Graduate Student Peer Support Program
The Graduate Student Peer Support program (GSPS) is a support network for graduate students as they navigate challenges and opportunities during their educational journey at the U of A.
What is the GSPS?
Managed by the university’s Health Safety + Environment team and in consultation with the Graduate Students’ Association, the Dean of Students and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the GSPS connects graduate students with other graduate students specially trained as peer supporters.
The goal is to champion students’ academic, mental and physical well-being, as well as foster a sense of belonging in a supportive, inclusive and empathetic environment.
How DO peer supporters help?
Peer supporters are trained to provide guidance and support to any graduate student on a variety of issues and topics, speaking from a position of shared experience who similarly recognize the unique challenges graduate students face within the context of the university, including:
- The stress of balancing demanding workloads within their university work, teaching or research
- The challenge of operating in a way that supports physical, psychological and cultural safety
- Working successfully within the power differential that inherently exists between Principal Investigators/Supervisors and graduate students
- Identifying university resources or subject matter experts
- Building a sense of community if you are new to the University or to Canada
Peer supporters are not trained to provide clinical or mental health advice. If you know you are in need of clinical or mental health advice, please contact Counselling & Clinical Services directly.
How does it work?
To reach out to a peer supporter, please complete and submit this intake form. The program coordinator will review the form then assign a peer supporter who will reach out to you via email to arrange an initial meeting with you. If you just have a general question about the program, email gsps@ualberta.ca and someone will get back to you shortly.
Confidentiality
We recognize that sometimes it is difficult to raise certain issues. Confidentiality is essential in building trust between yourself and the peer supporter. Please be assured that any conversation with a peer supporter is kept strictly confidential. During your first meeting, the peer supporter will explain how the confidentiality of your conversation will be maintained.
Interested in Volunteering?
Check back in spring 2027 for more information about volunteering for 2027/28.
Volunteers will have one-on-one conversations with peers and also have opportunities to lead student mixers and represent GSPS at various events on North Campus. In these roles, volunteers will help provide guidance and support on a variety of issues and topics, including:
- The stress of balancing demanding workloads within their university work, teaching or research
- The challenge of operating in a way that supports physical, psychological and cultural safety
- Working successfully within the power differential that inherently exists between Principal Investigators and graduate students
- Identifying university resources or subject matter experts
GSPS volunteers will be responsible for attending monthly meetings (~1 hour/month), hosting social mixers in collaboration with other volunteers (~3 hours/month) in addition to meeting with peer support clients one-on-one (up to 2 hours/month). This will vary based on the number of GSPS volunteers and the number of graduate students seeking support. In addition you will be required to complete a day of in-person training and possible additional online training. In addition you will be required to complete one day of in-person training and additional online training for a combined time commitment of up to 12 hours.
- Develop effective communication and empathic listening skills
- Strengthen your sense of community engagement
- Build your resume, network and community connections
- Share your experiences and help shape the future of your peers
- Receive training in communication strategies, mental health and wellbeing
- Receive a $100 gift card upon completion of the program