Interdisciplinary‐ combines rigorous study in science or mathematics or technology with skills‐based coursework in business, management, policy, law or other fields. Emphasis on group work involving employer‐based projects. Strong emphasis on close ties with the industry and graduates with well‐rounded skills.

Biotechnology Professional Science Masters (PSM) Program 

Dept of Ed Grant‐Project Model

Design, develop and disseminate a web‐based mentoring program for UMUC graduate students threaded through the curriculum of a PSM degree program.

Bridge the gap between the industry and academia while supporting the academic efforts of diverse students.

UMUC DOE Project‐Goal

Features of the Mentoring Model

Provides industry guidance to the student from the onset of the program

Embedded in the program

Offered at graduate level

Discipline Independent

Utilizes Web‐based technologies that enable easy access and participation, provide flexibility and easier management of resources

Key Participants

Mentees

Biotech students

Mentors

Biotechnology Professionals

Mentor Assistants (MA) 

Graduates of the program

Mentor Assistants Lead (MAL)

Graduate of the program

Mentoring Process   

1. Students in degree program (within 18 credit hours)

2. Apply and are selected for the mentoring program

3. Assigned a mentor

4. Complete a Professional Action Plan (PAP)

5. Advised by the mentor with 

assistance from a mentor assistant

MA/MAL Roles and Responsibilities

Mentor recruitment

Student selectionApplication screening

Interview

Mentor and  Mentee Orientation

Reminders and Updates‐encouragement

Conflict Resolution

Assessment collection 

Sustainability of the Model

STUDENTSMENTORS

ProfessionalMentoring Program

GRADUATESMENTOR ASSISTANTS

INDUSTRY

Mentoring Platform

http://psmmentoring.umuc.edu

Public areaProject Overview

Forms

AB

Private area

Evaluation1. Semester Assessment Forms for mentors, mentees and MAs

– Satisfaction with their interactions– Suggestions for improvement – Recommendations on curriculum changes

2. Comparison between mentees and non participants:– Semester GPAs – Course completion  (courses taken vs. successfully completed) – Capstone project performance – Time to degree completion

3. Within the group of mentees, look for trends across:– Specializations– Demographics

4. Follow mentees’ careers after graduation

Participants Profile31 pairs of mentors‐mentees completed the Spring 2010 semester.       15 mentees 

joined the mentoring program in Fall 09 and 16 in Spring 10.

Self employed Private sector Academia Government0

5

10

15

20

25

Mentor Affiliation

# of mentors (n=31)

Male Fem ale0

5

10

15

20

25

G ende r

# o f mentees (n=31)# o f men to rs (n=31)

Participants Profile

Grades from Spring 2010Grade distribution for participants vs. non‐participants

Participants 83% (n=30)Non‐participants 79% (n=220)

Average course completion for:

Not a significant difference according to z‐test

A B C P F FN W I0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

Grade distribution: % classes per grade for Spring 10

For participants (n=61)For non-participants (n=405)

grade

% c

lass

es

Participants 3.62 (n=26)Non‐participants 3.18 (n=181)

Average semester GPA for:

Significant difference according to t‐test(confidence level 96.5%)

Sample of Program Assessments25 of 31 mentees and 19 of 31 mentors responded to the questionnaire.

Strongly Agree Agree

Slightly Agree Slightly Disagree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

02468

1012

The mentor is helping the mentee develop a long-term plan for career development or career change.

mentees (N=25)mentors (N=19)

# pa

rtici

pant

s

Sample of Program Assessments 

Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor02468

101214Overall, how would you rate the mentoring program at this point in time?

mentees (N=25)mentors (N=19)

# of

par

ticip

ants

Strongly Agree Agree

Slightly Agree Slightly Disagree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

02468

101214

The mentor broadened the mentee's view of the biotechnology field (e.g. shared current developments, introduced them to new career possibilities).

mentees (N=25)mentors (N=19)

# of

par

ticip

ants

Sample Suggestions‐Program Assessments Mentees

• Provide guidelines or helpful suggestions as to what the mentees should be learning/accomplishing.

•Have webcasts about the mentors: how they got into the industry, their background and current projects.

Mentors

• Facilitate interaction with other mentors/mentees.

• Better pairings: improve questionnaires for mentors/mentees; involve mentors/mentees in the process.

Mentee Testimonials

What do you like best about the program?“I like that it gives me a reason to stop procrastinating about my career/educational future.”

“The opportunity to … get a sense of what businesses are actually involved in and what opportunities exist.”

“The networking aspects and how I have learned  a lot about the industry that is not taught in the classes.”

“That I can acquire information regarding my concerns about working in the field of biotechnology, a field that I have no experience in...”

Challenges and Future Plans

Challenges• Recruiting more mentors (alumni)

• Recruiting more students

• Document issues and implement recommendations

• Compatible pairing of the mentor‐mentee

Future Plans• Ensuring a consistent level of interaction between the mentor and student

• Collecting and analyzing data

• Dissemination and Expansion to other programs

Acknowledgements

Deb Schroeder Sarah Pick

Yulia Nemchinova Ranee Rotter

Garth Gerstein Aparna Gurugunti

Mentoring Program Websitehttp://psmmentoring.umuc.edu/

Contact

rkhan@umuc.edu

Questions?