Guidelines for Becoming a Peer Mentor

Starting college is a major step for new students, and the transition often times becomes overwhelming and confusing. The Peer Mentor program was established to help new students make a successful start to college. Peer Mentors will begin working with students before they even enroll at Ohlone, informing them of the opportunities available at the college and providing campus tours. They will then follow Mentees throughout the enrollment process, orientation, and their first year of college.

Through weekly emails, phone calls, monthly newsletters, and in-person interactions, Mentors will offer advice on a wide variety of topics such as time management, study skills, and campus resources. Because Mentors have “been in their shoes,” they are able to relate to the challenges new students are facing in their adjustment to college. Mentors will be trained in areas such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving. They will also be thoroughly trained in when to refer students to other campus resources such as tutoring, Counseling, or the Health Center.

Peer Mentors also participate in a variety of other recruitment and retention programs such as Welcome Day, Freshman Days: Ohlone College Orientation, New Student Orientations, placement testing, college fairs, and high school presentations.

All new Mentors start out as volunteers; however, after a specified amount of time as a volunteer, Mentors may be hired and paid $8.50 per hour. The number of paid Mentors hired each semester depends upon available funding.

Qualifications for Peer Mentors

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Minimum GPA of 2.75
• Minimum of 12 Units completed at Ohlone
• Positive, energetic attitude
• An interest in helping new students
• The meeting times will be on Thursdays at a time to be determined based on availability of the Mentors
• Must be able to commit to working approximately 5-10 hours per week.