Peer-Assisted Learning

Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) is a free peer-led academic support program that consists of regularly-scheduled group study sessions in historically challenging courses. PAL is available to everyone in participating courses - regardless of grades or comfort with materials - and students are welcome to join PAL sessions as often as they would like.

PAL sessions are facilitated by trained peer leaders who have previously taken and succeeded in the course they lead. PAL provides the opportunity to study course-related material in an organized, collaborative peer-learning environment.


Students attending PAL can expect:

  • A welcoming and inclusive environment. PAL provides an opportunity to meet your classmates and work together in a low-stakes, judgement-free environment where you don’t need to worry about making a mistake.
  • To actively participate. PAL sessions will include small group discussions and engaging activities to make content practice more fun.
  • To work through problems and questions. PAL Leaders will not do problems for you but will help you to find the answer with your peers.
  • To use course materials.  PAL Leaders may make specific references to lecture notes, textbooks and other course materials during sessions, and they may help you to work effectively with your classmates.

Instructors interested in PAL for their course can contact us for more information. More details can also be found in the PAL Instructor FAQs.