Peer Mentoring

1. To help student navigate the College of the North Atlantic
2. To support the growth, development and success of students’ personal, academic and goals; 
3. To help reduce stress and anxiety through peer support; 
4. To help students feel connected to the campus and community services;  
5. To build skills for both the Mentee and Mentor.  

A Mentor will usually be an experienced student who is able to work in a partnership with other students. Mentor applications are open to all students, even 1st year students, who demonstrate interest and ability to help others.

• A person that is willing to share their experience, be non-judgmental and supportive
• A person that helps ease the transition from high school to CNA
• A person that eases the transition of an international student in to Canada
• A person that guides students to resources and opportunities on campus
• A person that helps students develop and foster social networks
• A person that helps students network with people and possible employers in the community

• A tutor
• A counselor
• An academic advisor
• A parent
• A source of money

Peer mentoring can have a profound impact on a mentee’s sense of self-worth. Peer mentoring can also provide mentors with several life-skills that they can carry with them through their educational and work experiences. Peer mentoring can create a positive relationship that is mutually beneficially to both mentor and mentee.

• You can build relationships with other students who have similar interests
• You can develop a deeper connection to the campus community
• You can develop your interpersonal relationship skills
• You can develop leadership skills
• You can develop communication skills

• You can build relationships with other students who have similar interests
• You can develop a connection to the campus community
• You can develop a strong sense of self-efficacy
• You can feel more confident in social settings
• You can improve your overall academic performance

The Peer Mentoring program has many benefits. Mentors and mentees will work together on a variety of things such as creating and working towards goals, being a positive role model, improving self-esteem, strengthening connections to fellow students and the college, and developing interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.

In many cases, Peer Mentors are the link between fostering relationships with peers and faculty, and creating an understanding of the demands of college and how to create goals to succeed. Along the way, the Peer Mentor may notice growth in themselves through increased confidence, improved self-esteem, and self-efficacy.

It is important to remember that the primary purpose of the Peer Mentoring program is to build a relationship that is has a strong foundation in trust and to be a supportive role model for your mentee.
When working with your mentee, it is important to allow them to create and have ownership of the goals they choose to work towards. As a mentor, your focus is to be the best mentor you can be – however, you can still have goals for yourself such as improving your listening skills or becoming more solutions oriented.

• To provide a safe and confidential relationship
• To help develop relationships with faculty and staff mentors
• The relationship to be one-directional, at the start
• To experience change and be busy
• To experience some frustration along the way
• To support your mentee in reaching their goals
• To make a positive impact in your mentee’s life

• To save or reform your mentee
• Your mentee to confide in you, or trust you, at the start
• Significant change quickly
• Your goals to be the same as your mentee’s
• You will automatically be best friends, friendships take time to develop
• Your mentee to plan meetings
• To know what type of impact you may have made

• The Peer Mentoring program is first and foremost meant to be a safe place for students to connect with one another in a supportive role. Mentors and Mentees should expect to spend between 1 and 3 hours a week hanging out. The arrangements you make to meet will be agreed upon by the mentor and the Mentee. It could be virtually through Teams or other online platforms, it could be a phone call or a facetime call. Or it could be in-person on or off campus. Whatever works best for the two of you.
• Mentor to Mentee ratio will be one to one. This means a mentor will usually ONLY be matched with one Mentee.
• Mentors will receive mandatory training before they are approved to mentor.
• Mentees will also be expected to complete an online awareness seminar before being matched.
• Both the Mentor and Mentee will need to submit a monthly check-in report. This will be generic in nature and is meant to help the College make improvements to the program for future students