Call for Mentor Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Deadlines
Q. When is the grant proposal deadline?
A. The deadline is close of business local time, Friday, June 7, 2019. The complete application package should be uploaded electronically in a single file in PDF format through www.aacc.nche.edu/mentorlinks. Faxed, emailed, and/or mailed applications will not be accepted.
Q. Can I send part of my application package through email and another part by mail?
A. The application package must be submitted in its complete form. Please make sure that the PDF includes letters of support on letterhead with signatures. Applications and letters of support submitted electronically without valid signatures will not be accepted.
Requirements
Q. Who is eligible to apply to be a Mentor for the MentorLinks program?
A. Community college employees; individuals closely aligned with community college STEM programs, such as retired professionals, consultants, or industry advisory board members.
Finance
Q. Do Mentors receive compensation for their time?
A. Mentors are required to keep track of time spent on the MentorLinks program. They receive an honorarium of up to $9,200 for the grant period:
$400/day for approximately 18 work days
$200/day for approximately 10 travel days
Q. Are travel costs for the Mentor covered by the grant?
A. AACC will cover the costs for the Mentor to conduct a site visit to their mentee college, to attend the Mentor Team training and orientation meeting in Washington, DC, on September 13, 2019, and to attend three national MentorLinks project meetings and ATE National Principal Investigators’ Conferences in Washington, DC. The dates of the project meetings and conferences are October 22–25, 2019; October 20–23, 2020; and October 19–22, 2021.
Q. What about travel costs involved with hosting a MentorLinks College at the Mentor’s institution or affiliated institution?
A. Mentee colleges will budget for this travel in their own MentorLinks grants.
MentorLinks Colleges
Q. Who are the MentorLinks Colleges?
A. MentorLinks Colleges will be selected in a separate national award competition. MentorLinks is designed for community colleges seeking to improve technical education programs in the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields.
Q. Can I choose who my MentorLinks College will be?
A. No. AACC will assign each Mentor to a MentorLinks College after the awards have been made. A number of factors will influence pairing decisions, including program discipline, expertise, and geography.
Selection Process
Q. How many Mentors will be selected for the MentorLinks project?
A. Up to 10 Mentors will be selected to be part of the AACC MentorLinks Team.
Q. How many community colleges will be selected for the MentorLinks project?
A. Up to 10 community colleges will be selected to be part of the MentorLinks program.
Q. What is the application review process?
A. Applications will be evaluated in a peer review process, with additional input from AACC and its partners.
Q. When will I hear if I have been accepted as Mentor?
A. Mentors will be notified of their acceptance into the program and of their college mentees in by July 19, 2019.