Women in Science Mentoring Program
CCNY WinS Mentoring pairs students and early-career scientists with more experienced members of the Women in Science community to provide encouragement, guidance and support for those interested in a career in science. We aim to set people up with others in their field of interest whenever possible.
All are welcome to join - we encourage undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs and faculty to sign up to be mentors AND mentees in this program. All genders all welcome to participate - this group is for people who are interested in issues that affect women in science and want to provide support.
We require matched pairs to meet once every month (more if you want!) to discuss issues facing women in science overall and in our own lives, and to provide overall support in navigating a path in science.
We ask that mentors and mentees keep all conversations confidential and supportive. Please see our handouts and presentation to help guide your first few meetings together.
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You can apply to BE a mentor if you are an upper-level undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc or faculty member.
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You can apply to FIND a mentor if you are an undergraduate, graduate student, or postdoc. If you do apply to find a mentor, please also consider applying to be a mentor for another member of our community.
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Please keep in mind that this mentorship program is intended to help students discover and pursue a career in science. If you are a student looking for tutoring or guidance in selecting courses, we suggest you instead contact CCAPP (www.ccny.cuny.edu/ccapp) or the Division of Science Advising Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are my mentoring partner and I supposed to meet?
At least once a month. You can meet more often than that if you want, but once a month is all we require.
Who sets up the meetings?
The MENTEE is responsible for contacting the mentor and setting up the meetings.
What will we talk about?
At your first meeting, we suggest you discuss your expectations from this mentorship. You can review our powerpoint and mentoring handouts to guide your discussion. This should also help lead your future conversations. Some mentees may choose to focus on academics, while others may be more interested in balancing their personal and professional activities. Mentors: allow your mentee to guide discussion topics to what they feel they would most benefit from, and remember to respect their boundaries. We’ll also be sending out monthly emails reminding you to set up meetings and we’ll include a few discussion questions for you to consider.
Will these conversations be confidential?
Yes! Do not share personal details about your mentor or mentee with others unless you have explicit permission. If your partner shares information with you that you believe requires action, work with them to find the appropriate resources. However, if you believe your mentor or mentee is in danger of being harmed or harming someone else, we encourage you to seek professional assistance.
Will I get matched with someone of the same gender?
Our mentoring program is open to everyone that supports women in science. We strongly believe that men can be fantastic mentors to women in science, and women can be great mentors to men. We think it’s important for women to see supportive male mentors, and for men to see successful female mentors. For this reason, you may be matched with someone of a different gender. If you have a strong preference for a mentor or mentee of the same gender, you can indicate that on the registration form.
Will I get matched with someone from the same scientific field?
Maybe. We do our best to match people with similar interests, but this is not always possible. We do, however, think that it’s very beneficial to have mentors outside of your academic field as well, and this can be a good way to develop a broader support system.
Am I guaranteed a mentor or mentee?
We may not be able to match each person with a mentor or mentee. If this is the case, we’ll try to set up small groups for peer mentoring - but we’ll email you to check first.
How long does this go?
By signing up for the 2017/18 Academic year, you are committing to participating in the WinS Mentoring Program through May 2018.
What happens next year?
You have two options if you want to continue with the program next fall. If you want to stay with the same partner, just email us at the end of the spring semester to let us know. If you’d like a new partner, you can sign up again. We’ve chosen to run the program this way to make sure all our mentors and mentees are committed to participating each year. Also, people graduate :)
My mentoring partner and I don’t get along. What can I do?
We hope that by starting with an honest discussion about what you expect from your mentor or mentee, you’ll be able to avoid most problems. However, if you need to change partners, please let us know by emailing us at ccnywins@gmail.com
If you still have questions, please email us at ccnywins@gmail.com