Peer Academic Leader (PAL) Program

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A mentor or coach who's recently been where you are now in your FGCU career can help you find resources critical to academic success, stay on the path to your degree and enrich your campus experience.

Peer Academic Leaders: SLS 1501 - Effective Learning course

Peer Academic Leaders are assigned to each section of SLS 1501. The mentees in the course are First Time In College (FTIC) students who have an academic hold following the fall semester.

The Peer Academic Leader Program is:

To aid students in their own personal and academic success
To integrate students in the social and educational FGCU community
To engage students in academic activities to improve college performance

As a result of having a Peer Academic Leader, students will be able to:

Develop an interpersonal relationship with an upper level student
Formulate new academic strategies and skills to increase involvement in learning
Utilize curricular and co-curricular campus resources to form a FGCU support network
Evaluate academic obstacles to take responsibility for personal development and growth

As a result of serving as a Peer Academic Leader, students will be able to:

Develop cooperative relationships with peers, faculty, and staff
Recognize their ability to play an active role in the learning process of others
Employ academic strategies and mentor skills to their personal and professional aspirations
Identify appropriate campus resources and opportunities that contribute to their educational experience

The mission of the Center for Academic Achievement (CAA) Peer Academic Leader (PAL) Program is to enrich the academic performance of students at Florida Gulf Coast University by connecting an upper class student to a first year mentee group. Peer Academic Leaders serve as a mentor, support, and coach to optimize student self-awareness, academic involvement, and knowledge of campus resources in and beyond the classroom.

Our vision is that every FGCU student will achieve his/her fullest academic potential to attain academic excellence and lifelong learning.

PAL Mentor Position

A CAA PAL is a student mentor who enriches the academic performance of mentees in and beyond the classroom. As a mentor the PAL will facilitate the development of mentees' self-awareness as a means of both personal and academic success. The PAL is trained to provide guidance, structure, and accountability for mentee students.

Why is a PAL important?
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The PALs are an instrumental group in the CAA. Best practices support that "a student's most important teacher is often another student" (Evans et al., 2010). A PAL has the opportunity to positively impact the college transition of a peer and help a student develop a sense of identity at FGCU. By being a PAL, you are enhancing the academic experience and service provided by the CAA to FGCU students.
Qualities of a PAL
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The overall qualities of a PAL, is someone who is honest, motivating, and caring. The aim is to keep a mentee invested in the FGCU community to achieve personal and academic success in and beyond the classroom.

A PAL is someone who:
- Serves as a positive example for students
- Has a genuine desire to help their peers succeed
- Encourages and motivates students to persevere and learn from setbacks
- Assists in knowledge of campus resources
- Helps students take responsibility and increase accountability
- Maintains professionalism with faculty, staff, and peers while building a relationship
Benefits of being a PAL
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- Build a relationship and serve as a guide to fellow students
- Develop leadership and transferable skills in preparation for your future career
- Establish positive relationships with faculty, staff, and peers
- Gain an appreciation of collaborative learning
- Provide awareness of your own academic and personal success
- Ability to work with diverse groups of people
- Sense of achievement to see the mentee develop and grow
- Great experience for a professional resume
- On-campus employment or service learning opportunity
These are just some of the benefits of being a PAL - Apply to join the PAL team to get so much more!

Questions or concerns regarding the PAL position or selection process should be directed to Corin Sponsler, Step Ahead Program Coordinator within the Center for Academic Achievement
Contact Information: LIB West 103, csponsler@fgcu.edu or (239) 590-7906

Peer Academic Leader (PAL) Position Description

The Center for Academic Achievement will select a group of undergraduate leaders to serve as mentors for the spring 2019 semester. The selected PALs will be assigned to an SLS 1501 - Effective Learning course to enrich the academic performance of mentees in and beyond the classroom. As a mentor the PAL will facilitate the development of mentees' self-awareness as a means of both personal and academic success. The PAL is trained to provide guidance, resources, structure, and accountability for mentee students.

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PAL Qualifications
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Minimum
- Undergraduate student status at FGCU
- FGCU student in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year
- Good academic and judicial standing throughout the period of training and employment
- Possess at least a 2.5 or above cumulative GPA
- Finalists must successfully complete a background and criminal record check that will require fingerprinting
Preferred
- Involvement in a mentoring relationship or leadership position
- Experience overcoming a challenge during college
- Soft skills - Strong interpersonal skills, communication, building rapport, and a passion to help peers achieve success
- Previous enrollment in SLS 1101 - University Transition, SLS 1501 - Effective Learning, or the completion of the CAA Eagle Success Program
PAL Roles and Responsibilities
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The PAL position is approximately an eight-hour a week commitment for the employed term. Commitment includes:
- Attendance at all SLS 1501 - Effective Learning classes
- Availability, during scheduled work hours, to respond to questions via email or phone
- Follow up on any referral or recommendation regarding a mentee
- Regular meetings and communication with assigned instructor
- Facilitation of activities in and beyond the classroom experiences
- Host open office hours in the Center for Academic Achievement
Administrative Duties
- Attendance at all PAL training sessions
- Participation in weekly group meetings
- Submission of biweekly reports
- Completion of mid- and end- semester evaluations
- Maintain accurate payroll documentation
PAL Expectations
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- Maintain confidentiality and follow FERPA regulations for any information regarding mentees
- Act as a role model in all aspects of the University community
- Uphold ethical and professional standards in helping mentees
- Provide support to create high-impact educational experiences
- Share honest and personal feedback, experiences, and advice with mentees, assigned instructor, and supervisor
- Be prepared and on time for all position obligations
- Develop a support network among the PAL team
- Participate in all Peer Academic Leader trainings

Questions or concerns regarding the PAL position or selection process should be directed to the Center for Academic Achievement
Contact Information: caa@fgcu.edu