Peer Advising

Brown’s commitment to a flexible, open curriculum invites—even expects—students to tap into strong peer-advising networks. The many peer-advising programs at Brown are directly connected to the curriculum and involve the kind of student-to-student learning that is a hallmark of a Brown education.

Chief among these is Brown’s Meiklejohn Peer Advising Program, which provides students with an informed student perspective on curricular options and student life in general. Named after legendary Brown philosophy professor and civil libertarian Alexander Meiklejohn, the program embodies Brown’s belief that student perspectives on educational opportunities are a necessary complement to faculty perspectives on learning. Nearly 300 Brown students serve as Meiklejohn Peer Advisors.

Student learning and campus life are also supported by the Minority Peer Counseling Program, the Residential Peer Leader Program, and Athletic Peer Advisors. As with the Meiklejohn Program, students apply for these programs, which help students develop critical communication and collaborative leadership skills.

Finally, Department Undergraduate Groups (DUGs) provide peer advising to students in many concentration programs. DUGs work with concentration faculty to host departmental open houses for students interested in their concentration, to organize guest lectures and conferences, and to plan informal discussion forums with faculty.

Visit the Meiklejohn Advising homepage.