About Middle Earth

Welcome to the Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program homepage! Middle Earth is a campus agency where hotline and peer education services are delivered by trained UAlbany undergraduate students under the supervision of professionals at the University Counseling Center.

Our Mission

The Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program provides peer counseling and peer education services that assist students in meeting their educational goals and in coping with emotional, social, and other life issues that they face. Since its beginning in 1970, its primary focus has been on alcohol and other drug prevention as it relates to these issues. An additional mission of the program is to strive toward increased diversity within the organization so that services offered may be more sensitive to the individual needs and experiences of the widest cross-section of students on our diverse campus.

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Our Program Awards

• 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)
• BACCHUS Outstanding Network Affiliate Award (2004)
• Student Leadership Award for Outstanding Organization Advisor (2005)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding Area 11 Affiliate Award (2005)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding Network Affiliate Award (2004)
• BACCHUS and GAMMA Outstanding School Exhibit Award (2004)
• 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)
• 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)
• Inclusion in Promising Practices (1999)
• Model Program Grant ($100,324)  for Alcohol and Drug Prevention, United States Department of Education (2000)
• 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)

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More Than a Student Organization: 10 Reasons Why Middle Earth Works for Students

1. Since 1970, Middle Earth has provided hotline services to over 79,000 students and outreach education programs to over 105,000 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.