NetMentors.Org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps students develop career aspirations by enlisting the support of experienced industry professionals as online mentors. The product of NetMentors.Org is a career development tool that introduces young people to arts, business, legal, science, and technology careers. Our program connects teens with experienced professionals who provide advice, field questions, and assist the students. Students may logon to our web site from any Internet capable computer and communicate with mentors experienced in the student's careers of interests. Through our program, we provide a realistic, comprehensive view of multiple careers, and assist the young person in investigating and understanding those careers. This innovative means of connecting mentoring and technology complements existing mentor programs and traditional career education.
Our Objectives
- To develop and manage a career planning and mentoring Internet community for youth and mentors worldwide
- To encourage the participation of qualified persons as mentors to provide career advice to youth
- To attract and engage youthful students from all over the world, as primary beneficiaries of the career planning and mentoring Internet community
- To develop alliance relationships with other entities that enhance our ability to extend career planning and mentoring services via our Internet community
- To engage in other activities to improve NetMentors.Org.
Common Questions
What is eMentoring?
eMentoring is the fortuitous merger of mentoring with electronic communications, made possible by the increased availability of electronic communications in schools, homes and in the workplace. Electronic communications provide a flexible communication environment independent of time and space, allowing for asynchronous exchanges, thus making them an ideal medium for mentoring. Since failure to meet based on time and space constraints has doomed more mentoring relationships than any other factor, the asynchronous nature of eMentoring alleviates this obstacle to the development of mentoring relationships. The flexible communication environment allows those housed outside of the specific communities to mentor students. Alumni and professionals who are unable to meet with student face-to-face can readily provide advice, suggestions, and support to students while sitting at their desks at home or in the office. Therefore, eMentoring can extend mentoring opportunities to many more students and will allow mentors to participate who otherwise would find the time investment prohibitive.
How does the mentoring messaging actually work?
The messaging interaction is accomplished through an online community that brings together junior high and high school students with professionals through our Internet platform. The messaging activity is not in real-time, but in an email style format that is housed within our system. All messaging activity occurs through our web site, with no exchange of email addresses or privileged personal information between mentors and students. When messages arrive in our members NetMentors.Org mailbox, we notify the member to check their mailbox within our site.
Is the interaction between mentors and students monitored?
Yes. We monitor each message for compliance with our Code of Conduct. All NetMentors.Org users must adhere to our Code of Conduct which defines the responsibilities and regulations of our web community. In addition to our Code of Conduct, key business processes that address communications integrity include a mentor orientation program and targeted marketing efforts.
Who are our partners?
Alliances are key players in NetMentors.Org. We have established alliances with key organizations on a national level as well as Washington, DC and Philadelphia-focused programs. As our first corporate alliance member, Booz Allen Hamilton is providing mentors and assistance in connecting with Washington, DC school administrators and teachers. Cyveillance is a key technology partner for NetMentors.Org. The Lockheed Martin Foundation is among our pivotal financial supporters. We are also working with The University of Michigan Business School for mentor recruitment and corporate outreach.