1. Professional Mentoring Program
through Virtual Media:
Challenges and Impact
Rana Khan
Arhonda Gogos
Heloisa Siffert

2. Agenda
UMUC and Biotechnology Professional Science
Master’s (PSM) Program
Mentoring program at UMUC
Overview
Sustainability
Process
Evaluation of the program
Program Launch and Results
Testimonials
Challenges and Future Plans

3. University of Maryland University College
UMUC is one of 11 accredited, degree granting
institutions in the University System of Maryland
Offers about 15 graduate degree programs
completely online
43% of total students were minority in 2008
In FY2009,>196,000 online course enrollments

4. Biotechnology Professional Science Masters (PSM) Program
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.

5. 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.

6. UMUC DOE Project‐Goal
Bridge the gap between
the industry and academia
while supporting the
academic efforts of diverse
students.

7. 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

8. Key Participants
Mentees
Biotech students
Mentors
Biotechnology Professionals
Mentor Assistants (MA)
Graduates of the program
Mentor Assistants Lead (MAL)
Graduate of the program

9. 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

10. MA/MAL Roles and Responsibilities
Mentor recruitment
Student selection
Application screening
Interview
Mentor and Mentee Orientation
Reminders and Updates‐encouragement
Conflict Resolution
Assessment collection

11. Sustainability of the Model
INDUSTRY
MENTORS STUDENTS
Professional
Mentoring Program
MENTOR
GRADUATES
ASSISTANTS

12. Mentoring Platform
http://psmmentoring.umuc.edu
Public area
Project Overview
Forms
AB
Private area

13. Evaluation
1. 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

14. Participants Profile
31 pairs of mentors‐mentees completed the Spring 2010 semester. 15 mentees
joined the mentoring program in Fall 09 and 16 in Spring 10.
Mentor Affiliation
25
20
15
# of mentors
(n=31)
10
5
0
Self employed Private sector Academia G overnment

15. Participants Profile
G e nd e r
25
20
# o f m e n te e s
15
(n =3 1 )
10 # o f me n to rs
(n =3 1 )
5
0
Male F em ale

16. Grades from Spring 2010
Grade distribution for participants vs. non‐participants
Grade distribution: % classes per grade for Spring 10
50.0
40.0
% classes
30.0 For participants
(n=61)
20.0 For non-participants
(n=405)
10.0
0.0
A B C P F FN W I
grade
Average semester GPA for: Average course completion for:
Participants 3.62 (n=26) Participants 83% (n=30)
Non‐participants 3.18 (n=181) Non‐participants 79% (n=220)
Not a significant difference according to z‐test
Significant difference according to t‐test
(confidence level 96.5%)

17. Sample of Program Assessments
25 of 31 mentees and 19 of 31 mentors responded to the questionnaire.
The mentor is helping the mentee develop a long-term plan
for career development or career change.
12
10
# participants
8 mentees (N=25)
6
mentors (N=19)
4
2
0
Agree Slightly Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree Slightly Agree Disagree

18. Sample of Program Assessments
The mentor broadened the mentee's view of the biotechnology field
(e.g. shared current developments, introduced them to new career possibilities).
14
12
# of participants
10
8
mentees (N=25)
6 mentors (N=19)
4
2
0
Agree Slightly Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree Slightly Agree Disagree
Overall, how would you rate the mentoring program at this point in time?
14
12
# of participants
10
8 mentees (N=25)
6 mentors (N=19)
4
2
0
Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

19. 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.

20. 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...”

21. 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

22. Acknowledgements
Deb Schroeder Sarah Pick
Yulia Nemchinova Ranee Rotter
Garth Gerstein Aparna Gurugunti
Mentoring Program Website
http://psmmentoring.umuc.edu/
Contact
rkhan@umuc.edu
Questions?