How to Get Involved

Our general meetings are held once per month on the University of Minnesota East Bank. Meeting schedule will be determined in the Fall. All SPH Students are welcome to attend meetings.

A fantastic way to get involved here at the School of Public Health is to sign up for the Senate’s Buddy Program. We will match incoming students to returning students, who will serve as a peer mentor and a “buddy” for the academic year to help navigate the first-year experience.

For returning students, this is a great opportunity to add leadership and mentorship experience to your CV or resume, as well as building your social network and developing connections with other terrific students here at SPH.

For incoming students, the opportunity to participate in the Buddy Program will help ease the transition into graduate school and life at SPH, while building an important friendship with another student that already successfully completed their first year.

To sign up for the Buddy Program, whether you are an incoming or returning student, please fill out the form below by September 14. We will have you and your buddy matched by the end of the following week so you can get the semester off to a great start!

Testimony from Student Buddies in previous years:

“We would do check-in emails & meetings every other month or so. 2nd year buddy was a wonderful resource and helped me navigate all these questions I had, which helped me tremendously!”

“I really enjoy being able to support these students. I have helped them plan out their course sequences and given advice on involvement, Applied Practice Experience, Integrated Learning Experience, and anything else that they are looking for guidance on.”

“Good way to provide informal peer mentors to ease people into the grad school process, network, and potentially build social connections in the remote environment.”

We are aware that some programs within SPH have their own buddy programs. We encourage you to participate in those as well, but you can have more than one buddy, and the Senate’s program is a great way to make new friends in other areas of the School of Public Health.

Please fill out the form below to enroll in the Buddy Program by September 14.

If you have any Student Senate related questions, feel free to email nels9793@umn.edu, or the SPHSS directly at sphss@umn.edu.

Apply to join the SPH Student Senate

Are you interested in promoting student success, fostering diversity and inclusion, building community, and liaising between students and the School of Public Health administration? Apply today to join the School of Public Health Student Senate for the 2023-24 academic year. All SPH students are welcome to apply! Applications are due by Thursday, September 21st at 11:59 p.m.

If you have questions or concerns, please email sphss@umn.edu or nels9793@umn.edu.

© 2015 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Privacy Statement