NASA HQs Mentoring Program

In addition to technological advancement, NASA is also committed to excellence in human development. One of the programs that HQ offers to support that commitment and to enhance positive workplace experiences is the HQ Mentoring Program, entitled “eMerge”.

The purpose of the eMerge Program is to provide NASA HQ employees the opportunity to develop professionally through formal relationships.  “eMerge” is an acronym which stands for:  Employees Mentoring Employees for Readiness, Growth and Excellence.  The name was created to communicate the unique wealth of mid-level to senior-level professionals at HQ and the cultural imperative of these professionals mentoring each other for NASA’s success. 

Employee participation in the eMerge Program enables NASA HQ to cultivate a learning environment and enhance the Agency’s ability to execute its changing missions.  The eMerge Program is designed to:

• Provide opportunities for frequent and open interaction between employees and leaders at the same or different organizational levels;
• Serve as a vehicle for transferring technical as well as formal and informal organizational knowledge;
• Assist with succession planning and skill-building integral to organizational success;
• Develop focused networks to strengthen capabilities in program execution, across organizational boundaries;
• Enhance communication and collaboration at all levels within NASA HQ; and
• Improve individual motivation, performance;
• Encourage the development of innovative problem-solving strategies.

Mentoring—What Is its Primary Goal?

Mentoring is defined as the process where individuals transfer organizational knowledge and navigational skills to another person through teaching, guiding, counseling, and coaching. Mentoring can play a key role in developing one’s career. NASA wishes to foster a climate of continuous learning and improvement for its employees through the mentoring process, providing employee development and professional growth.

What are the Components of the eMerge Program?

The eMerge Program is a formal Mentoring Program with the following components:

• A six-month formal mentoring partnership commitment;
• Flash Mentoring events to enable informal mentoring relationships within the program;
• Regular education opportunities for Mentor Pairs to facilitate role definition, relationship building and communication skills; and
• Development of a “Mentoring Application Project” which culminates in a formal report-out to a panel of HQ executives.

What Roles and Responsibilities are Available in the eMerge Program?

There are several roles and responsibilities that are necessary to make the eMerge Program successful:

• Mentors serve in several roles and have various characteristics— effective leader, achiever, takes pride in NASA and understands its mission, discipline/technically competent, career/professional, politically savvy, and exhibits effective interpersonal communication;  
• Mentees, with the guidance of their mentor, set their goals in a written action plan and take an active role in carrying out that plan. Mentees are eager to learn and are team players, and
• Supervisors attend the Orientation Kick-Off Session and meet with mentors and mentees to provide collaboration input & sign-off on the Mentoring Action Plan (MAP).

Mentor pairs should commit to meet with each other 2–4 hours a month in a six-month formal mentoring partnership.  Communications via email, phone, social networking and other mediums are encouraged as well.

How Do I Sign-Up to be a Mentor or a Mentee?

Mentors must be a GS-14 or higher level.  The process begins with a nomination by an Official-in-Charge (OIC) during the Summer “Call for Mentors.” The HQ OICs are asked to nominate Mentors to participate in the program.  If you are interested in becoming a Mentor, and you have not been nominated, please approach your supervisor and discuss your interest in participating in the eMerge Program.

• OICs/Interested Mentors must submit the completed Mentor Nomination Form to the EOEB by July 28, 2011. UPDATE: The Mentor Nomination deadline has been extended to: September 28, 2011

eMerge Program’s Mentor Nomination Form:

In order to access and complete the eMerge Program’s nomination form, please follow the instructions below:

• Click on the following web link: www.nef.nasa.gov
• Access the “Choose the Distribution Center” drop-down menu and select “NHQ Forms”
• Access the “Enter a Form Number” drop-down menu and enter “311”
• After you have accessed the form from NASA’s Electronic Forms website, you can save, edit and print the form to your hard drive.
• Forward the completed Mentor Nomination form through your Office for approval.

Mentees can self-nominate with their Supervisor’s approval from July 1, 2011 through September 28, 2011. UPDATE: The Mentee Nomination deadline has been extended to October 15, 2011.

• Interested Mentees must submit the completed Mentee Nomination Form to the EOEB by Octoer 15, 2011. 

eMerge Program’s Mentee Nomination Form:

In order to access and complete the eMerge Program’s nomination form, please follow the instructions below:

• Click on the following web link: www.nef.nasa.gov
• Access the “Choose the Distribution Center” drop-down menu and select “NHQ Forms”
• Access the “Enter a Form Number” drop-down menu and enter “312”
• After you have accessed the form from NASA’s Electronic Forms website, you can save, edit and print the form to your hard drive.
• Forward the completed Mentee Nomination form through your Office for approval.

Mentors and Mentees will be matched with no more than 2 levels between their respective grades.  Just as Mentees may select a Mentor based on the characteristics they most desire in that role, Mentors will be given the opportunity to have input in the matching process. It is highly recommended that each Mentor is assigned no more than one mentee during each six-month program.

An introductory “Flash Mentoring” session will be held Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. in Room 2E39in order to give potential Mentors and Mentees the opportunity to experience a mentoring relationship in action.

Once Mentors and Mentees complete their respective program nomination forms, the eMerge Program Manager, Susan Snyder, will provide a link to the Mentoring Matching System to complete next steps in the process.

How Can I Learn More About the eMerge Program?

To learn more about the eMerge Mentoring Program, please plan to attend one of the HQs Information Briefings:

• July 12, 2011 – 10:00-11:30 a.m. – Room 3P44,
• July 14, 2011 - 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. – Room 3P44, or
• August 17, 2011 - 10:00 - 11:30 - Room 3P44
• September 15, 2011 - 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. - Room 3P50