College students will have the opportunity to learn about and prepare for future career paths through Orange Coast College’s new career mentor program.
The community college, located in Costa Mesa, announced last month it is partnering with Mentor Collective—an organization that connects students with one-on-one mentors—to bring this program to its students for free.
Director of Workplace Development and Career Services Ginger Neel said the program is designed to set students up for employment after graduation.
“A key measurement of student success is how students navigate the path from higher education to employment,” she said in a statement. “We want to help our students overcome any barriers that may exist between them and their chosen careers. What better way to do that than to match them up with a mentor who can show them the ropes?”
Mentors will be recruited from pools of Orange Coast College alumni, local industry partnerships, and advisory boards, according to a statement from the college. They are then matched with students based on students’ career interests and goals.
Mentors will work with students to set goals in preparation for their future careers and are expected to check in on their mentees’ progress—either virtually or in person—at least once a month.
According to Mentor Collective’s website, the program is helpful in preparing students for critical workforce skills they might not learn in classrooms, such as developing a growth mindset, improving public speaking skills, networking, and navigating workplace dynamics.
In addition, a retention case study by Mentor Collective found that the implementation of their program at the University of Florida increased student retention by 6 percent.
“Relationships shape the experience and outcomes of a student’s journey through higher education,” the website reads. “Some students will find these relationships among faculty and advisors; however, many more will struggle to forge the long-lasting relationships that drive student success and open doors. At Mentor Collective, we seek to make life-changing relationships a feature of every student’s college experience.”
Mentor Collective has partnered with more than 150 colleges and universities—including the University of California–Riverside, Santa Clara University, the University of Florida, and Rice University—to match students with mentors.
Neel said in the statement that the program set a goal to match 100 students with mentors for the fall 2022 semester.
