As a mentor, you are the foundation of a successful program, and you are commended for undertaking this important role. By hosting individuals, you are contributing to the training of the next generation of scientists and engineers, as well as advancing the mission of DOE.
The Oak Ridge Environmental Management Science Education and Internship Program provides participants with opportunities for hands-on experience that complements his or her academic course of study. Please encourage your participant to attend seminars, professional meetings, staff meetings, and other functions that will provide insight into the ways in which professionals interact within your facility and with others.
Because the primary purpose of the program is educational, the person you are hosting is not an employee performing a job, and there are restrictions on the types of assignments that you can make. For example, the participant’s project should not include work activities that are reserved for federal employees, nor should the project require the participant to provide expert advice, supervise, mentor, hire or fire anyone, have budget program management, or signature authority, carry an official job title, or function in any way as a representative of the federal government.
A full-time participant is making a full-time commitment and should avoid obligations that will interrupt in the appointment. Your participant should be assigned a project that demands full-time attention (based on 40 hours per week). Part-time participants’ assignments should also be based on their appointment agreements.
Participants do not earn annual or medical leave, but may be allowed occasional absences without a reduction of their stipend. All absences must be approved in advance by you, the mentor, and should be allowed on a limited and as-needed basis only.
Every effort should be made to make up any missed time. If the missed time cannot be rescheduled or is not permitted without reduction in stipend, ORAU should immediately be informed (either by you or through your program coordinator). It is imperative that ORAU be quickly notified of any change in a participant’s schedule that will result in a different stipend payment than regularly received.
Participants are paid for federal holidays. For holidays and emergency closings, the participant follows the same schedule as your facility.
Should the participant choose to end the appointment early, it is essential that you notify ORAU of the early termination immediately. Your cooperation in making sure that ORAU is always informed – with as much notice as possible – of any schedule changes which may necessitate a change in regular stipend payments is essential.
Suggestions for a Successful Relationship
Because we believe that good mentoring is the cornerstone of quality educational programs, ORAU has developed an online mentor orientation module. The purpose of this module is to provide mentors with information about how to make the most of their mentoring experience.
The module addresses the following topics:
To access the orientation module, please visit ORAU Mentor Orientation.