General Description, Mission, and Philosophy
Health Promotion Office (HPO) Peer Education is a premier leadership opportunity within the NYU Student Health Center that utilizes the expertise of students who are trained to provide educational programs and outreach.
HPO Peer Educators are full-time students who serve as a resource, referral agents, and role models for other students. Applicants must maintain good academic standing (2.0 GPA) and abide by all expectations set forth by the NYU student code of conduct to be considered for the position. The role of the peer educator includes:
- Personalizing the campus environment by providing important services, programs, information and resources that empower students with a greater understanding of self and their institution.
- Developing trustful, non-judgmental relationships with other students in order to support students in reducing risk in their behavioral choices.
- Measuring the mood and tone of the NYU student community and identifying themes to inform outreach and education efforts.
Mission of Health Promotion Office Peer Education:
The Health Promotion Office Peer Education program at the New York University Student Health Center is committed to empowering students to make informed decisions in a wide range of health-related fields, while respecting their choices without judgment. Peer Educators provide engaging, inclusive and informative events, workshops and discussions around issues faced by NYU students, and serve to connect students to University and New York City resources.
Philosophy of Health Promotion Office Peer Education:
We acknowledge that students are adults who can and will make their own decisions regarding their health. Given that understanding, we strive to create an environment in which students feel listened to and respected. Staff use a risk-reduction approach when working with students to encourage the weighing of pros and cons related to behavior choices.
HPO Peer Education Topics
The Health Promotion Office (HPO) Peer Education program consists of energetic, passionate, and committed student leaders who are trained in general health knowledge, as well as in a specialty area. Each peer educator is supervised by a professional Health Educator. After extensive training, HPO Peer Educators provide accurate, non-judgmental information to their peers to help encourage them to think about their lifestyle choices. The topics include:
- Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Fitness
- Healthful Eating
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Health
- Sleep
- Smoking Cessation
- Stress Management
These topic areas are grouped into three training specialties: Peer Health Awareness Team (Healthful Eating, Fitness, Sleep, and Stress Management), Sexual Health Advocates (Sexual Health and Sexual Assault), and Peers Educating Peers about Substances (Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Smoking Cessation).
Position Descriptions and Compensation
Primary Responsibilities:
- Co-facilitate workshops
- Table at University events
- Distribute and collect participant evaluations and complete self-evaluations
- Pick up and return materials to the Health Promotion Office in a timely manner
- Prepare for workshops in advance and communicate with co-facilitators and/or supervisor
- Prepare for and staff SHC large-scale events
Secondary Responsibilities:
- Recommend and/or create new programs and workshops
- Communicate program needs and concerns to supervisor
Requirements:
- Satisfactory completion of training, including all pre-training assignments (see training section for more information)
- Participation in all continuing education sessions
- " Completion of all position type requirements
Position Location:
This position is available for students studying on the NYU Washington Square Campus. You must be on campus for all specified trainings. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for the Spring training only for students studying abroad during the spring 2010 semester. If you elect to study abroad during the fall 2010 semester, you must be available to attend the entire fall training from August 23-27, 2010 without exception.
Position Types:
There are two types of positions for HPO Peer Educators: compensated and volunteer. Both types of positions require the completion of the application and all training requirements (see Training Requirements below).
Compensated Position*:
There are 2 options for a compensated position:
- Option 10
HPO Peer Educators must complete a minimum of 10 hours of office-specific service per semester (comprised of workshops and outreach activities, continuing education sessions, and/or program and material development). Completion of these requirements will result in the compensation of $100 per semester. - Option 20
HPO Peer Educators must complete a minimum of 20 hours of office-specific service per semester (comprised of workshops and outreach activities, continuing education sessions, and/or program and material development). Completion of these requirements will result in the compensation of $200 per semester.
*Compensation Note: If you select a compensated position, the compensation may impact your Financial Aid package. For further information, please contact a counselor in the Office of Financial Aid at 212-998-4444.
Volunteer Position:
HPO Peer Educators have the option of being hired on a volunteer basis. If you select this option, you will not be financially compensated for your work. However, you have more flexibility with how often you volunteer, and you are able to list this leadership opportunity as a volunteer position on your resume. Volunteer HPO Peer Educators are expected to complete a minimum of 5 hours of office-specific service per semester (comprised of workshops and outreach activities, continuing education sessions, and/or program and material development).
Application
The next application period for all HPO peer educators will begin on Monday, November 2, 2009.
There are three steps in the application process. First, you must complete the online application, which is outlined below. Second, if you are selected, you will be asked to attend an individual interview with a health educator. Finally, after all interviews are completed, all interviewees will receive a hiring status notification and, if you are selected to be a peer educator, you will need to accept the position. See the Selection and Training Timeline section below for more information.
**Important**
You must complete this application in one sitting (the application does not allow you to save and return to it later). Before following the link to the online application, please take some time to prepare your responses to the following questions:
- Please explain your reasons for wanting to become a Peer Educator (max 450 words).
- Please list any skills, strengths, or qualities which you believe qualify you to be a Peer Educator (max 450 words).
- Have you ever been involved in a peer education program before? If so, please write briefly about your experience. If not, please write about an experience in which you feel that you helped a peer (max 450 words).
- Please list the activities with which you will be involved outside of peer education next year, along with anticipated time commitments per week (max 300 words).
- Please indicate and rank your top three topic areas of interest:
- Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Fitness
- Healthful Eating
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Health
- Sleep
- Smoking Cessation
- Stress Management
- Topic-Specific Question (please answer only the questions that correspond to your top three topic selections:
- Alcohol and Other Drugs
What do you think are important alcohol and other drug issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Fitness
What do you think are important fitness issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Healthful Eating
What do you think are important healthful eating issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Sexual Assault
What do you think are important sexual assault issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Sexual Health
What do you think are important sexual health issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Sleep
What do you think are important sleep issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Smoking Cessation
What do you think are important smoking cessation issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Stress Management
What do you think are important stress management issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words)
- Alcohol and Other Drugs
Selection and Training Timeline
| November 2,2009 | Application Period Begins |
| February 1, 2010: | Deadline to Submit Applications |
| February 19, 2010: | Interview Notification |
| February 23-26, 2010: | Interviews |
| March 5, 2010: | Hiring Status Notification |
| March 19, 2010: | Position Acceptance |
| April 24, 2010 10am-4pm: | Spring Training Day |
| August 23-27, 2010 9am-6pm: | Fall Training |
Training Requirements
Fall Training 2010
If you are selected as an HPO Peer Educator, you must attend a week-long training beginning Monday, August 23 through Friday, August 27, 2010, from 9am-6pm each day on campus. Attendance at each day of training is mandatory. Lunch will be provided each day. Students living on campus will be allowed to move into their residence halls early and must abide by all residence hall rules.
Spring Training Day - Saturday, April 24, 2010
If you are selected as an HPO Peer Educator, you must attend Spring Training Day on Saturday, April 24, from 10am-4pm, in the Main Conference Room in the Student Health Center, 726 Broadway, 3rd floor.
Continuing Education
All HPO Peer Educators are required to attend Continuing Education sessions throughout the academic year. There are three Continuing Education sessions per semester.
Information Sessions
During these information sessions, HPO Peer Ed supervisors and current peer educators are available to provide information on all of the different topics, as well as to answer your questions.
- Tuesday, November 10 from 5-7pm in the Health Promotion Office (726 Broadway, 3rd floor)
- Thursday, November 12 from 4-6pm in the Health Promotion Office (726 Broadway, 3rd floor)
Contact Us
For any questions about being an HPO Peer Educator, please call us at 212-443-1234 or email us at health.promotion@nyu.edu. You can also visit our new space on the 3rd floor of the Student Health Center (726 Broadway) and meet with a current Peer Educator and/or an HPO Peer Educator supervisor during regular business hours (Monday - Thursday 9am - 6pm and Friday 10am-6pm).