Peer Academic Leaders

Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) are undergraduate students assigned to first-year success courses to assist new students in their transition to college life.  PALs work with students in every college and school on campus to help them learn academic skills that are important for achieving overall student success.  They also offer innovative programs aimed at providing fun and informative opportunities for students to get involved on campus and in the community while learning more about the expectations of college.

As a PAL, you will be responsible for working with a faculty member to teach skills related to academic success in one section of UTA's Student Success/First-Year Experience Practicum that are offered in every college on campus. In addition to either mentoring or leading, you will work with Faculty and Staff to ensure that new Mavericks are integrated into the UTA community.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING A PEER ACADEMIC LEADER?

The benefits to becoming a Peer Academic Leader are limited only by your ambition, but if we have to get specific, check these perks out:

  • Part-time, on-campus job
  • Earn $9.25 an hour as a first-time PAL
  • Gain valuable leadership experience
  • Mentor new UTA students
  • Add to your career experience on your professional resume
  • Get first-hand college classroom experience
  • Network with UTA faculty and staff

AM I QUALIFIED TO BE A PEER ACADEMIC LEADER?

The minimum qualifications to be considered for hire as a Peer Academic Leader include:

  • At least one-year of college experience (prior to teaching the class)
  • Good academic and judicial standing at UTA
  • 2.75 cumulative grade point average (3.000 or higher preferred)
  • 2.75 semester grade point average (3.000 or higher preferred)
  • Undergraduate student status
  • Enrollment in and successful completion of the PAL Training Course (UNIV 3335) in the spring semester before you start working (but after you are selected) -or- completion of the expedited training workshop series
  • Previous leadership experience (preferred)
  • Previous enrollment in a Freshman Practicum or similar class (preferred)