The majority of the work of this Committee during 1999 was coming to consensus on what this committee can do to best assist newer RUME researchers. Below is an outline of the ideas that were generated by this committee and which will lay the foundation for future work of this committee.

1. INFORMATION SHARING
   1. Bibliography. ARUME should develop and make public a bibliography of work in RUME. This is currently being done by the Literature Committee and we assume will eventually be posted at the ARUME web site.
   2. Researchers. Information on researchers in RUME and their areas of interest should be gathered and posted. This project is currently being headed by Harel Barzilai and we assume the information will eventually be posted at the ARUME web site. One recommendation of this committee which may enhance this list is for this information to include research collaborations, a listing of current projects for these researchers, and for the list to be "Searchable".
   3. Threaded Discussions on Research. The ARUME list-serve should be used as a forum for discussions on current research, future questions in RUME, theoretical perspectives, etc. [Note: This does not seem to be taking place regularly on this list-serve. In fact the list-serve is under-utilized. Perhaps the chair of this committee (or another designee) might spur such discussion on occasion?]
   4. Other Information. The committee felt that other information that might be useful both to established and newer researchers includes: conferences, journals, books, funding opportunities, job opportunities, other web sites of interest, other research data bases, MA and Ph.D. programs in mathematics education. This information could be collected and posted on the web site.
2. "TRAINING" FUNCTIONS
   1. Minicourses. ARUME might sponsor minicourses or workshops on doing RUME at MAA meetings. The last such minicourse (we recall) was at the Joint Meetings in San Francisco in 1995 led by Heid and Ferrini-Mundy.
   2. Mentor Meetings. This committee should continue to host a meeting at the annual ARUME Conference which is devoted to mentor/mentee issues.
   3. Sessions/Workshops. This committee might sponsor sessions or workshops at ARUME functions (at Joint Math meetings or the ARUME Conference) on such topics as: giving a quality talk, getting RUME papers published, conducting research in RUME, theoretical perspectives in RUME, working sessions on research work in progress.
3. MINI-GRANTS
   The Committee on Mentoring felt that the most effective way to utilize the $12,000/year set aside for mentoring (listed under RUMEC+ in the Exxon grant) was through a series of mini-grants. These grants would support collaborative research efforts which involve a mentoring relationship and which will lead toward quality research publications and/or presentations. A draft of the mini-grant proposal is currently being prepared. The draft will be presented both to the entire Committee on Mentoring and the Executive Committee for recommendations and finally for approval. Hopefully these grants will be available by Spring 2000.

The first year of ARUME saw the Committee on Mentoring mainly planning and setting the foundation for future work of this committee. In 2000 and beyond, this committee will begin implementing many of these recommendations. This work will necessitate communication and joint effort with other ARUME committees, including the literature and web site committees.

Respectfully submitted by:
Mickey McDonald
George Litman
co-chairs