Student Support Services

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Who are Mentors?
Mentors are Texarkana College faculty that dedicates extra office hours to make themselves available to students who "just want to talk to someone."
 
What would you do as a Mentor?
Any faculty member at Texarkana College may become a Student Support Services Mentor. One of the many benefits of becoming a Mentor is a stipend for mentoring expenses.

Some of the responsibilities include:

  • Meet with SSS three times a year. The meeting times and places will be posted at least 2 weeks in advance.
  • Provide one or more extra office hours a week for students who "just want to talk to someone"
  • Advise students in your area of experience and competence
  • Stay informed on current TC services and refer students to these services as needed
  • Help your mentee meet people in his or her field and facilitate professional networking
  • Help your mentee think through challenges such as studying, declaring a concentration, mastering social pressures, etc
  • Do what you know best, Mentor
 
How Do Mentors Help?

Students often feel the need to talk to someone about aspirations or frustrations, or just about the loneliness they feel in a campus community that may appear totally unaware of them as individuals

Mentors can help compensate for these feelings of isolation - they are available to talk with, listen to, and help each student feel a part of the Texarkana College Community. Mentors advise students in their areas of expertise and competence, and are trained to be effective referral sources to other Texarkana College services for specific problems or concerns.

If you need to talk to someone and you don't know where to go, call a Mentor!
Why do students see Mentors?

Mentors volunteer to be a nonjudgmental ear for students to talk with about anything.

Frequent topics include:

  • Academic Burnout
  • Applying to a Four Year College
  • Break-up with Girl/ Boyfriend
  • Career Choices
  • Choosing a Major
  • Conflicts with Instructors
  • Course Selection Advise
  • Death of a Family Member
  • Depression
  • Financial Concerns
  • Finding a Job
  • Homesickness
  • Joining Social Activities
  • Loneliness
  • Personal Family Crisis
  • Roommate Conflicts
  • Racial or Sexual Discrimination
  • Substance Abuse Problems
  • Test Anxiety
  • Writing Resumes