Peer Advising exists to make a positive difference as we aim to meet the needs of Psychology faculty, staff, and students.

What We Do

All PA’s are psychology majors. This gives us a better understanding about what other students might be going through because we have most likely been there ourselves. Our aim is to do everything possible to help you enhance your experience as a JMU Psychology major.

Our main objective is to serve the JMU Psychology community. Some responsibilities of Peer Advising include: conducting New Major Orientation Sessions, writing and publishing the Peer Advising Press, and hosting symposia on topics interesting and relevant to Psychology Majors. Also, all Peer Advisors have office hours that cover each day of the week. This creates a dependable place to come when your advisor or professor is unavailable or busy, or when you just want to talk to a student with similar experience.

Psychology Peer Advising also serves James Madison University and the outside community. A motto we have is "you must be the change you wish to see in the world" and we do that through various service projects throughout the year. Our largest service project to date is the "JMU-Harrisonburg Food Fight", which is an annual fundraiser to raise food items and money to help fight hunger locally and around the world.

S.A.L.T.E.

The Psychology Peer Advising Program exhibits the following core values in everything we do:

Service - to actively serve Psychology students, the Psychology Department, James 
              Madison University, and the community it and share the responsibility of
             advising with the faculty

Attitude - to exemplify a positive attitude throughout our practices

Leadership - to be an organization that exhibits, promotes, and develops leadership

Teamwork - to create an environment that fosters teamwork among its members and with those whom we help

Excellence - to always strive to do our best in everything we do

History

The Peer Advising Program was started in the fall of 1991 by Eileen Nelson, a JMU Psychology Professor. It started with five psychology majors who received training and assisted with the organization of the Peer Advising Office. Then, in 2000, the program was turned over to Dr. William Evans. Since then we have grown to a yearly group of 32 Psychology Peer Advisors whom are constantly striving for excellence in serving the Psychology Department, James Madison University, the community, and YOU!

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