Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program

In 1970, a University at Albany student, Louis Ringe '71 and two other students had a dream and took action to make it come to fruition. They envisioned the establishment of a crisis hotline on campus to respond to the needs of students who were affected by personal concerns and societal events of the time, such as the drug crisis, the Vietnam War, and civil rights issues. In the spring of 1970, with the assistance of the University Counseling Center, the dream of these students was realized, and a student-operated hotline, CRISIS 5300, was born.

The efforts of these students did not end upon their graduation from the University at Albany. As years passed, CRISIS 5300 gained momentum. Upon its renaming as "Middle Earth" in 1973, grant funds were secured by the Dean of Students, Lois Gregg, to expand Middle Earth into a comprehensive peer counseling and peer education agency. Middle Earth quickly gained a reputation as a leader in peer assistance, consulting on the development of similar programs at other colleges and universities across the state, speaking to young people about alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and training professionals, such as hospital personnel, teachers, and overseas operators for New York Telephone, on ways to recognize and address crisis situations. In 1983, Middle Earth expanded its horizons by sponsoring its first Sexuality Week, an event that continues today.

Today, Middle Earth carries the same name and logo, but the look of the agency has evolved with our times. The agency continues to operate a student-staffed hotline service and peer education and peer career advisement programs under the supervision of a Director who is a licensed psychologist. Middle Earth operates one of the few surviving student-staffed hotlines in the country, and it is the only hotline of its type that services the Albany County area. Students can perform services for Middle Earth either on a volunteer basis or for course credit through the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology. The agency is funded both by the University and by the Student Association, making it a student organization that enjoys the rights and benefits of University affiliation.

The nature and scope of Middle Earth services have also evolved with our changing times. While its mission continues to focus on providing services to assist students in achieving their educational and personal goals, this mission is carried out in a more proactive, preventive manner. For example, the impact of HIV/AIDS on our lives today could have never been imagined by a Middle Earth volunteer of the 1970's or early 1980's, nor was there as much of a focus in society or in Middle Earth training on the importance of issues such as personal safety, eating disorders, and human diversity. While CRISIS 5300's first hotline service was operated by less than ten students and was housed for a time in a converted closet in the Campus Center, today's Middle Earth volunteers number over 160, and its offices are located in the former Health and Counseling Building as a service arm of the University Counseling Center, Division of Student Success.

The look of Middle Earth consumers has also changed. During the 2009-2010 year, the hotline service received over 1,600 contacts. Males requested slightly more services than did females, perhaps suggesting that males prefer to seek services anonymously. The three primary issues of concern for students who contacted the hotline were peer relationship issues, sexuality concerns, and psychological concerns. In addition, the Middle Earth outreach education program devoted its 2010 Sexuality Week to a discussion of race, gender, and sexuality hosted by author and political expert Keith Boykin. Through Sexuality Week, over 10,000 students and community members were reached. Middle Earth has been recognized as a national model for its work by the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other national, state, and local organizations.

In 1970, a student had a dream and, with the help of administrators who cared, did something with it. Forty years later, the dream is still alive because over 1,400 alumni and alumnae, over 160 students, and a number of administrators and student leaders are continuing to support this very important community service.

• BACCHUS Network Outstanding Chapter (2010)
• Student Leadership Award-Outstanding Student Organization Great Dane Award (2009)
• BACCHUS Network Outstanding School Exhibit Award (2009)
• BACCHUS Network Outstanding School Exhibit Award (2007)
• BACCHUS Network Outstanding Program Award for Alcohol Awareness Week presentation “The Real World UAlbany” (2007)
• BACCHUS Network Outstanding Student Award- Jennifer A. Roman (2007)
• Student Leadership Award-Outstanding Student Organization Award (2007)
• New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Grant ($25,000) to Develop A Public Service Announcement Addressing Underage Drinking in College Students (2006)
• Dominion Foundation Corporate Gift ($15,000) to support student conference participation in the BACCHUS Network General Assembly and Area 11 Spring Conferences as well as other conferences (2006)
• BACCHUS Outstanding Network Affiliate Award (2005)
• Student Leadership Award for Outstanding Organization Advisor (2005)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding Area 11 Affiliate Award (2005)
• Dominion Foundation Corporate Gifts ($15,000) to support student conference participation in the BACCHUS and GAMMA General Assembly and Area 11 Spring Conferences as well as other conferences (2005)
• BACCHUS Outstanding Network Affiliate Award (2004)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding Network Affiliate Award (2004)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding School Exhibit Award (2004)
• NIAAA Rapid Response to College Drinking Problems Grant ($849,057) (2004)
• Dominion Foundation Corporate Gifts ($10,000) to support student conference participation in the BACCHUS and GAMMA General Assembly and Area 11 Spring Conferences as well as other conferences (2004)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding Network Affiliate Award (2003)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding School Exhibit Award (2003)
• Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Program Award, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, United States Department of Health and Human Services (2002)
• Model Program Grant ($100,324)  for Alcohol and Drug Prevention, United States Department of Education (2000)
• Inclusion in Promising Practices (1999)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding Program Advisor Award (1999)
• Inclusion in the Templeton Guide to College and Character for Outstanding Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programs (1999)
• President’s Undergraduate Leadership Award for Outstanding Organization Advisor (1998)
• J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award (1996)
• New York State Senate and Assembly Recognition Award (1995)
• Silver Anniversary Plaque for University Service (1995)
• Student Association Community Service Award (1994)
• University at Albany President’s Outstanding Student Organization Award (1994)
• J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award (1993)
• President’s Undergraduate Leadership Award for Outstanding Organization Advisor (1993)
• Distinguished Student Award, Psychological Association of Northeastern New York (1993)

