With support from the Office of the Dean, CHASS is expanding its student advising landscape and team by enlisting the expertise of undergraduate students who now take on the crucial role of peer advisors. CHASS Peer Academic Advisors help their fellow students with academic concerns, and questions, and connect them with academic advisors for further support and advising services.

“In urgent times, peer advisors are available to meet students where they are, which is an important aspect of the program,” said Sara Cuny, Peer Academic Advisor supervisor, academic advisor in psychology, and a UCR CHASS alumna.

Spearheaded by Cuny, peer advising originated as an initiative in June 2021 as an internship opportunity for undergraduate psychology majors to work closely with psychology advisors to provide assistance and guidance to students with questions. In the 2022-2023 academic year, Cuny and the advising team worked to expand peer advising to all CHASS students by providing additional training and hiring more student employees. 

“We receive ongoing trainings in various areas, ensuring that we stay well-informed and equipped to assist students effectively,” said Samantha Dominguez, peer academic advisor and a fourth-year sociology and media and cultural studies student. “This continuous training helps us address a wide range of academic concerns and stay up-to-date with any changes in university policies or procedures.” 

According to Cuny, peer advising roles are a great opportunity to gain career and developmental experience for students interested in academic advising and related professions. 

In year-long appointments, peer advisors are trained not only to assist with general registration questions but also to troubleshoot, offer referrals to campus resources, aid with enrollment adjustment forms, assist at events and orientation, and provide essential peer mentorship through virtual office-hour walk-ins accessed via the CHASS Student Advising Appointment System.

“Offering reassurance to students, letting them know they're not alone, and bringing joy by answering their questions are the most fulfilling aspects of my day,” said Dominguez, who has been serving as a peer advisor since February 2023. “It's exciting to see that students are comfortable in asking us for help and getting their questions answered.”

“Peer advisors provide a unique perspective by helping their fellow students navigate the university and provide integral feedback to our advising team on the student experience ,” Cuny said. “We have a dedicated team of peer academic advisors that are readily accessible and excited to help.” 

In the future, the peer advising program will expand to hire additional students for the upcoming academic year. Applications for peer advisors will open for eligible CHASS students in winter 2024 in UCR Handshake.

“As the population of CHASS students continues to grow, we’re hopeful that we can expand our team to meet the needs of our students,” Cuny said.

“Utilizing CHASS Peer Advisors as a resource is something I highly recommend for all students,” Dominguez said. “I’m excited to witness the growth and expansion of this program in the years ahead!”

To learn more about Peer Academic Advising and access their online walk-in hours, please visit chassstudentaffairs.ucr.edu/meet-our-staff/peer-advisors.

To stay connected with CHASS Peer Academic Advising on Instagram, please follow them at instagram.com/ucrchass_peeradvising/.

To learn more about CHASS Academic Advising, please visit chassstudentaffairs.ucr.edu/advising.