Peer Academic Leaders (PALs)

Deadline extended to June 16

Thank you for your interest in the Peer Academic Leader positions! Student applications (including a faculty or staff reference) and faculty and staff nominations are due June 16, 2008. Read below for more information about position and the nomination and application process.

Position Description: The New Student Orientation (NSO) Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) will provide key leadership by serving as dialogue group leaders, working with cohorts of about 40 new students to help them engage in dialogue around issues of importance in their transition to the collegiate environment. Each PAL will be partnered with four other individuals (faculty, staff, Blue Crew member, and Resident Assistant) to form an NSO Welcome Team that serves each cohort of new students during Orientation.

As a PAL, you’ll have the opportunity to train with nationally known author and trainer Glenna Gerard from August 12th through 15th here on campus. She’ll spend time teaching the PALs how to lead and talk with first-year students effectively, as well as how to apply this knowledge to the actual orientation experience here at UD.

Besides gaining valuable leadership experience that will prepare you for upper-level studies, graduate school, and the workplace, as well as look great on your résumé, you’ll get to move in to school early next August. As a PAL for orientation, you’ll help to lead exploration and dialogue sessions during the weekend, with the option of helping with further programming in the fall. From August 16th to 21st, you’ll participate in one or two sessions per day, all of which run between one and two hours in length. Although there may be other optional opportunities to lead after those five days, your official commitment is complete at that point.

Required Qualities:

  1. Strong interpersonal skills (a person who is good listener, asks questions rather than pushes own point of view, and is open to other perspectives)
  2. Broad communication skills, including being comfortable talking to a group (presentation skills) and also conversation skills (drawing others out to interact)
  3. Academically engaged and successful
  4. Care about and display interest in discovering what other people think (curiosity)
  5. Comfortable in the presence of differing opinions

Expectations and Time Requirements:

  • Participation in PAL dialogue training (August 12-15)
  • Participation in Orientation training
  • Attend all PAL organizational meetings
  • Serve as a member of the NSO Welcome Team
  • Lead most UD Dialogue sessions during orientation

Benefits of PAL Participation:

  • Extensive training with a dialogue professional
  • Opportunity to develop facilitation skills
  • Opportunity to interact closely with a faculty and staff person
  • Opportunity to provide leadership and mentoring to welcome first-years
  • Early move-in

Faculty and Staff Nominations: Faculty and staff are invited to nominate worthy students for this new position, which will build skills and highlight our most academically engaged students. Nominations are due to Debbie Bickett by June 16. We also strongly encourage you to email or talk directly to the students you are nominating to let them know about this opportunity. Direct them to this page to read about the position and download an application.

PAL Application Process for Interested Students:

  1. Download and complete the PAL application form and request that one UD faculty or staff person complete this reference form. Please be courteous to those from whom you are requesting a reference, and give them enough time to thoughtfully complete it.
  2. Return the application form to the Office of Student Development (Gosiger 227) by 4:30 pm on Monday, June 16, 2008. References must also be turned into the same place by this deadline.
  3. We will review applications and reference letters, select 50 Peer Academic Leaders, and notify all applicants by email as to whether or not they have been accepted.