This is the conceptual framework of a new peer mentor program that I co-developed in spring 2013 to enhance international student success in the context of a 2-year public institution. The summary describes the program general objectives, specific student learning outcomes, and an assessment plan to measure the intended student learning.
1. Saddleback College
International Peer Mentors Program
Program Goals
Student mentors and mentees will be able to identify resources to help them adapt/integrate to life
in the U.S. and Saddleback.
The mentorship program will help promote an understanding and appreciation of different cultures,
backgrounds, religions and viewpoints.
Student mentors will gain experience in leadership, cultural competency, and mentorship.
Program Learning Domains
1. Multicultural competence (exchange of cultural/societal knowledge)
2. Interpersonal development (leadership skills and relationships)
3. Cultural adjustment (social norms and cultural traditions)
4. College integration (campus resources, academic success, school-social life balance)
Mentee Learning Outcomes
Student will be able to develop a relationship with his/her mentor that provides continuous
support throughout their first term at Saddleback College. (Interpersonal Development)
Student will be able to identify (knowledge) 3-5 campus resources he/she learned about from
his/her mentor (for advanced rubric: student will be able to provide evidence of utilizing a
certain resource on campus. EX: Academic plan they came up with when meeting with a
counselor
Student will be able to explain an American social norm/cultural tradition that he/she
experienced during his/her studies at Saddleback (Cultural Adjustment and Multicultural
Competence)
Student will be able to choose an aspect of his/her native culture to share with his/her mentor
(Multicultural Competence)
Mentor Learning Outcomes
Student will be able to evaluate his/her personal development in leadership skills through
his/her role as a mentor (Interpersonal Development)
Student will be able to develop an increased sense of global awareness by valuing diversity,
being aware of cultural differences, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for all students
(Multicultural Competence, Interpersonal Development)
Student will be able to recommend 3-5 campus resources to his/her mentee that he/she
identified as most helpful to his/her success as a student (College Integration)
Student will be able to identify 3 or more new cultural traditions/social norms that differ from
his/her native culture that he/she learned from their mentee (Multicultural Competence,
Cultural Adjustment)
2. Mentee Rubric
Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4
Student will be able to
develop a relationship
with mentor
Student will be able to
identify (knowledge) 3-5
campus resources he/she
learned about from
his/her mentor
Student will be able to
explain an American
social norm/cultural
tradition that he/she
experienced during
his/her studies
Student will be able to
choose an aspect of
his/her native culture to
share with his/her
mentor
Advanced Student will be able to
develop a relationship
with his/her mentor they
consider a friendship
Student will be able to
identify 5 or more
campus resources he/she
learned about from
his/her mentor
Student will be able to
explain and describe their
experience participating
in an American social
norm/social tradition that
he/she experience during
his/her studies here at SC
Student will be able to
share 3 or more aspects
of his/she culture with
the mentor
Competent Student will be able to
develop a relationship
with his/her mentor they
consider a person they
can turn to for support
when help is needed
Student will be able to
identify 3-4 campus
resources he/she learned
about from his/her
mentor
Student will be able to
explain an American
social norm/cultural
tradition that he/she
experienced during
his/her studies here at SC
Student will be able to
share 2 aspects of his/she
culture with the mentor
Basic Student will be able to
develop a relationship
with his/her mentor they
consider an acquaintance
Student will be able to
identify 1-2 or less
campus resource s he/she
learned from his/her
mentor
Student will be able to
identify an American
social norm/cultural
tradition that he/she
observed during his/her
studies here at SC
Student will be able to
share 1 aspect of his/she
culture with the mentor
Needs
Improvement
Student will not be able
to develop any kind of
relationship with his/her
mentor
Student will not be able
to identify any campus
resources he/she learned
about from his/her
mentor
Student will not be able
to identify any American
social norm/cultural
tradition
Student will not be able
to share any aspects of
his/she culture with the
mentor
Survey Questions
1. How would you define your relationship with your mentor (please choose one that best applies
to you):
Friendship---------------Source of support------------------- Acquaintance---------------No relationship
2. Did you learn about any campus resources from your mentor?
a. Yes or No
b. Please list them (open ended):
3. Were you able to take part in any American cultural traditions this semester (examples:
holidays, foods, sporting events, etc.)?
a. Yes or No
b. If yes, please describe them (open-ended):
4. Was your mentor from a different cultural background than you are?
a. Yes or No
5. What aspects of your culture were you able to share with your mentor (examples: food,
pictures, holiday events etc.) (open ended):
6. How helpful was the Peer Mentors Program in your first semester of studies at Saddleback
College?
7. Please share any other thoughts you would like the International Student Office to know about
the Peer Mentors Program?
3. 8. This includes Peer Mentors program events or any outside activities, such as holidays, foods,
sporting events, etc.
Mentor Rubric
Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4
Advanced Student will be able to
evaluate him or herself as
being highly improved in
leadership skills
Student will be able to
report a significant
increase in his/her
understanding of cultural
differences
Student will be able to
recommend more than 3
campus resources to
his/her mentee that
he/she identified as most
helpful to his/her success
as a student
Student will be able to
learn more than 3 aspects
of his/her mentee’s
culture
Competent Student will be able to
evaluate him or herself as
being moderately
improved in leadership
skills
Student will be able to
report a moderate
increase in his/her
understanding of cultural
differences
Student will be able to
recommend 2-3 campus
resources to his/her
mentee that he/she
identified as most helpful
to his/her success as a
student
Student will be able to
learn 2-3 aspects of
his/her mentee’s culture
Basic Student will be able to
evaluate him or herself as
being somewhat
improved in leadership
skills
Student will be able to
report a slight increase in
his/her understanding of
cultural differences
Student will be able to
recommend 1 campus
resource to his/her
mentee that he/she
identified as most helpful
to his/her success as a
student
Student will be able to
learn 1 aspect of his/her
mentee’s culture
Needs
Improvement
Student will be able to
evaluate him or herself as
being not improved in
leadership skills
Student will be able to
report no increase in
his/her understanding of
cultural differences
Student will be not be
able to recommend any
campus resources to
his/her mentee
Student will be unable to
learn any aspects of
his/her mentee’s culture
Survey Questions
1. On a scale from 1 to 4, how has your participation as a peer-mentor improved your leadership
skills
Highly improved------------moderately improved--------------somewhat improved--------no improvement
2. On a scale of 1-5, how has participation in the peer mentorship program increased your overall
understanding of cultural differences:
Significant increase ----------moderate increase-----------slight increase--------------no increase
3. Which campuses resources have you found most helpful during your studies at Saddleback
(open-ended)
4. Were you able to recommend any of these resources to your mentees?
a. Yes or No
b. If yes, how many:
3 or more
2-3
1
4. None
5. Was your mentee from a different cultural background than you are?
a. Yes or No
6. What aspects of his/her culture were you able to learn about (examples: food, pictures, holiday
events etc.) (open ended):
Don't forget to stop by our office in SSC 107 to pick up your free laptop case.
How helpful was the Peer Mentors Program to your overall development as a student at Saddleback
College?