Special Populations Collaborative

Effective Practices for Nontraditional Students

 

Butte College Mentoring Program

Butte College began a new pilot mentoring program for students in spring 2010. Studies show students can be more successful and attain their career goals if they are better connected to the college. “The idea of a mentoring program is to give students a mentor in addition to their instructors and counselors, someone to help them become part of the college, learn about all the services available and help them to relate to the college as their community,” says Angela Kraemer, Butte College English instructor. The ultimate goal, says Kraemer, is to have a campus wide mentoring program that includes participation by all faculty, staff and administrators so that every student has a mentor. To start, the program will serve 25 students from a developmental English class. “The generosity of the faculty from across all disciplines who volunteered to be mentors was amazing. I just asked and they said ‘yes,’” says Kraemer. “The students will be paired with a faculty member based on interests, hobbies and what they wish to pursue in college. After being introduced, each mentor and mentee will decide their own meeting schedule and activities.”

http://www.butte.edu/feeds/2009/Mentoring.html