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?
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
Testimonials
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."
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."
Mentor
"I would like to give back and help current students achieve their goals, sometimes all it takes is a simple conversation."
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.”
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.”
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