Mentorship at NAIT
Starting as a first-year student at NAIT is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming and scary. We know it can be difficult to navigate your academic program, connect with other students, develop a sense of belonging, and find your rhythm.
NAIT's mentorship programs support first-year students in their transition to post-secondary and life in Canada. These programs match first-year students (mentees) with experienced peers (mentors) to create a low-pressure space for learning and support to take place. Mentors support mentees in navigating post-secondary life, building community, offering guidance on academics, sharing campus resources and helping to gain more confidence.
As mentees navigate their first year at NAIT, mentors provide them with advice, guidance, and support through regular meetings and other forms of meetups.
Together, mentors and mentees will discuss topics such as:
-
Navigating your first year at NAIT.
-
Succeeding in the classroom: academic topics, strategies, or concerns.
-
Navigating resources and support at NAIT.
-
Balancing academic and personal life.
-
Getting involved outside of the classroom: engaging in student life activities such as events, volunteering, clubs, and more.
-
Practicing interpersonal skills and building a network.
We offer two mentorship programs for students at NAIT:
1:1 Peer Mentorship
Audience: Open to all NAIT students.
Program details: First-year students are matched with an upper-year mentor for personalized support. Mentees will be provided with advice, guidance and support from their mentors through regular 1:1 meetings and other forms of meet ups including exclusive mentorship events and activities.
Matching: Mentors and mentees in this program are matched based on academic program, shared goals, interests and personal background.
Duration of program: Academic Year
International Peer Groups
Audience: Open to International students.
Program details: First-year international students join a group led by an upper-year international student mentor to help reduce cultural transition stress to NAIT and Canada, while building connection.
Matching: Mentors and mentees in this program are matched in a group based on the first group meeting schedule. Mentees will participate in group activities and meetups.
Duration of program: 1 semester
Roles
Peer Mentors
As a Peer Mentor you will help support, guide, and advise first-year students in the same academic program with additional similar interests, helping them navigate the transition into NAIT life.
Mentor role
-
Encourage mentees to access campus resources and support them through the challenges of their first year
-
Engage mentees in conversations about personal and academic success
-
Build a climate of trust with mentees
-
Ask open honest questions to help mentees reflect on behaviours and progress
-
Seek out opportunities to expose mentees to new ideas and opportunities
-
Full Peer Mentor Role Description
International Peer Mentors
As an International Peer Mentor, you will make a difference in the lives of students new to Canada by helping them navigate cultural adjustments, post-secondary systems in Canada, and at NAIT.
International Peer Mentor role
Mentor Benefits
- Help others: Connect classroom & NAIT knowledge to real-world experiences.
- Develop feelings of connection & belonging within the NAIT community: Meet & connect with students from all over the world & form long-lasting relationships with fellow students & staff at NAIT.
- Grow personally & professionally: Gain experience in leadership, communications & other relevant soft skills through intentional training & mentor-mentee relationships.
-
Receive recognition: Volunteer hours recorded on your Ooks Life involvement record, attend events, receive food, swag & build community.
Peer Mentees
As a Peer Mentee, you will work with your mentor to seek out resources both in your program and at NAIT, as well as, other people who will help you be successful in your first year (and beyond!) at NAIT.
Peer Mentee role
-
Lead communications between you and your mentor.
-
Identify the skills, knowledge, or goals you want to work on or discuss with your mentor.
-
Identify ways to give back to your mentor and show appreciation for their support.
International Peer Group Mentees
As an International Peer Group Mentee, you will work with your mentor to develop a social support network to help reduce cultural transition stress as you start your academic journey in Canada, and at NAIT.
International Peer Group Mentee role
Mentee Benefits
- Develop academic & personal strategies: Successfully transition into life at NAIT and Canada and understand the support and services available by asking senior year students' advice.
- Develop feelings of connection & belonging: Build a social support network to start your academic journey.
- Grow your skills: Refine interpersonal skills, develop greater self-awareness and directedness while increasing confidence and improving mental health & well-being.
Sign up
If you’re an experienced NAIT student interested in supporting a first-year student who is new to NAIT, or you’re a new student looking to be matched with a mentor in the program, visit your MyNAIT portal today for all the application information.
Learn more and apply
Additional Peer Programs at NAIT
Drop-in Peer Support from NAITSA
If you’re not necessarily looking for a long-term, formalized relationship with an experienced student at NAIT, you might be interested in seeking Peer Support through the NAIT Students’ Association. Peer Support is an anonymous and confidential supportive listening service for students, by students. Delivered on a walk-in basis, or through a LiveChat.
International Students Peer Group
The International Peer Group program helps new students studying in Canada to make friends, build connections, and have a great campus experience at NAIT. The program provides peer support to help reduce cultural transition stress for students new to studying in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mentorship?
Mentorship is a structured (formal or informal) relationship that typically takes place between a more experienced individual and lesser experienced individual who is seeking advice, guidance, and support on a particular subject. When done right, mentorship relationships are mutually beneficial for both the mentor and mentee.
An example would be an experienced student being a peer mentor to a new student, the peer mentee, in a particular subject, or in a new school.
What is the difference between the 1:1 Mentorship Program & International Peer Group Program?
1:1 Mentorship
First-year students are matched with an upper-year mentor for personalized support. Mentees will be provided with advice, guidance and support from their mentors through regular 1:1 meetings and other forms of meet ups and matched based on academic program, shared goals, interests and personal background.
- Peer Mentor (PM) - experienced student volunteers who support, guide and advise mentees in the same academic program with additional similar interests, to navigate the transition into NAIT life.
- Peer Mentees - first-year students who sign up to the mentorship program because they want to seek out resources and other supports to help them be successful in their first year (and beyond!) at NAIT.
International Peer Groups
First-year international students join a group led by an upper-year international student mentor to help reduce cultural transition stress to NAIT and Canada, while building connection. Mentors and mentees in this program are matched in a group based on the first group meet up schedule. Mentees will participate in group activities and meetups.
- International Peer Groups (IPGs) – each IPG consists of 1 International Peer Mentor and 3 to 6 student mentees who will meet at least 6 times during a semester.
- International Peer Mentors (IPMs) – senior students who volunteer to support the cultural adjustment for their Student Mentees through sharing their Canadian and NAIT experience, offering peer advice and exploring the student community.
- International Peer Mentees – students who sign up to join an IPG because they want to connect with peers and build friendships and connections during their cultural transition to Canada and participate in the IPG meetups.
Why should I work with a mentor?
Further to the information provided, mentorship provides first-year students (mentees) with the opportunity to connect with an experienced NAIT student. Mentors help you/mentees:
-
develop academic and personal strategies to successfully transition to NAIT life and/or life in Canada.
-
understand the support and services available to you for personal and academic success
-
increase your feeling of connectedness and belonging with the NAIT community
-
develop friendships and personal accountability
-
learn from the advice and opinions of someone in your program with more or different experience
If you are a first-year student and aren't sure which program to sign up to be a mentee in, no problem. Our application will help guide you and find the right fit.
Is this program offered in-person or virtually?
1:1 Peer Mentorship: Once Peer Mentors and Mentees are matched together, they can decide whether mentor-mentee meetings and activities take place in-person, virtually, or through a combination of both. Therefore, participation in this program will be based on what works best for the individual participants.
International Peer Groups: Your group meetups and activities will happen in-person and on-campus.