Women engineering and science students who are involved in mentoring relationships are more likely to persist in their fields of study, to obtain increased commitment to their field of study, and to achieve increased degree attainment. Naturally occurring mentoring, which develops outside of a formal mentoring program often excludes minority groups, like women pursuing engineering, scientific, and math degrees. Formal mentoring programs provide mentoring opportunities, which otherwise would be unavailable to many women students in the engineering and related sciences. Mentoring programs that provide programmatic supports, such as training and on-going coaching, help mentors and prot g s establish and maintain mentoring relationships. These programmatic supports are associated with increased frequency of mentoring interactions among a greater number of the mentoring pairs and greater benefits associated with the mentoring.
Email is convenient, efficient, cost-effective, and easy to use.
Email is also widely available, having become nearly ubiquitous on college campuses and in corporate settings. An e-mentoring program allows the participation of many corporate employees whose time schedules and constraints would prevent them from participating in more traditional mentoring relationships with university students. Email also makes it easy to communicate thoughtfully and deliberately, and provides a record of communication. Students can refer to their mentors' past advice whenever they feel a need, and mentors can easily keep track of students' concerns. Making students aware of post-graduate opportunities in industry encourages them to persist in science and engineering programs.