MAS (Mentor Activation for Students) Program

The SACNAS MAS (Mentor Activation for Students) Program gives students more. The MAS Program allows students at all academic levels to connect with professionals from various sectors, STEM disciplines, and areas of the country to develop professional relationships for their academic and long-term success. SACNAS Mentors— who once were in the same shoes as their mentees— will share lifetime experiences and provide one-on-one mentoring for students to reach their full potential in their academic and professional careers in STEM.

Application closes March 10, 2023!

The Details

When: Selected Mentee and Mentor pairs are expected to have bi-weekly meetings from March 17, 2023 to April 24, 2023.

Where: Virtual

IMPORTANT: Sign-ups are on a first-come, first served basis. If not selected for the initial sign-up period, you will be contacted for a future mentor match.

The Details

When: Selected Mentee and Mentor pairs are expected to have bi-weekly meetings from March 17, 2023 to April 24, 2023.

Where: Virtual

IMPORTANT: Sign-ups are on a first-come, first served basis. If not selected for the initial sign-up period, you will be contacted for a future mentor match.

MAS mentorship connects students with guidance on the following areas:

Research Programs

Find, apply, and get accepted to a summer research program

Graduate School

Help with the search and application process

Graduate Fellowship Program

Help with the search and application process

Job Search

Build a strong resume/CV, interview preparation, job applications & more

MAS mentorship connects students with guidance on the following areas:

Research Programs

Find, apply, and get accepted to a summer research program

Graduate School

Help with the search and application process

Graduate Fellowship Program

Help with the search and application process

Job Search

Build a strong resume/CV, interview preparation, job applications & more

Mentees

Eligibility:

Must be a current SACNAS Student Member (join/renew here!), including Community College, Undergraduate, and Graduate Students

Deadline to Apply: March 10, 2023

Mentors

Eligibility:

Must be a current SACNAS Professional Member (join/renew here!)

Deadline to Apply: March 10, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Why mentorship?

Mentoring experiences are transformative. Mentored students reportedly pursue graduate degrees more often than students without mentoring support and are more likely to be retained in STEM. Meanwhile, research also shows that underrepresented students enrolled in STEM degrees typically receive less mentorship than their well-represented/served peers. For the past 50 years, SACNAS has focused on providing mentorship experiences for historically excluded populations during the National Diversity in STEM Conference. In 2022, SACNAS launched an inaugural year-round mentoring program for students at all academic levels to connect with professionals who have been where they are.

Potential Mentees

Who is eligible to apply as a mentee?

Mentees must be a current SACNAS Student Member (join/renew here!), including Community College, Undergraduate, and Graduate Students

What types of topics can mentors help me with?

Mentors can assist mentees with general topics including:

REUs: find, apply and get accepted to a summer research program.
Graduate School: help with an application, etc.
Graduate Fellowship Program: help with the search, application, etc.
Career: build a strong resume/CV, interview preparation, job applications.

How am I matched with a mentor?

Mentors and mentees are matched via the following criteria:

Graduate School
Summer Research Program
Graduate Fellowship Program
Job Search
Interview preparation
Resume/CV feedback

Further, mentees will be matched based on:

Tribal affiliation
Discipline/subdiscipline

Potential Mentors

Who is eligible to become a mentor?

Mentor should be a Professional SACNAS Member (join/renew here!)

What types of topics are mentors expected to address?

Mentors can assist mentees with general topics including:

REUs: find, apply, and get accepted to a summer research program.
Graduate School: help with an application, etc.
Graduate Fellowship Program: help with the search, application, etc.
Career: build a strong resume/CV, interview preparation, job applications.

How am I matched with a mentee?

Mentors and mentees are matched based on the mentee's indicated interest in the following topics:

Graduate School
Summer Research Program
Graduate Fellowship Program
Job Search
Interview preparation
Resume/CV feedback

Further, mentee/mentor pairs will be matched based on:

Tribal affiliation
Discipline/subdiscipline

Important Dates and Suggested Timeline

March 10	Mentor/Mentee Registration ends
March 16	Mentor/Mentee Match Day. You and your student mentee will receive an introduction email with information about the next steps.
March 17	Mentor Orientation. This orientation will be live and recorded. We will answer any of your questions and share the recording.
March 17	Mentee Orientation. This orientation will be live and recorded. We will answer any of your questions and share the recording.
Week of March 20	Suggested time frame for 1st meeting
Week of March 27	Suggested time frame for 2nd meeting
Week of April 3	Suggested time frame for 3rd meeting
Week of April 10	Suggested time frame for 4th meeting
Week of April 17	Suggested time frame for 5th meeting
Week of April 24	Suggested time frame for 6th meeting
Week of May 1	Program ends and mentorship matches will be closed