By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

The new year is upon us and with that comes National Mentoring Month. Mentoring.org reports that beginning in 2002, by a partnership between MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, January became the month to foster new relationships between mentors across the country. For students at Western, there are a variety of different organizations and services that can help you find a working relationship between you and your peers.

One major opportunity for first-year students to get help navigating through the newness of college life is to get in touch with the Peer Mentor program on campus. “We, as peer mentors, help connect the first year residents at Western,” Junior Community Health student, Kyle Arthenayake said of the program, “through wellness education and being a resource to those residents, not only as a knowledgeable student, but as a friend.”

Another resource is the Student Health and Counseling Center, located across Church Street from the Werner University Center. The center offers free and confidential counseling services to those in need from several licensed practitioners and psychologists.

For students looking for tutoring or help with homework, you can schedule an appointment through your Portal in the “My Programs” box. By clicking on “Schedule a Tutor” students can set an appointment in the Academic Programs and Support Center, located on the south end of campus, to receive help with any subject. To become a tutor, a 3.0 GPA is necessary along with a faculty recommendation in your specified subject. For further information, students should contact the Academic Advising and Learning Center in APSC 401 or at advising@wou.edu

The Writing Center, located on the third floor of the APSC is an area students can go to get individualized attention and help with their written work.

If you would like to get involved with Peer Mentors, contact advisors Pam Medzegian or Craig Wimmer through the SHCC Wellness Education Department.

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu