Following are answers to frequently asked questions about wellness peer educators.
What is the role of wellness peer educators?
Wellness peer educators are undergraduate students who serve as an extension of the professional staff at the Office of Wellness Education. They volunteer time each month during the academic year to create, plan and implement student programming around topical wellness issues.
What are the qualifications for becoming a peer educator?
Candidates must:
- Be a sophomore, junior or senior. First-year students may apply in the spring semester of their first year.
- Be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Possess strong communication, leadership and organizational skills.
- Be a role model for responsible and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Be enthusiastic about educating peers on wellness issues.
- Be self-starters.
- Demonstrate an ability to work independently, one-on-one and in groups.
Previous student leadership, peer education, event planning and/or health education-related experience is helpful, but not mandatory.
What are the expectations of a wellness peer educator?
Peer educators are expected to:
- Act as exemplary role models for all students.
- Aabide by all college policies and local and state laws.
- Maintain good academic standing.
- Commit to making healthy life choices.
- Represent the college and themselves in an appropriate manner in all communications.
- Exhibit a high level of maturity and professionalism.
What are the responsibilities of a wellness peer educator?
Responsibilities include:
- Working collaboratively with wellness education staff to create, implement and publicize the Warriors’ Wellness Peer Education program.
- Participating in weekly meetings.
- Facilitating stress-management workshops and other peer education programming.
- Conducting outreach to increase the scope of peer education programming.
- Serving as a wellness information resource for peers and provide informal referrals for students to on-campus resources that may assist them.
- Seeking out opportunities to work collaboratively with student organizations and other departments.
- Participating in training and continuing-education opportunities, as identified and assigned.
- Other duties as determined and assigned as the program evolves.
What is the time commitment of a wellness peer educator?
Approximately six to eight hours per month during the academic year.
What are the benefits of becoming a wellness peer educator?
As a peer educator, you will have the opportunity to:
- Be recognized as a student leader and positive role model.
- Develop skills in organization, presentation, communication and group facilitation.
- Gain experience for professional development and/or graduate school (It looks great on a resume!).
- Gain extensive knowledge about health issues.
- Meet, help and serve others.
- Make new friends.
- Have the opportunity to travel to the BACCHUS Network Area 10 spring conference.
How do I become a peer educator?
Complete this online application form.