Peer Advocate Leaders (PALs)
PALs stands for Peer Advocate Leaders.
We serve as peer mentors to help students navigate a successful college career. PALs are trained to work with students to connect them with CU Denver, the Auraria Campus, and the Denver community. These mentoring relationships are designed to foster student engagement and academic success by providing peer-level support that promotes student achievement, growth, and learning through the student’s career at CU Denver. PALs are paired in First-Year Experience courses to plan and facilitate educational and social activities. PALs also assist students in one-on-one environments.
Peer Advocate Leader (PAL) FAQs
A PAL is a trained student staff member who works to connect one-on-one with our FYE students and in their FYE courses. PALs provide ongoing mentorship both inside and outside the classroom during a student’s first fall semester and help students get connected and involved in the CU Denver campus community. PALs create and host events for students, attend campus-wide events, support their students in their FYE class, and act as a resource for their FYE students.
Enroll in one of our FYE courses to get a PAL! You can find out more information about our FYE courses at www.ucdenver.edu/fye.
Being a PAL is a paid student staff position – we welcome anyone interested in applying! Applications for being a PAL typically open in the spring semester for the upcoming fall term.
Who We Are.
We’re students helping fellow students! Peer Advocate Leaders (PALs) are peer mentors. We mentor first-years, transfer, international students, and students on academic probation. If you are in an First- Year Experience class, you will see your PAL there!
Need a PAL?
Classes turning out to be harder than expected? Is college a bit different than what you thought? If you are not in an FYE class, but would like to get connected to a peer mentor group on campus, please email us at pal@ucdenver.edu and we would be happy to connect you!
Be a PAL!
This is a paid student employment opportunity! If you’re looking to work as a PAL, we post our detailed application instructions every spring. PALs are interviewed and hired in the spring, trained over the summer, and begin working in the fall. Ready to get involved? Applications are open and will close on February 14th, 2026!
The PAL Application for the 2026-2027 academic term is open!
Apply to be a PAL! The deadline is February 14th, 2026!
Hear From PALs
Jazmin Teran-Balbuena
“As a first-generation college student, I became a PAL because I wanted to help freshmen students survive College. PAL has helped me become a Leader and grow my career as a marketing major. PAL has truly been a phenomenal experience!”
Chloe Frazee
“My favorite part about working for the PAL program is making a difference in other students’ lives. I also am very grateful for the many friends I’ve made in the program.”
Daphne Galloway
“Hi my name is Daphne! I’m a communications major with a minor in creative writing. I love being a PAL because it allows me to meet so many unique people on our campus. I love being able to help others and guide them to success. PAL has prepared me for my professional life as a journalist because I am able to communicate with everyone in the appropriate way and promote events for everyone’s success.”
Feryn Shafer
“Hello! My name is Feryn Shafer, I am a Biology major with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-health track. I love being a PAL because I have been able to learn better leadership and communication skills when working with others. I love being able to guide and inspire others to go on their chosen path, or maybe even help them find a new and better one. I also believe being a PAL has increased my emotional intelligence to work with others, especially with those who are having a hard time. With being a PAL, I’ll be able to be a better leader in the medical field and make better decisions in both communication with others and my own judgment. I hope as an aspiring forensic pathologist, I can bring my passion to help and inspire others to bring justice and peace to those who have lost a loved one, while giving them comfort through their hard times.”