Peer Advisors

Peer Advisors (PA) are UT Dallas student employees who live on campus and provide University Housing residents with personal, academic and housing-related peer support.

Residential Life employs upperclassman students in this leadership role. PAs are assigned to the residence halls and various apartment buildings within University Housing. Students selected as PAs go through an extensive training period to fully prepare them for their role as a PA.

The PA lives with their designated community and provides various resources to residents:

  • Community building through individual interactions and engagement opportunities.
  • Knowledge about campus resources, including UT Dallas policies and procedures.
  • Resource to help with conflict mediation between roommates.
  • On-call services to respond to after hours or emergency concerns.

Peer Advisor Job Description

The Peer Advisor (PA) is a staff member in the department of Residential Life, a department in the division of Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Dallas.

The role of the Peer Advisor is to assist students with academic, personal and housing concerns; to serve as a resource and referral agent; to engage students in campus life; and to assist in the interpretation and enforcement of University rules and regulations.

Opportunities exist for Peer Advisors to develop skills in many areas including leadership, administration, programming and peer counseling. Peer Advisor training and subsequent experience are valuable because they involve the development of life-long skills and provides participants the opportunity to develop a significant amount of insight about themselves.

To be effective, Peer Advisors must be perceived by students as being confident in most areas of their lives and as having satisfactorily handled the pressures of university life. The way Peer Advisors manage their personal lives, perform academically and approach the college experience impact those with whom they live.

The Peer Advisor should be highly visible and actively involved in campus life at UT Dallas. Peer Advisors must reside in the community to which they are assigned in the apartments or in one of the residence halls.

Responsibilities

  • Facilitate the social, academic, and personal growth environment for students residing in Canyon Creek Heights, University Village, or University Commons;
  • Maintain continual communication with the residents in their assigned community and their coordinator;
  • Complete Resident Education requirements and work to build community through the Residential Curriculum, which includes individual conversations, campus engagement activities, facilitating community meetings, and actively promoting the Residential Housing Association, National Residence Hall Honorary, and Community Council organizations;
  • Support the University rules and regulations, including following and enforcing policies, responding to behavior concerns as needed, and writing information reports;
  • Maintain office or desk and on-call hours on a rotational basis including holidays such as Thanksgiving, winter break, and spring break;
  • Respond to emergencies as they occur and communicate information timely and effectively to coordinators;
  • Attend and participate in all staff meetings, staff training sessions, retreats and staff development events;
  • Meet all deadlines and complete reports;
  • Facilitate resolution of roommate conflicts and follow up as needed;
  • Report early for training and leave late each semester;
  • Complete all administrative work on time, including program proposals, evaluations, roommate agreements, weekly reports and other Residential Curriculum forms;
  • Participate in programs tailored to meet specific needs of distinct student populations (e.g. LLC events for LLC students);
  • LLC PAs will have varying duties, which may include meeting with faculty and staff, performing community service with students, and assisting in LLC assessment efforts;
  • The hours of this position may vary depending on the time of year but one can expect a 20-hour work week; and
  • Other duties relevant to Residential Life and Student Affairs as assigned.

Requirements

  1. Must be a full-time student (12 hours undergraduate; 9 hours graduate) at the time of application and throughout tenure as a Peer Advisor;
  2. A 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of application and throughout tenure as a Peer Advisor;
  3. Maximum number of credit hours per semester is 16. Additional hours must have prior approval from the coordinator;
  4. PAs must keep at least two week nights (Mon-Thurs) free from 6:00 pm on for on-call duties, programs/events and meeting scheduling;
  5. The Peer Advisor position must take first priority over all other extra-curricular activities;
  6. Students may hold other employment off-campus while a Peer Advisor, but must have prior approval from the coordinator;
  7. Students wishing to be on University payroll for another position on campus will need to discuss the possibility with their supervisor;
  8. Agree to a full academic year (August through May) commitment pending successful evaluation from supervisor (summer employment may be available, but it is not guaranteed);
  9. Peer Advisors must attend fall training, starting approximately August 1, 2024 (all hires) until the first day of classes, and spring training, starting in January 2025 until the first day of classes;
  10. All applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States; and
  11. All applicants must submit information for a background check.

Compensation

  • Compensation for Peer Advisors will include a private 1-bedroom suite, 1-bedroom apartment (furnished or unfurnished) or 2-bedroom apartment (furnished or unfurnished) in the area assigned, a monthly gross stipend, and a meal plan. Placement for Peer Advisors is based on community need and fit, not the applicant’s preference. The stipend amount is based on merit and number of years serving in the Peer Advisor position. First-year Peer Advisors will receive a stipend of $175.00 per month. If there is a break in employment longer than a summer, the pay rate will go back to the original stipend.
  • Employment will begin approximately Aug. 1, 2024 and end the Saturday after final exams in May 2025. Official dates of employment will be contained in an applicant’s offer letter.

Selection Timeline

  • Sept. 8, 2023
    Online Application opens
  • Nov. 10, 2023 at 5 p.m.
    Application, Resume, and Video due for Spring Applicants (Jan. 2024 Start Date) and Reapplications (current Peer Advisors)
  • Nov. 15-17, 2023
    Individual Interviews for Spring 2024 Applicants
  • Nov. 29-30, 2023
    Second Round Interviews for Spring 2024 Applicants
  • Dec. 1, 2023
    Decision Letters sent via email for Spring 2024 Applicants
  • Jan. 3, 2024
    Application, Resume, and Video due for 2024-2025 Applicants
  • Feb. 8-9, 2024
    Individual Interviews for 2024-2025 Applicants (A Interview)
  • Feb. 15-16, 2024
    Individual Interviews for 2024-2025 Applicants (B Interview)
  • Feb. 22-23, 2024
    Second Round Interviews for 2024-2025 Applicants
  • Mar. 8, 2024
    Final Decision Letters sent via email for 2024-2025 Applicants
  • Mar. 25, 2024 at 5 p.m.
    Acceptance Letters due back to Residential Life
Temoc the Comet and peer advisors

Become a Peer Advisor