Becoming a Peer Advisor

Overview

The Honors Peer Advising Center (HPAC) connects Honors College students and Honors Peer Advisors in collaborative problem-solving. Peer Advisors provide mentoring and support related to honors credit, the Honors Laureate Diploma, as well as other Honors topics as appropriate.

The application to become a Peer Advisor opens every March and is announced through the Honors College Newsletter and social media channels. Students are hired to work (for academic honors credit) for the entirety of the following academic year.

Honors Peer Advisor Position

Peer Advisors take UH 4104 Honors Student Teaching Practicum, a two-credit P/F class, in both the fall and spring semesters. The position is unpaid, but the credit earned through UH 4104 counts as experiential learning toward completion of the Honors Laureate Diploma (and the Honors Minor). UH 4104 is repeatable for up to eight (8) credits.

UH 4104 Honors Student Teaching Practicum provides training and support and meets once a week for the first half of the fall semester, less frequently later in the fall semester, and usually not at all during the spring semester. Peer Advisors are trained to ask questions, get students actively involved in finding solutions, and introduce resources as necessary. The class emphasizes collaborative learning, communication and problem-solving skills, reflection, and familiarity with Honors and university resources.

Primary job duties of a Peer Advisor include holding virtual advising appointments for four (4) hours per week, providing student and grading support in UH 1404 Principles of Collaborative Discovery for new Honors students, and possibly participating in Honors recruitment events.

Selection Criteria

We seek:

• Honors students who can be approachable, reliable, and knowledgeable role models and mentors
• Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills or the willingness to reflectively improve in these areas
• A strong academic record
• Adaptability
• Compassion, empathy, and patience
• Full availability to complete four (4) advising hours per week in both the fall and spring semesters
• Completion of UH 1404 Principles of Collaborative Discovery before being hired as a Peer Advisor