Peer Education Program

Students Helping Students
Information
(512) 475-8252

Peer Educators are students who volunteer in programs established on the principle that, through education and awareness, students can effectively influence the attitudes and behavior of their peers in beneficial ways.

University Health Services hosts three peer educator programs:

Alcohol and Drug Education
Sexual Health
Nutrition

In each program, qualified student volunteers train extensively in their topic to help others deal with college lifestyle issues and choices. Supervised by professional program coordinators, peer educators gain valuable experience in a number of areas, including conducting educational events for UT student groups, facilitating workshops, developing, coordinating, and staffing displays and tables for campus outreach events, and acting as a resource for students who request help making informed, healthy decisions.

Recruitment

Lower and upper division undergraduates and graduate students from any major or background are welcome to apply. All peer education programs require a minimum commitment of three consecutive long semesters (fall-spring-fall).

Peer Educator recruitment takes place during each spring semester. Program coordinators begin accepting and considering applications in January. Qualified applicants are interviewed and selected in April before fall registration opens.

Alcohol and Drug Peer Educator (ADEP) Program

The goal of the ADEP program is to encourage students to participate in safe, responsible behavior around alcohol and drugs. The program aims to give students the information and tools to make their own educated decisions.

ADEP peer educators carry out the program's goals by conducting outreach and education activities such as presenting workshops to student groups, distributing information at tabling events, and co-instructing the Choices class.

ADEP peer educators cover a variety of topics related to alcohol and drugs including blood alcohol concentration, alcohol poisoning, addiction, recovery, predatory drugs, tobacco, risk management, and harm reduction.

ADEP Requirements

• Peer educators must commit to 3 consecutive long semesters (fall-spring-fall)
• During the first semester, peer educators take KIN 378, a 3 credit hour academic course. This class prepares students to be peer educators through discussions, lectures, didactic presentations, and interactive exercises. Attendance and participation are required. Some class activities include attendance at meetings and presentations outside of normal class times (usually evenings).
• During the following spring and fall semesters, peer educators enroll in and receive credit for KIN 178, a 1 credit hour course, while completing 30 hours of volunteer service each semester.
• Peer educators complete volunteer hours by doing outreach and education activities.
• There are no academic prerequisites for the ADEP peer educator program.

Sexual Health Peer Educator (SHPE) Program

The goal of the Sexual Health Peer Educator program is to empower students to become sexually healthy adults.

Sexual Health peer educators carry out the program's goal by conducting outreach and education activities such as presenting workshops to student groups, distributing information at tabling events, conducting individual consultations and instructing the Hormonal Contraception class.

Sexual Health peer educators cover a variety of topics related to sexuality including STIs, HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ issues, condoms, methods of contraception, anatomy and physiology, safer sex, hot spots and positions, body art, men's health, women's health and safer sex communication.

SHPE Requirements

• During the first semester, new peer educators shadow veteran peeer educators.
• Peer educators must commit to 3 consecutive long semesters (fall-spring-fall)
• SHPEs must complete a Human Sexuality course prior to or concurrent with KIN 378. The course may be taken at UT, ACC, or another college. (Students accepted into the SHPE program are guaranteed admittance into a Human Sexuality course at UT.)
• During the first semester, peer educators take KIN 378, a 3 credit hour academic course. This class prepares students to be peer educators through discussions, lectures, didactic presentations, and interactive exercises. Attendance and participation are required. Some class activities include attendance at meetings and presentations outside of normal class times (usually evenings).
• During the following spring and fall semesters, peer educators enroll in and receive credit for KIN 178, a 1 credit hour course, while completing 30 hours of volunteer service each semester.
• Peer educators complete volunteer hours by doing outreach and education activities.

Nutrition Peer Educator Program

The goal of the Nutrition Peer Educator program is to promote healthy eating among UT students.

Nutrition peer educators carry out the program's goal by conducting outreach and education activities such as presenting workshops to student groups, distributing information at tabling events, and conducting individual consultations.

Nutrition peer educators cover a variety of topics including healthy eating, weight management, vegetarianism, heart healthy eating, eating disorder resources, body image, and promotion of nurtrition education services.

Nutrition Peer Educator Requirements

• Peer educators commit to 30 hours of volunteer service per long semester, which includes weekly meetings
• Peer educators received training from a registered dietitian during the weekly meetings
• The prerequisite for acceptance is NTR 311, no exceptions.

Thanks for your interest in our Peer Education Programs. The deadline for spring 2008 applications has passed. Recruitment occurs each spring semester. If you are interested in becoming a peer educator, please check back next spring!