Selected students are provisionally admitted to the University and must complete the summer bridge and academic year components which offers special courses, academic and personal support, and social and cultural activities. PALS stands for Peer Assistance Linkages and Support. Pals is a program at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo which assists ethnic minority students. The groups who are the most underrepresented in higher education in the state are Hawaiian, Filipino, Samoan, other Pacific Islanders, and Indo-Chinese. New freshmen students are eligible to participate.
PALS matches students with peer assistants, who are upperdivision college students and role models.
These peer assistants provide individualized support services to new students on a regular basis. Participants receive assistance with peer advising and counseling, registration information, applying for financial aid, referrals, carrer development, study skills, and more. Workshops, cultural enrichment activities and social events are also planned throughout the year. To apply, or obtain further information, contact the Minority Access and Achievement Program office.