Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Consultants are trained undergraduate students from a variety of majors and minors. Their job is to be a collaborator and co-learner alongside Furman students as you engage with and work through course content. Our mission is to not only help you learn class material, but to help you become a more effective learner overall.
Applications for Fall 2024 are due May 1, 2024 The deadline has been extended to May 10, 2024!
Frequently Asked Questions
The application asks you for some basic information, such class year and major(s)/minor(s). We also ask:
- Why do you want to be a consultant?
Then you can choose which one of these prompts you want to respond to:
- Describe a learning experience that left an impression on you; OR
- Describe a time you taught someone a new concept or skill.
Next, you can choose whether you are applying just for PAL or for WML, too. Did you know that you can apply for BOTH programs?! Learn more about the Writing & Media Lab (WML) if you’re not familiar with it.
Finally, the PAL part of the application will ask you about which subject area(s) you want to help with.
Applications for Fall 2024 are due May 1, 2024.
If you’ve never tutored or taught before, don’t worry! We will provide you with onboarding and training before your first official work shift. And great news – all consultants get paid for their training time!
Onboarding Topics
- policies and procedures
- how to manage student sign-ups
- setting up a regular schedule of work hours
- how to log work hours so you get paid
Training Topics
- teaching and learning theories
- tutoring methods for individuals
- how to manage group tutoring
- effective study methods
- test preparation techniques
- metacognitive learning strategies
Some training will be in-person and some will be asynchronous and online via a Moodle course.
Once you’ve been hired and the semester starts, you’ll be responsible for consistently working your scheduled hours.
Consultants:
- are paid $10/hour
- usually work between 4-8 hours per week depending what you tutor
- attend between 2-3 required staff meetings each semester
- are provided with paid time to prepare and review tutoring topics
- can get help with any problems or training needs from one of our Lead Consultants who serve as student leaders on our team
Staff Meetings:
- give you a chance to share feedback and suggestions to improve the PAL Program
- provide you with professional development opportunities so you can learn and grow as consultants
PAL Groups:
- are either for a specific class or are a general study hall for a subject (in a study hall, you work with students on general study skills and test preparation instead of content)
- usually meet every week during the following days: Sunday – Thursday, 5:00 pm-10:00 pm
- usually meet 1-3 times per week, not every night
These are the areas we anticipate needing to hire Peer Learning Consultants for the 2024-25 Academic year:
- Accounting: ACC 120
- Biology: BIO 111
- Business Administration
- Chemistry: CHM 110, 115, 118, 120, 220
- Chinese: CHN 110 & CHN 201
- Classics: Greek & Latin
- Earth, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences: EES 112 & SUS 120
- Economics: ECN 111
- History
- Health Sciences: HSC 210 & 211
- Linguistics: LNG 210
- Mathematics: MTH 115, MTH 120
- Neuroscience
- Politics & International Affairs
- Psychology
- Religion
If you’re not a major or haven’t taken classes in one of those subjects, don’t worry! You can still apply, because our needs are always changing. We keep all applications on file and review them regularly when we get new requests for help.
Still have questions? Email PeerLearning@furman.edu and we’ll be happy to answer them!