Peer Benefits Advisor

University of Wisconsin–Madison; Bedford (MA); Hybrid; USD 18,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Enrollment Management division invites undergrad students to join the Office Of Student Financial Aid as Peer Benefits Advisors. The role focuses on helping peers navigate FoodShare and public benefits, guiding applicants through Wisconsin’s online screening tool, and connecting them with community partners.

Flexible scheduling supports class commitments and weekly Friday meetings.

Qualifications

• Current Federal Work-Study award.
• Currently enrolled UW-Madison undergraduate.
• Available for a required weekly team meeting during Spring semester from 10:00 to 12:00, in person (Fridays).
• Able to handle sensitive information discreetly and follow confidentiality procedures.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach to students about FoodShare: what it is, who might qualify, and what applying involves.
• Recommend, with supervision, which student communities and events the program should reach, and help track whether those approaches work.
• Meet with students one to one to answer questions and clear up common misunderstandings about FoodShare.
• Guide students through Wisconsin's official online screening tool and explain how to apply and what the application asks for.
• Connect students, with their permission, to our community partner organization for help completing the application.
• Follow up with students after they apply so they complete the required interview and submit documents by the deadline.
• Refer questions beyond the scope of training to staff or to our partner organization.
• Record each student contact accurately and confidentially in the program's tracking system.
• Participate in a weekly two-hour team meeting and in ongoing training (Fridays 10 a.m.-12 p.m.).
• Contribute ideas for improving outreach and program materials.
• In summer, follow up with students on their application outcomes and help prepare materials and training for the next year.

Skills

FoodShare knowledge

Public benefits awareness

Data analysis

Customer service

Team collaboration

Tools

Spreadsheets

Job description

Job No: 512212
Division/Organization: Enrollment Management
Department: Office Of Student Financial Aid
Job Type: UW Student Jobs
Remote Eligbility: Partially Remote
Location: EAST CAMPUS MALL 333
Salary/Wage Range or Lump Sum: 16.00
Job Categories: Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Teamwork/Collaboration, Professionalism/Work Ethic, Education and Training, Government and Public Administration, Customer Service, Data Analysis, Honoring Context and Culture, Federal Work-Study Preferred, Higher Education-Student Affairs

Department Overview

The Office of Student Financial Aid works to remove financial barriers so that qualified students can study at UW-Madison regardless of their ability to pay the costs.

Anticipated Start Date

Week of January 11th, 2027

Remote Work Eligibility Detail

Partially Remote

Anticipated Hours Per Week

Minimum: 6 Maximum:8

Schedule

Scheduling is flexible. Hours are set around your class schedule and program needs, including student appointments, presentations, and office events.
Required: a two-hour team meeting once a week, Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If you have a class during that window, this position will not work for you. Occasional conflicts are fine with advance notice.
Hours are not required during spring break (March 20 to 28).
The position continues through summer from May 10 to June 30 (increased hours, up to 15 hours per week, likely available in summer).

Salary/Wage Range/Lump Sum

Minimum: $16.00 per hour

Number of Positions

2-3

Qualifications

We're looking for students interested in food access, public benefits, social policy, or how financial barriers shape who gets to stay in college. Peer Benefits Advisors put those interests into practice by helping their peers navigate FoodShare, and see firsthand how policy works on the ground. Understanding of FoodShare or other public benefits, whether from coursework, work, volunteering, or your own life, is valued but not required.

Required

• Current Federal Work-Study award.
• Currently enrolled UW-Madison undergraduate.
• Available for a required weekly team meeting during Spring semester from 10:00 to 12:00, in person (Fridays).
• Able to handle sensitive information discreetly and follow confidentiality procedures.

Preferred

• Interest in and awareness of public benefits, social policy, food insecurity, social services.
• Understanding of, or curiosity about, the financial barriers students face in paying for college.
• Experience in peer education, customer service, student organizations, or helping people find resources.
• Comfort with presentations, outreach events
• Experience using spreadsheets, comfort with basic data analysis

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• A working knowledge of FoodShare and how public benefit applications work.
• Understanding of how financial aid and Federal Work-Study connect to other sources of support for students.
• Experience explaining a complicated process in plain language, one to one and in groups.
• Skill in talking with people about money and food with care and without judgment.
• Experience in record-keeping and data analysis.
• Planning outreach and using data to see what works.
• Experience working as part of a team.

Position Summary/Job Duties

• Conduct outreach to students about FoodShare: what it is, who might qualify, and what applying involves.
• Recommend, with supervision, which student communities and events the program should reach, and help track whether those approaches work.
• Meet with students one to one to answer questions and clear up common misunderstandings about FoodShare.
• Guide students through Wisconsin's official online screening tool and explain how to apply and what the application asks for.
• Connect students, with their permission, to our community partner organization for help completing the application.
• Follow up with students after they apply so they complete the required interview and submit documents by the deadline.
• Refer questions beyond the scope of training to staff or to our partner organization.
• Record each student contact accurately and confidentially in the program's tracking system.
• Participate in a weekly two-hour team meeting and in ongoing training (Fridays 10 a.m.-12 p.m.).
• Contribute ideas for improving outreach and program materials.
• In summer, follow up with students on their application outcomes and help prepare materials and training for the next year.

Physical Demands

• Able to attend events in person
• Sitting
• Keyboarding

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

UW-Madison is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce.

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background-people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: diversity.wisc.edu

Advertised: October 20, 2026 09:00 AM Central Daylight Time
Applications close: November 04, 2026 11:55 PM Central Standard Time