skip to main content
Search
Search Button

Viking Peer Mentor Program

Discover Support Through OCC’s Viking Peer Mentor Program

It’s no secret that college can be overwhelming, but OCC’s Viking Peer Mentor Program is here to help! Our goal is to enhance the student experience by linking mentees one-on-one with a trained peer mentor. Students are paired with someone invested in their success — a person ready to listen, inspire, help navigate challenges and recognize opportunities. Students will learn what to expect in school, how to approach obstacles, and gain career advice and valuable insights, while mentors will build their networks and develop skills to become better professionals and leaders.

How It Works

Students will be matched with a peer mentor based on common interests, backgrounds, academics, and professional aspirations. To get started, students and mentors register and complete an online survey to assess personality and experience.

Difference Between Mentor and Mentee

Mentee: A student who is interested in enhancing their college experience and gaining a sense of belonging at OCC through mentorship.
Mentor: A student who has been at OCC for over two consecutive terms, a current GPA over 3.0, and a strong enthusiasm towards making a positive impact on a peer’s life

What Do Mentors and Mentees Discuss?

  • How will my major impact my professional options?
  • How do I balance the demands of school, responsibilities, and socializing?
  • How can I set myself up for academic, social, and career success?
  • How do I make connections with peers and professional contacts?
Two female students sitting and working on homework

How Can I Sign Up?

We are actively enrolling mentees and mentors for the current and upcoming terms. This Perkins-funded program is specifically for students enrolled in any of our Career and Technical Education programs. If interested in requesting a mentor, please confirm your field of study is on the list below then click the “Request a Mentor” button. If interested in becoming a mentor, please review the mentor requirements below then if eligible, click the “Become a Mentor” button.

Name of Approved Perkins Eligible Program Program Code
General Studies – Business AS.GE.BUS
Business Administration AS.BA
Business Administration – Data Analytics Option AS.BA.DA
Business Administration – Health Administration Option AS.BA.HA
AS Business Administration – Sports Management Option AS.BA.SM
AS Business Administration – Supply Chain Management Option AS.BA.SCM
Computer Science AS.CS
General Studies – Computer Science AS.GE.CS
Computer Science – Game Development and Design Option AS.CS.GDD
Computer Science – Information Technology Option AS.CS.IT
Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence Option AS.CS.CIS
Computer Science – Cyber – Information Security Option AS.CS.CIS
Criminal Justice AS.CJ
Engineering AS.ENGR
Graphic Arts, Design, and Media AS.GADM
Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management AS.HRTM
Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Associate in Science Option in Culinary Arts AS.HRTM.CA
Social Work AS.SW
Social Work, Associate in Science – Option in Medical and Behavioral Health AS.SW. MEDI
American Sign Language-English Interpreting AAS.IT
Business AAS.BUS
Computer Science/Information Technology AAS.CS
Nursing AAS.NURS
Computer Science/Information Technology – Cloud Computing Concentration AAS.CS.CC
Computer Science/Information Technology – Data Management Concentration AAS.CS.DM
Computer Science/Information Technology – Networking Concentration AAS.CS.NET
Computer Science/Information Technology – Programming Concentration AAS.CS.PROG
Health Science AAS.HS
Technical Studies with Industrial/Technical Option, Associate in Applied Science AAS.TS.TECH
Accounting CT.ACCT
Advanced Accounting CT.ADVAC
Exercise Science CT.EXER
Fire Science CT.FS
Information Technology [32 Credits] CT.INFO
Paralegal Studies, Certificate of Proficiency CT.LEGA
Addictions Counseling CC.ALDC
Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics CC.AMAM
Artificial Intelligence CC.AI
Cybersecurity CC.CYBER
Environmental Sustainability CC.ENVSU
Holistic Health and Wellness CC.HHAW
Industrial Hygiene/Hazardous Materials Management CC.IHHM
Forensic Accounting and Fraud CC.FAFE
Information Technology [17 Credits] CC.INFO
Photography CC.PHOT
Technology Leadership CC.TL
Video Production CC.VP

Mentors must have:

