P.A.L.S. Peer Mentoring Program
Peer Assistance, Leadership, and Support
The College of Education’s P.A.L.S. Peer Mentoring Program is designed to assist first-year and new transfer students with their transition to college life at UNLV. This program connects first-year and transfer students with a current College of Education student mentor who can provide academic and social support and ongoing advice about how to succeed at UNLV. The P.A.L.S. Peer Mentoring Program promotes first-year student success and retention while cultivating leadership development among upperclassmen.
Program Objectives
- To instill a sense of belonging at UNLV, thereby strengthening students’ commitment to their academic and personal goals.
- To connect first-year and transfer students with campus resources, events, organizations, and opportunities that match their interests and passions.
- To support first-year and transfer students in maintaining good academic standing during their first few years at UNLV.
- To provide mentors with skill development in leadership and professional relationship building.
Become a P.A.L.S. Mentee
As a new student, adjusting to college can be quite challenging. But our P.A.L.S. Peer Mentors are here to make your transition to UNLV easier than you could have imagined! Being a mentee allows you to:
- Gain advice, encouragement and support from upperclassmen
- Learn from the experiences of others
- Develop strategies for dealing with academic and personal issues
- Identify academic and personal goals
- Build strong relationships with other students
- Learn to navigate UNLV
Requirements and Responsibilities
The P.A.L.S. Mentoring Program is available to first-time freshmen and new transfers who are entering their first year at UNLV. As a mentee, you will be required to be an active participant in the program, attend monthly meetings with your mentor, and see through with any referrals recommended by your mentor for one academic year (August-May).
Interested students can apply to participate in the program and will be assigned a peer mentor.
Freshmen (First-Year Students) and Transfer Students can apply with the PALS Mentor Application
**Applications for a mentor during the 2024-2025 school year close on August 30th, 2024 @ 5 pm**
Apply to be a P.A.L.S. Mentor
P.A.L.S. peer mentors are student leaders who are committed to encouraging growth and success in first-year students as they transition to UNLV.
Being a mentor allows you to:
- Improve your communication and interpersonal skills
- Develop leadership and organizational qualities
- Gain a sense of fulfillment and personal growth
- Give back to the UNLV community
- Grow your professional network at UNLV
Requirements and Responsibilities
All mentors must be upperclassmen (sophomore-senior) in the College of Education and show exceptional ability to succeed academically, adapt to college life, and demonstrate the qualities of an effective leader. PALS Mentors must have a 2.75 GPA in order for their application to be considered. As a mentor, you are required to meet with your mentee monthly, attend a monthly progress meeting with the program coordinator, and support College of Education events for one academic year (August-May). Mentors will have a caseload of 8-12 mentees.
Mentors are compensated at an hourly rate. NSHE regulations state that no NSHE student employee may work more than twenty hours per week across NSHE institutions (UNLV, CSN, and Nevada State).
To learn more about the position, view the PALS Peer Mentor Job Description document.
Applications to be a 2024-2025 PALS Mentor have closed. We will be recruiting for new 2025-2026 Mentors starting February 2025.
If you have further questions, please contact pals@unlv.edu.