1. Since 1970, Middle Earth has provided hotline services to over 81,000 students and outreach education programs to over 125,000 persons.
2. Middle Earth was begun by students in 1970 and has continued to support one of the only surviving student-operated hotlines in the United States today.
3. Middle Earth was a pioneer in the outreach education area, sponsoring programs for students as early as 1972.
4. Middle Earth offers critical peer assistance services to the campus and capital district area during evenings and weekends, times in which other campus and community agencies are closed.
5. Middle Earth volunteers are trained to work with other students in addressing a number of campus issues, such as alcohol and drug abuse, relationship concerns, eating disorders, diversity issues, and other areas.
6. Some students feel more comfortable speaking with their trained peers from Middle Earth on topics such as alcohol and other drugs, peer relationships, sexuality concerns, and psychological issues.
7. Middle Earth distributes information to the campus community regarding both academic and personal topics in many ways, particularly through its column entitled, Middle Earth Roots in the Albany Student Press and its radio show called "Talk to Me" on WCDB FM-Albany.
8. Middle Earth provides an excellent undergraduate training opportunity for students who are interested in entering the helping and human services professions, such as psychology, social work, medicine, teaching, and related fields.
9. Middle Earth members who pursue graduate study in the helping professions are often noted to be ahead of their classmates in skill levels in both master’s and doctoral degree programs.
10. Middle Earth provides the highest quality of service, efforts which have been recognized by awards from the United States Department of Education, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Psychological Association of Northeastern New York, the BACCHUS Network, and the President's Undergraduate Leadership Awards Program.

The Middle Earth Hotline functions as the campus peer assistance agency, especially after hours when other campus support services are closed. Trained student volunteers staff the hotline. An online self-help resource, the Middle Earth Café, is also available.

The Hotline is open from noon to midnight Monday through Thursday and 24 hours a day Friday through Sunday on weekends when University at Albany classes are in session during the academic year.

The Middle Earth Café provides information using podcasts and online resources about mental health and behavioral issues affecting college students. This alternative to the Middle Earth telephone hotline allows students to communicate with us online (Coming Soon).

The Peer Education Service offers programs, consultation, theme weeks, and resource development. We also have a nationally recognized peer theatre group, the Middle Earth Players. Trained peer educators do presentations, workshops and peer theater performances for sororities, fraternities, athletic teams, residence halls, academic classes, and other campus groups on topics such as:

• Body image and eating
• Study skills and test anxiety
• Time management
• Relationship concerns
• Making friends
• Adjusting to college life
• Assertiveness training
• Diversity Issues
• Concerns about drinking or drugs

This service focuses on helping students with their career development needs. Peer Career Advisors are sophomores, juniors and seniors who help with the transition from college life to the professional world. They are trained and supervised by Career Services professionals to offer information on jobs and internships and to help other students with their resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, and other important career tasks. To access Peer Career Advisor Services, contact Career Services.

Become a hotline volunteer, peer educator, or peer career advisor. A new group of volunteers is trained each semester. Applications are available throughout the year from our office, and all students who are registered for classes at the University are welcome to apply. Selections are made toward the end of each semester. Training classes begin the following semester and last for the entire term. Course credit is also available through the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology in the School of Education.

Click here to download the Middle Earth application.

Graduate students may become involved in Middle Earth in a number of ways – by applying for a graduate assistantship as a Hotline Coordinator, Outreach Coordinator, or Alcohol Prevention Coordinator applying for a pre-doctoral internship in psychology, or enrolling in our independent study course in Prevention and Health Promotion offered at the masters level (ECPY 697) or doctoral level (ECPY 890). For further information about enrolling in our independent study course, contact Dr. M. Dolores Cimini, Middle Earth program director, at dcimini@uamail.albany.edu.

Celebrating 40 Years of Students Helping Students

In 2010, Middle Earth celebrated its 40th Anniversary. Click here to download a slide show of photos from Middle Earth’s past and present (Microsoft PowerPoint is required to view this file.).

Staying Connected

Here are some ways in which Middle Earth alumni can stay in touch with our program:

After four decades of students helping students, the Middle Earth program continues to thrive and grow with the help of generous contributions from the University, the Student Association, and private foundations and corporations. With this assistance, we are able to hire paid graduate student coordinators for our hotline and outreach programs and to meet expenses for the training of our undergraduate volunteers. We are also able to participate in conferences on a local, state, and national level and disseminate our work to other colleges and universities.

If you are an alumnus of Middle Earth, think about what the program has meant to you and about the ways that it has impacted your career path and your job. Our agency remains involved in training and assisting students like you, supporting the career development of future generations of social workers, psychologists, teachers, medical doctors, lawyers, and individuals in many other professions. It is only with the investment of allies from Middle Earth's past that we can continue to offer our critical services and invest in our students and our future.

If, as a member, graduate, or friend of Middle Earth, you are interested in helping us meet our financial challenges, it is now possible for you to direct a gift to Middle Earth in one of two ways. First, when you receive your call from the University's Annual Fund, indicate to the caller that you wish to designate your gift to Middle Earth. If you are not receiving mailings or calls from the Annual Fund and wish to make a donation to Middle Earth, please contact Dr. M. Dolores Cimini, Middle Earth Director, at:

Help us to continue our legacy and keep us strong, visible, and visionary. Thank you!