What PAs Do : Communication : UMass Amherst

First-Year Mentoring: Every New Communication Student Gets a Peer Advisor

Every first-year or transfer student who enters UMass Amherst directly as a Communication major is assigned a peer advisor. Each advisor welcomes a small group of new students, helps them get oriented to the department and the university, invites them to department and campus events, and generally serves as a friendly and accessible resource during their first year at UMass Amherst. Peer advisors understand that the transition into a large department and university can be both exciting and daunting. They connect new students to one another and to the support and opportunities available to them.

What do peer advisors do, exactly?

If you’re a new student, the first thing they’ll do is make sure you feel welcome and supported in the department. And they help all students to do the following:

Make informed decisions about their course of study
Apply to the Communication major
Plan schedules
Understand and meet deadlines for procedures such as course registration, add/drop, and withdrawal
Obtain and complete Communication department and university forms
Ensure that they are fulfilling all Communication and university requirements
Learn how to read and use their Academic Requirements Report (ARR)
Explore academic opportunities such as internships, study abroad, and Five College courses
Explore research opportunities
Explore volunteer opportunities
Connect to other UMass services and resources

Peer advisors also:

Organize department events throughout the year
Maintain an Instagram page (@umasscomm) to keep Communication students connected with events and opportunities of interest to them