Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) serve new students as advocates, teaching assistants, and mentors in the FYE 101: Succeed at the G class, a MAC Foundations course. PALs have a distinct leadership opportunity to help students transition during their first year.
Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) serve new students as advocates, teaching assistants, and mentors in the FYE 101: Succeed at the G class, a MAC Foundations course. PALs have a distinct leadership opportunity to help students transition during their first year.
- Some expectations and responsibilities of a PAL include:
- Help students adjust and excel academically and personally by becoming aware of resources in order to appropriately connect students
- Serve as a peer mentor for academic, co-curricular, and leadership involvement through communication of events and initiatives on campus
- Assist their FYE Instructor(s) in engaging students and classroom management
- Independently teach/instruct at least one class session on a topic relevant to first-year student success and transition
- Serve as a liaison for first-year students and the FYE Instructor to create an open and honest dialogue
- Attend all class meetings for their assigned FYE 101: Succeed at the G course
- Conduct 1-on-1 meetings with all students enrolled in your assigned FYE 101 course
- Coordinate at out-of-class engagement opportunities
FYE 101: Succeed at the G is a three-credit, 15-week transition seminar for new first-year in their first semester at UNC Greensboro. This course gives students the opportunity to explore personal development opportunities, gain skills essential to academic success, and discover and connect with their new community. You can learn more about the course here.
PALs are students who are organized, resourceful, responsible, and flexible. They must be passionate about helping new students succeed in their first semester here at UNCG.
PALs are chosen based on their interpersonal, academic, and leadership skills, along with their campus involvement.
PALs must maintain a minimum of a 2.75 cumulative grade point average; with a 3.0 GPA is preferred. PALs must also be in good standing with the University.
PALs must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours at UNCG by the beginning of the fall 2023 semester.
The online application will open Monday, November 14th, and is due Monday, January 29th at 11:55pm. To complete the application, you must apply on Handshake and upload the completed supplemental application document. The interview process will contain two rounds, including a group and individual interview. Final selections and announcements will be made by Tuesday, March 1st.
Interested in learning more about the PAL role? Check out our upcoming interest sessions!
- Tuesday, November 15, 2 - 3 p.m., EUC Azalea
- Tuesday, November 30, 12 - 1 p.m., Virtual, https://go.uncg.edu/2023palinterestsession2
- Wednesday, January 11, 2 - 3 p.m., Virtual, https://go.uncg.edu/2023palinterestsession3
- Tuesday, January 17, 5 - 6 p.m., EUC Azalea
- Monday, January 23, 3 - 4 p.m., EUC Azalea
- Friday, January 27, 1 - 2 p.m., EUC Dogwood
For any questions, please contact Mackenzie Radford, Coordinator of First Year Experience, at mrwinslo@uncg.edu
Do you know of a student who you think would make a great PAL? Please nominate them using the form here.
Fast Facts
- 98%……..of students believed that their PAL genuinely cared about them as a student
- 100%…..of PALs had a positive experience and would recommend the position
- 100%…….of PALs reported having a positive relationship with their FYE Instructor
- 100%…….of PALs reported having a high level of satisfaction in their role
- 100%……of PALs agreed that they were properly equipped to do their jobs well
"Being a PAL has changed my life in so many ways! It pushed me to do better as a student, professional, and person. Not only have I been able to grow as a professional with the skills I developed, but I really found my calling for working with students. The PAL role has let me connect with some really amazing people, including some of my closest friends. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity (and the privilege) of being a PAL for the past 2 years!”
- Alex Little
“As I learned more about what a PAL was and the impact I would be making on first-year students, my reasons for wanting the job completely changed. My goal was to make students feel as comfortable as I could possibly make them with the class, University, and me as a PAL.” -Jonathan Awa
“I became attracted to the PAL position because of the leadership opportunity. After hearing from fellow peers about the amazing impact PAL has had on their leadership ability and confidence, I knew I had to be part of this great opportunity. I remembered my first year and how difficult it was to become accustomed to college life and a new setting. PAL would provide me with an opportunity to help other students who were once in a similar position and be a kind mentor to them.” -Maggie Seye 
Being a PAL allows me to be a mentor and advocate for first-year students as they navigate and adapt to the community here at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, to help student excel academically and personally through engagement inside and outside of the classroom, knowledge of resources, and promoting student involvement, and to use my position as a student leader to further connect myself on campus, develop meaningful relationships with peers and faculty, and enhance my professional skills.
2021 Peer Academic Leader
I think that the most satisfying aspect of being a PAL has been connecting with my students and truly watching them grow this semester. I've also enjoyed building relationships with my students and being able to serve as their mentor as they've navigated their first year at UNCG. It's been amazing getting to know my students and creating that peer relationship, especially since most of my class was on the quieter side. Thus, breaking down those walls and getting the privilege of having some students open up to me has been so gratifying, and I didn't realize how much I'd appreciate it.
2020 Peer Academic Leader
I've loved being a PAL this semester and it's really pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and grow as an individual. While I know that PALs are there for their students, I think PALs are almost even more benefited from this job/student-mentor relationship than their students due to the growth that we have gone through and various skills we have gained. It's been a truly rewarding experience and I've enjoyed it even more than I thought that I would.
2020 Peer Academic Leader
Having a PAL that has been in the position of us freshmen creates a bond that wouldn't exist if it were with an instructor. It allows us to ask her about her first year and she has given us a lot of valuable advice on how to handle our first year.
FYE 101 Fall 2020 Student
This was one of the best experiences that I've had thus far during my time at UNCG. It allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and network with outstanding faculty on campus!
2020 Peer Academic Leader
My PAL was the greatest, genuine care and positivity was always present around here. Not to mention it was always wonderful to have a chat with her, no matter what it was I always felt comfortable to talk to her about anything. It was truly an amazing experience having her as my PAL, it could not have gotten better than that!
FYE 101 Fall 2020 Student
As a PAL I am granted the opportunity to be apart of service-based learning while providing the direct service of mentorship and guidance to first-year students.
2021 Peer Academic Leader
