Current Students > Academic Services Center > Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Mentoring Groups provide academic support for freshmen in Thiel's Western Humanities course.

               PAL Mentors Fall 2007

Front Row:  Jamie Morlock, Amanda Colvin, Samantha Stearns

Back Row:  Rachel Wrona, Sheila Gross and Justin Munz

PAL Mentors of 2006-2007

Approximately 60 students were

involved in PAL groups

Tracy Pressler, Christi Lawson, Sara Bruesehoff, Deidra Franley, and Hannah Smith

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Mentoring Groups

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) mentoring groups provide academic support for Western Humanities.  PAL groups are formed for students who want to have regular assistance and are willing to commit themselves to ongoing weekly review sessions for this lecture course.  All the students in a PAL group have the same WH professors.  The PAL mentor, a student who has recently taken the course with that particular faculty member, who earned an “A” and who has been recommended by that faculty member, facilitates the review sessions.  The PAL mentor is not a tutor.   The PAL mentor facilitates the group members’ learning by: discussing questions, providing time management tips, helping students with course specific learning techniques, and modeling test preparation strategies.  The PAL mentor does not  re-teach.  Focus of the groups is on long-term learning. 

During the first week or two of the course, the PAL Mentor goes to the class and does a short presentation, explaining the PAL groups and the importance of getting involved early in the semester.  Students are encouraged to get a group of friends together and come to the Academic Success Center to sign up.   If students are interested in joining a PAL group, they must complete an interest form and fill out a schedule so their availability is known to the ASC office.  Students must be willing to commit to attending one 50-minute session weekly and to bringing 5 questions they have about the material to each session - these questions drive the sessions.