Become a Mentor

A Peer Mentor is a trusted ally who works with, not for, a mentee, supporting their best interests and goals. As a mentor, you will share your OCC experience, your education and career path, and the lessons you have learned along the way to help first-year, transfer, and Promise Zone students find their footing.

Eligibility

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8
• Able to commit to one (1) full semester as a mentor
• In good standing with the College's Student Code of Conduct
• Previous student leadership experience

Qualifications of a Peer Mentor

• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8
• Pass a standard background security check
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Previous leadership experience
• Involvement in campus and/ or community activities
• Commitment to diversity and multiculturalism
• Knowledge of campus resources
• Commit to being a peer mentor for one (1) semester
• Mentor a maximum of three (3) mentees

Expectations of a Peer Mentor

• Maintaining the minimum grade point average of 2.8
• Attend the orientation
• Attend campus (virtual and/or in-person) events with your mentees on a frequent basis
• Participate in leadership training sessions
• Maintain weekly contact with mentees and complete Activity Log (report electronically/D2L)
• Be professional and appropriate in requests to mentor (i.e. not asking for a tutoring/relationships)
• Comply with the College’s Student Code of Conduct
• Mentor/ mentee relationships should remain platonic
• Notify Dean of Student Engagement of any issues during your time as a mentor
• Provide feedback about your experience through pre- and post-surveys

What is NOT Expected as a Mentor

• To have all the answers
• To initiate all contact with their mentee

What You Will Do

• Share knowledge of your education/career path, successes, failures, and what your experiences have taught you
• Be professional and appropriate in requests from mentees (this is a mentoring relationship, not a tutoring relationship)
• Keep the mentor/mentee relationship platonic
• Notify the Dean of Student Engagement of any issues that come up during your time as a mentor
• Complete pre- and post- program surveys to help us improve the program

 

Confidentiality

The mentoring relationship should be based on trust and honesty. Information shared within the context of the relationship should be handled with discretion, and confidentiality should be honored in most situations. However, for the well-being of all involved parties, including the College, confidentiality cannot be offered in the following situations:

• The mentor/mentee talks about suicide.
• The mentor/mentee discusses intentions to harm another person.
• The mentor/mentee discusses an incident of sexual misconduct/harassment that occurred at the College.

If you or your student have experienced an incident of sexual misconduct/harassment, please provide them with information on how to contact the Title IX Coordinator:  

Carmen White
Employee Services Director/Title IX Coordinator
Phone (248) 341-2036

If you or your student are in distress, please provide them with contact information for the Counseling Department at the appropriate campus. 

Apply to be a Mentor