Peer Facilitation Program
The Stanford Peer Facilitation Program was created in response to students’ interest in engaging in meaningful conversations and learning experiences within their organizations, residences, and other campus communities. The program offers structured opportunities for peer-led discussions, fostering connection and growth in student-centered spaces.
The mission of the Stanford Peer Facilitation Program is to support thriving student communities at Stanford University through peer-led dialogues that explore identity, leadership, and collaboration. Our goal is to cultivate a cohort of student leaders who contribute to a campus culture where every individual feels valued and empowered.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
- Strengthen interpersonal and group dynamics
- Enhance critical thinking about personal experiences and group interactions
- Foster a deeper appreciation for varied perspectives and lived experiences
- Explore the dynamics of leadership and collaboration within diverse settings
- Equip students with tools for effective communication and community-building
Apply
The program includes one quarter of learning and development – Spring 2026. The program will launch with a retreat during the first week of spring quarter. For the remainder of the quarter, OSE professional and student staff will lead twice weekly, 1.5-hour sessions on facilitation basics. We will gather each week to grow our skills and to build community and Peer Facilitators-in-Training will co-facilitate supervised workshops. The program ends with an annual showcase where Peer Facilitators-in-Training will have the opportunity to facilitate a large session for invited guests and campus partners.
Compensation
During the program, Peer Facilitators-in-Training will receive $18.20/hour for a minimum of 3 hours each week for nine weeks across spring quarter. Trainees who advance to become Peer Facilitators in 2026-2027 will become OSE staff and also earn an hourly wage.
Timeline
Applications for the 2026 cohort open January 5th! We look forward to reviewing your application.
Join the 2026 PFP Cohort (our 5th cohort!)
Looking to join a supportive community focused on meaningful connections? Interested in exploring themes related to identity and group dynamics while developing your facilitation skills—and getting paid? Discover the power of dialogue with the Peer Facilitation Program!
Meet a Peer Facilitator
The Peer Facilitation Program provides a weekly break from the fast paced life of Stanford and allows members to grow both internally and in community. Most PFP gatherings begin with small talk and food as everyone finds their way to the meeting space after class.
As soon as all members arrive, we begin with a check-in question to get a sense of everyone’s energy levels and transition to a more self-reflective headspace. It is such a powerful difference from most of our academic environments. Our activities often involve sharing deeply personal stories, asking difficult questions of each other, and interrogating previous perspectives. Members join with the knowledge that we have all been socialized differently and thus bring different knowledge from our diverse social identities, experiences, belief systems, and ideological backgrounds. We value failure as an opportunity to learn in this space, and although we all make mistakes, we also practice self-forgiveness.
For the half of the quarter, PFP staff facilitate the activities so that peer facilitators can learn from a range of facilitation styles. In the second half, members of the program facilitate each week to gain practice and to discover their own unique facilitation methods.