  • Completed at least 2 consecutive semesters at OCC within the last 2 years
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Effective listening and communication skills, flexibility, a strong value for diverse perspectives, eagerness to learn, ability to provide constructive feedback, and enthusiasm for making a difference
  • Participation in this program is a privilege; therefore, mentor eligibility is subject to a code of conduct violation assessment
Name of Approved Perkins Eligible Program
Program Code
General Studies – Business
AS.GE.BUS
Business Administration
AS.BA
Business Administration – Data Analytics Option
AS.BA.DA
Business Administration – Health Administration Option
AS.BA.HA
AS Business Administration – Sports Management Option
AS.BA.SM
AS Business Administration – Supply Chain Management Option
AS.BA.SCM
Computer Science
AS.CS
General Studies – Computer Science
AS.GE.CS
Computer Science – Game Development and Design Option
AS.CS.GDD
Computer Science – Information Technology Option
AS.CS.IT
Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence Option
AS.CS.CIS
Computer Science – Cyber – Information Security Option
AS.CS.CIS
Criminal Justice
AS.CJ
Engineering
AS.ENGR
Graphic Arts, Design, and Media
AS.GADM
Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management
AS.HRTM
Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Associate in Science Option in Culinary Arts
AS.HRTM.CA
Social Work
AS.SW
Social Work, Associate in Science – Option in Medical and Behavioral Health
AS.SW. MEDI
American Sign Language-English Interpreting
AAS.IT
Business
AAS.BUS
Computer Science/Information Technology
AAS.CS
Nursing
AAS.NURS
Computer Science/Information Technology – Cloud Computing Concentration
AAS.CS.CC
Computer Science/Information Technology – Data Management Concentration
AAS.CS.DM
Computer Science/Information Technology – Networking Concentration
AAS.CS.NET
Computer Science/Information Technology – Programming Concentration
AAS.CS.PROG
Health Science
AAS.HS
Technical Studies with Industrial/Technical Option, Associate in Applied Science
AAS.TS.TECH
Accounting
CT.ACCT
Advanced Accounting
CT.ADVAC
Exercise Science
CT.EXER
Fire Science
CT.FS
Information Technology [32 Credits]
CT.INFO
Paralegal Studies, Certificate of Proficiency
CT.LEGA
Addictions Counseling
CC.ALDC
Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics
CC.AMAM
Artificial Intelligence
CC.AI
Cybersecurity
CC.CYBER
Environmental Sustainability
CC.ENVSU
Holistic Health and Wellness
CC.HHAW
Industrial Hygiene/Hazardous Materials Management
CC.IHHM
Forensic Accounting and Fraud
CC.FAFE
Information Technology [17 Credits]
CC.INFO
Photography
CC.PHOT
Technology Leadership
CC.TL
Video Production
CC.VP

Mentors must have:

  • Completed at least 2 consecutive semesters at OCC within the last 2 years
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Effective listening and communication skills, flexibility, a strong value for diverse perspectives, eagerness to learn, ability to provide constructive feedback, and enthusiasm for making a difference
  • Participation in this program is a privilege; therefore, mentor eligibility is subject to a code of conduct violation assessment

Video Resources

Thumbnail for art based mentoring video
Testimonials for the Viking Peer Mentoring
Art Thumbnail for video

Testimonials

Silhouette of user outline

Mentor

"I’m volunteering to mentor because I’ve been fortunate enough to have mentors who guided me throughout my academic and professional careers & I feel like I am finally able to give back."
Silhouette of user outline

Mentor

"I have personally benefited from the help of some great mentors both in my personal life and academic/career life. At my first real job after college I was assigned a mentor on my first day that has been nothing but supportive and helpful to me as I embarked on a new journey. Mentorship has been a very valuable asset to my life and career so far. I believe it is my duty to also give back like the mentors who have been part of my success so far."
Silhouette of user outline

Mentor

"I would like to give back and help current students achieve their goals, sometimes all it takes is a simple conversation."
Silhouette of user outline

Mentee

“[My mentor] helped me answer the question of how to form strong relationships with my professors by giving me an actionable trategy to having strong purposeful visits to their office hours.”
Silhouette of user outline

Mentee

“I'm really excited to have someone there for me. It's nice knowing that I'm not completely alone and hopefully can be someone I can reach out to if I'm having a hard time in school or other activities.”
Silhouette of user outline

Mentee

“My mentor has been an amazing help in my life, he makes me realize and see things more clearly. Sometimes it's in front of your face but can't see until someone puts it into words for you.”

Questions? Contact us!

Kayla Stahl
Program Director, Technical Education Programs
mentor@ocean.edu

Text Link