Peer Advisors at the University of Puget Sound Support First-Year Success

Students

Peer advisors serve as mentors and advocates for first-year students.

A student’s first year on campus can be daunting, but students at the University of Puget Sound don’t have to face the challenges of acclimating to college life alone. Through the long-running Peer Advisor program, incoming students are paired up with juniors and seniors who provide them with support and mentorship. The program provides a vital connection between new students and the wealth of resources available at Puget Sound.

Denali Nelson ’24 started her Puget Sound education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not being able to physically be on campus made it hard to feel connected, but her peer advisor was a vital lifeline to the university. That experience inspired Nelson to apply to the program as a junior.

“It’s a unique relationship, because your peer advisor is someone who knows exactly what it feels like to be new on campus,” says Nelson. “It allows students to be more honest and more forthcoming with whatever they may be dealing with. They're not all hard things; we also love to celebrate the successes.”

A peer advisor meets with their advisee in Oppenheimer Cafe.

Puget Sound's Peer Advising Program employs a peer-to-peer support approach, where carefully selected and highly trained peer advisors work closely with faculty advisors to provide essential support for new students.

The 15 members of the peer advising team are juniors and seniors who each specialize in a different academic discipline, helping advisees connect with their faculty advisors. Working under the guidance of Jacqui Elliott in the Office of Academic Advising, peer advisors offer strategies for thriving in the challenging academic environment, ensuring that incoming students understand academic policies, how to use essential resources, meet deadlines, get plugged into upcoming campus events, care for their mental health, and much more.

“I like the feeling of being that go-to person for first-year students. I know what it's like to be super lost and confused about adjusting to college, not just academics,” Nelson says. “I’ve helped students apply for jobs, find clubs to join, and get tutoring, but if they’re having trouble with their roommate or struggling with homesickness, they know they can come to me for advice.”

The role goes beyond being just a source of information. Advisors hold monthly check-ins where they aim to truly listen, answer questions, and build a sense of belonging. This comprehensive approach extends to academic and personal matters, ensuring first-year students have a trusted ally in their corner. A recent survey of first-year students found that 84% found the Peer Advisor program to be an important tool in helping them achieve their academic goals.

“My advisor spent long amounts of time with me to help me figure out a four-year plan for my dual major and pre-health requirements,” says one respondent. “She made it much less overwhelming to try and visualize the classes I needed to take to graduate.”

The Peer Advisor program at Puget Sound represents a distinctive commitment to student success and embodies the spirit of the campus community, where every Logger can thrive. Nelson hopes that more first-year students will take advantage of this opportunity to connect with a peer mentor.

“Our advisors are some of the coolest, most involved people on campus. They truly care about their advisees and about making sure they feel at home at Puget Sound.”

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