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Take your next step toward success

The College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) Success Mentors program is here to help you take your next giant leap at Purdue. The HHS Success Mentors program pairs first-year students with sophomore, junior and senior mentors and provides mentees with academic support, psychological and emotional support, goal-setting assistance, career advice, and role modeling. All participants gain knowledge, skills and abilities essential to their personal and professional success.

What does it mean to be a mentee?

By joining the program as a mentee, you will be paired with a peer mentor who will offer guidance during your first year as a Boilermaker. Together, you will have access to exclusive programs and opportunities to support you in your persistent pursuit of success at Purdue.

Mentees are expected to actively develop and maintain connections with their mentor as well as attend meetings and events with their mentor throughout the academic year. Mentees should work collaboratively and respectfully with members of the College of Health and Human Sciences community.

2023 – 24 Mentee Application Process

The HHS Success Mentor Program is still accepting applications to be a mentee for 2023-24. However, space is limited. The application will close once we have reached capacity.

After applying, please allow three business days for our team to reach out with a status of your application.

Submit Application

How are mentors and mentees matched?

Incoming HHS students apply to be mentees using the application below. Students can indicate in the application how they would prefer to be matched with a mentor based on a variety of criteria (major, career goals, gender identity, race/ethnicity, etc.). Final pairing decisions are made by HHS Success Mentors professional staff. Mentees can expect to hear from their mentors by the start of the fall semester.

Program Structure 

Mentoring sessions

Mentor and mentees interact weekly for one-on-one mentoring sessions and activities of their own choosing. These sessions can include — but are not limited to — events such as the following:

Success Mentors family events

Mentors and mentees are placed in “families” that consist of six to eight mentors and their mentees. “Family” events are held at least four times throughout the semester and are organized and facilitated by Core Leadership Team members. Family events can include — but are not limited to — events such as the following:

  • Career development workshops
  • Wellness programs
  • Community service
  • Formal dinners with faculty
Students talking

Becoming a mentor

The role of an HHS Success Mentor is to provide direction, guidance and support to a minimum of two mentees in the college. Mentors facilitate conversations and engage in activities with their mentees throughout the academic year. Becoming an HHS Success Mentor is an excellent opportunity to improve leadership and communication skills.

As representatives of HHS and Purdue, mentors work collaboratively and respectfully with other mentors, mentees, and HHS faculty and staff. Success mentors are also enrolled in a one-credit course, HHS 30000 (Peer Mentoring in the Health and Human Sciences), where they are able to practice and implement what they are learning in the classroom with their peers. Mentors can expect to commit approximately 10 hours a month to the position.

I’ve benefited from the HHS Success Mentors Program by meeting other people in my major and in HHS. Before this program, I didn’t really know anyone in HHS since I mainly took GenEd courses my freshman year. Now, I have friends that I can talk to about classes, extracurriculars, and career building opportunities.

Victoria

Core Leadership Team Member

As a mentee, I had easy access to useful information for navigating campus resources and my classes. As a mentor, I have strengthened my leadership and communication skills and expanded my knowledge of campus resources.

Isaac

Core Leadership Team Member

I originally joined the HHS Success Mentors program as a mentee to learn about Purdue and build connections. I loved the program so much that I wanted to continue to be part of it and became a mentor.

Ashlita

Core Leadership Team Member

Mentor application process

  • A completed mentor application includes the online mentor application, a current resume and contact information for at least two professional references.
  • First-time mentor applicants are encouraged to submit a reference from at least one Purdue University faculty or staff member who can speak to their potential as a peer mentor.
  • Returning mentor applicants are encouraged to submit contact information for at least one of their current mentees to speak to their mentoring skills.
  • Information regarding the 2024-25 mentor application process will be posted toward the end of the fall semester.

Mentor qualifications and continued eligibility

  • Mentors are undergraduate Purdue University students who are sophomores, juniors or seniors in the College of Health and Human Sciences.
  • Mentors need to maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
  • Mentors need to remain in good standing with the university.

Core Leadership Team position overview

The role of the Core Leadership Team is to provide guidance and support to mentors and mentees. Core Leadership Team members fulfill all mentor expectations and responsibilities and help plan, coordinate and lead family mentor and mentee activities while also responding to questions and concerns from mentors on their team.

Core Leadership Team Mentors are also enrolled in a one-credit course, HHS 30000 (Peer Mentoring in the Health and Human Sciences), where they are able to practice and implement what they are learning in the classroom with their peers. Additionally, the Core Leadership Team assists in the recruitment, selection and training of mentors. Core Leadership Team members can expect to commit approximately 10 hours a month to the position.

Core Leadership Team qualifications and continued eligibility

  • Core Leadership Team members are undergraduate students who are juniors or seniors in the College of Health and Human Sciences and who have at least one year of experience as an HHS mentor.
  • Core Leadership Team members need to maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
  • Core Leadership Team members need to remain in good standing with the university.
  • Applicants interested in the Core Leadership Team for 2024-25 will be sent additional information about the position throughout the academic year.

Contact Us

Kendra Coons-Oborne

Senior Student Program Coordinator