United States Department of Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Agricultural Marketing Service

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Directive MRP 4630.2 7/12/02

 

Mentoring/Tutoring Programs

1. PURPOSE

 

This Directive sets forth Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) policy and procedures for 

employee participation in agency-sponsored mentoring/tutoring programs. 

 

2. COVERAGE

 

Participation in mentoring/tutoring programs is open to field and headquarters employees who: 

 

a. Are on permanent appointments or appointments of more than 1 year, and on any tour of duty 

(e.g., full-time, part-time, intermittent, or mixed tour). 

 

b. Have completed a Participation Form, with the signature of their immediate supervisor. 

Participation forms are valid for 1 year and must be renewed on an annual basis. If participation 

interferes with the mission of the agency, participation may be denied or terminated. 

 

c. Are willing to follow the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding executed between the 

school and the employees=agency. 

 

3. POLICY

 

It is MRP policy that: 

 

a. Employees must obtain supervisory approval before volunteering. Accomplishment of the 

Agency=s mission takes precedence over employees= participation. 

 

b. Agencies may provide employees with up to 2 hours of excused absence per week to volunteer at 

agency-sponsored schools. 

 

c. Employees are encouraged to participate in mentoring/tutoring programs by volunteering at 

agency-sponsored schools as mentors, tutors, science fair judges, career/college days, etc. 

 

 

 

 

Distribution: AMS, APHIS, GIPSA Originating Office: MRPHRD-HREB

 

4. AGENCY COORDINATORS 

 

Each school has a liaison who will assist employees by providing orientation information on school 

procedures and how to be successful mentors/tutors. The liaison also will coordinate employees=

participation in special events at the school.

Directive 4630.2 Mentoring/Tutoring Program Page 1 of 2

http://agnis/sites/AMSIssuances/Shared%20Documents/4630.2.htm 8/8/2008
 

 

Agency-designated Program Coordinators will have a list of agency sponsored schools 

(www.aphis.usda.gov/mrp/pie/hqprofiles.html). These schools will have a signed Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) executed between the agency and the school. 

 

Employees must: 

 

! Complete a Participation Form 

(www.aphis.usda.gov/mrp/pie/individualprogram.html),

! Get it signed by the immediate supervisor, and 

! Submit it to the Agency-designated Program Coordinator. 

 

5. OPERATING GUIDELINES

 

Operating guidelines on administrative aspects of mentoring/tutoring programs are contained in Human 

Resources Desk Guide (HRDG) Subchapter 4630, AAbsence and Leave.@ This Directive and Subchapter 

4630 are available on the MRP Human Resources (MRPHR) home page at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr, the APHIS electronic library at www.aphis.usda.gov/library, and the 

AMS Intranet home page at http://insideams/issuances.

 

6. INQUIRIES

 

a. Direct routine inquiries to your agency=s designated mentoring/tutoring coordinator. 

 

b. MRPHRD, Human Resources Enhancement Branch, will provide guidance in interpreting policy 

and procedures for employees participating in these programs. 

 

 

 

/s/ 

Acting Deputy Administrator 

MRP Business Services 

 

If you are in: Then your coordinator is: 

AMS KENNETH.R.JOHNSON@USDA.GOV 

APHIS www.aphis.usda.gov/mrp/pie/piecontacts.html 

GIPSA P&S Programs Peggy.L.Smith@usda.gov

FGIS Programs sallon@gipsade.usda.gov

Directive 4630.2 Mentoring/Tutoring Program Page 2 of 2

http://agnis/sites/AMSIssuances/Shared%20Documents/4630.2.htm 8/8/2008