A cost-free service to help two-year college STEM faculty prepare competitive grant proposals for submission to the NSF ATE Program. In addition, Mentor-Connect provides guidance through the NSF funding process and advice about project start-up. Mentor-Connect also engages and prepares those who serve as mentors for prospective grantees.

Two-year colleges that have not received an NSF ATE grant in the past, or faculty who have never served as a PI or Co-PI on an ATE grant, receive the most help. Mentoring and assistance are also available if you are seeking a second ATE project grant (Moving-UP Mentoring) or if you are reworking a declined first or second project proposal for resubmission (Second-Chance Mentoring). Mentor-Connect webinars, tutorials, checklists, technical assistance, and other resources are freely available to all prospective grantees.

The funding success rate of those who participate in a Mentor-Connect cohort far exceeds that of those who don’t. Participants learn strategies for success as well as how to avoid mistakes. Participating two-year college faculty and their grant team members benefit from two in-person workshops and nine months of instruction, technical assistance, and one-on-one mentoring to learn the essentials as they prepare their ATE grant proposals.

Working with a highly experienced Mentor from the ATE Program brings a valuable outside perspective and "insider" knowledge to the process of re-working a proposal that was not initially funded. Your Mentor-Connect Mentor will also help you avoid mistakes and missteps that may have contributed to lower ratings for your proposal the first time.

Reviewer expectations are different for second grants than for initial grants and the competition for funding is much greater. A highly experienced Mentor from the ATE Program will bring a valuable outside perspective and "insider" knowledge to help you understand reviewer expectations for a larger project. Your Mentor will also help you avoid mistakes and missteps that may reduce the chances of receiving a grant award.

Mentor-Connect is based at Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC.

The Principal Investigator for the Mentor-Connect project is Pamela Silvers. Co-PIs are Emery DeWitt and Elaine Craft. Osa Brand, Louis McIntyre, and Mel Cossette serve as Senior Personnel for the Mentor-Connect project. Mentor-Connect Mentors are integral to the work of the project and serve as project advisors.

Applications for Second-Chance Mentoring may be submitted when your college receives a proposal decline notice from NSF.  Overall, the deadline for mentoring assistance is the first Friday in April for a proposal to be resubmitted to ATE in October. To apply, click here.

Applications for Moving-Up Mentoring are due the second Friday in March for proposal resubmission in October. To apply, click here.

Mentor-Connect offers the Mentor Fellows training program for future Mentors. Successful applicants for Mentor Fellows have both grant-writing and ATE project implementation experience. Each Mentor Fellow engages in a year-long internship of training with a Mentor-Connect cohort and shadows a current Mentor to become eligible to serve as a Mentor-Connect Mentor. Mentor Fellows receive a stipend and travel support for their participation as is the case for those who serve as Mentors.