Peer Assisted Learning—PAL
At Sacramento State, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed—no matter where they start or how they learn. That’s why the Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Program exists: to create a supportive, collaborative, and empowering space for all students in science, math, engineering, and computer science gateway courses.
PAL is not tutoring. It’s not lecture. It’s something much more powerful.
PAL brings students together—across years, backgrounds, and learning styles—to work side-by-side in a structured environment led by trained peers who have successfully completed the course themselves. These PAL Facilitators don’t give answers—they guide, support, and ask the right questions so that students can build true understanding, confidence, and community.
This model is rooted in over 20 years of national research and proven to work. In fact, a recent seven-year study involving over 25,000 Sac State students showed that those who participate in PAL see an average 23% boost in course grades. That’s not just a number—it’s lives changed, degrees earned, and futures unlocked.
PAL isn’t just for those who are struggling. It lifts everyone. Students learn more deeply, develop problem-solving and communication skills, and build lasting connections with peers. And in a space where mistakes are welcomed as learning opportunities, PAL fosters the kind of growth mindset that benefits students long after the semester ends.
“PAL was the reason I did well in Calculus.”
“You learn more from your peers than from a professor teaching 80 people.”
“PAL changed the way I study and how I think about learning.”
But we can’t do it without you.
Your support helps us train more facilitators, provide essential materials like whiteboards, and ensure that PAL is available to all students—regardless of financial background. Every dollar you give is an investment in student success, academic equity, and the next generation of scientists, engineers, and changemakers.
Let’s give every student the tools they need to thrive.
Join us. Support our students by supporting PAL today.
