College advisors, student success staff, disability services offices and dean of students staff can refer a student to Blackburn Mentoring. The student, or their family, completes a five-minute assessment or calls (888) 305 5422. After a free intro call, the student is matched with one dedicated mentor. With the student’s written permission, the mentor shares progress with you and coordinates with the campus supports already in place.
What a mentor adds to campus support
Colleges offer a lot of help: advising, tutoring centers, disability services, counseling, career offices. The students who need it most are often the least likely to use it. They miss the appointment, skip the follow-up email or let a warning sit unread until it becomes a problem.
A mentor helps the student actually use what the college offers. The student meets one dedicated mentor weekly or several times a week, by video or in person in Los Angeles, with text and phone contact between sessions. Together they plan the week, keep commitments and follow through on what campus staff have recommended. Our guide to the college advising office explains the campus side for families.
Students who may benefit
- Students on academic probation working through a plan to return to good standing
- First-year students struggling with the jump to independence (see college transition mentoring)
- First-generation students learning how college systems work
- Students who are behind and at risk of not graduating on time
- Students returning after a leave of absence who need to rebuild routines
Signs reminders alone are not working
- The student agrees to a plan in your office and does not follow up
- Referrals to tutoring or office hours go unused
- Emails from staff sit unanswered for weeks
- The student is attending class but falling further behind on assignments
These students usually do not need more information. They need someone checking in every week to help them act on what they already know.
Notes for each office
Advising and student success
When you build a plan with a student, a mentor can help them work it each week: registering on time, following up with professors, using office hours and keeping a realistic schedule.
Disability services
Accommodation decisions belong to your office. A mentor does not request, evaluate or negotiate accommodations. What a mentor can do is help the student keep up with the steps your office lays out and stay organized around them.
Dean of students and case management
For a student working through a return plan or a hard semester, a mentor offers steady, practical structure. Conduct and standing decisions stay with the college.
How the referral works
- Suggest mentoring to the student and share our number, (888) 305 5422, or the five-minute assessment. Families can also reach out on the student’s behalf.
- Our team reviews the assessment personally and holds a free intro call.
- The student is matched with one dedicated mentor.
- With the student’s written permission, the mentor shares progress with you and coordinates with the supports already involved.
Because most college students are adults, the student decides who receives updates, including family. Follow your institution’s policies on student information. See refer a student for every step.
What mentors are not
- Academic instruction stays with faculty, the tutoring center and the writing center; the mentor helps the student actually show up to them.
- Degree planning, registration and standing stay with advising and the registrar.
- Accommodations stay with disability services, and conduct matters with the dean of students.
- Counseling and treatment stay with the campus counseling center or another licensed professional.
If a student is dealing with mental health or substance use concerns, a licensed professional or your campus counseling center is the right step, and mentoring can sit alongside that care. In a crisis, call or text 988.
Where a mentor helps
Mentoring is available by video anywhere in the United States and in person in Los Angeles, so it works whether a student is on campus, commuting or home for a semester. See mentoring for college students and helping a struggling college student.
Related
- For professionals
- College student failing classes
- Community college vs university
- Mentoring for families
Common questions
Who decides whether the college receives updates?
The student, if they are an adult. With the student’s written permission, the mentor shares progress with the referring staff member and coordinates.
Does a mentor handle accommodations?
No. Accommodation decisions stay with the disability services office. A mentor helps the student stay organized and keep up with the steps the office sets.
Can a mentor tutor a student in a course?
No. Mentors are not tutors. They help students use the tutoring and academic resources the college already offers.
Can families make the referral?
Yes. A student or family can complete the assessment or call. Mentoring works best when the student is willing to take part.
Get started
Know a student who could use steady support? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.