General Description, Mission, and Philosophy
Peer Education is a premier leadership opportunity within the Division of Student Affairs that utilizes the expertise of students who are trained to provide educational programs and outreach in alignment with the mission of New York University.
Peer Educators are full-time students in good standing who serve as a resource, referral agent, educator, and role model for other students. 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 Peer Education programs of the Health Promotion Office at the New York University Student Health Center are 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 Groups
The Health Promotion Office (HPO) coordinates four Peer Education groups consisting of energetic, passionate, and committed student leaders. Each group is supervised by a professional Health Educator. The four groups are:
- Peers Educating Peers about Substances (PEPS)
PEPS receive extensive training on a range of alcohol and other drug issues including specific drug effects and interactions, theories of addiction and treatment, political and historical perspectives, and models of behavior change. PEPS provide accurate, non-judgmental information to their peers to help encourage them to think about their choices around alcohol and other drugs. - Peer Health Awareness Team (PHAT)
PHATs receive extensive training on a variety of health topics including healthful eating, body image, cold and flu prevention, smoking cessation, stress management, fitness, sleep hygiene, and mindfulness. PHATs provide accurate, non-judgmental information to their peers to help encourage them to think about their lifestyle choices. - Sexual Assault Educators (SAE)
SAEs receive extensive training on a wide range of sexual assault awareness, risk reduction, and education topics, including: consent and legal information, rape culture, date and acquaintance rape, domestic violence, alcohol and other date-rape drugs, how to help a friend, support services and resources for survivors, and risk reduction information. - Sexual Health Advocates (SHA)
SHAs receive extensive training on a wide range of sexual health topics including sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity, women's health, men's health, abstinence, safer sex, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS, sex and substance use, and sexual violence.
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
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 Option 10 or 20 requirements
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 education groups will begin during the Fall 2009 semester. Check back here for more details.
**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).
- Group-Specific Question:
- Peers Educating Peers about Substances (PEPS)
What alcohol and other drug issues do you believe it is important to address on the NYU campus and why? (max 450 words) - Peer Health Awareness Team (PHAT)
What do you think are the important eating/nutrition, stress and smoking related issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Sexual Assault Educators (SAE)
What issues do you see on the NYU campus relating to sexual assault, and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words) - Sexual Health Advocate (SHA)
What do you think are important sexual health issues confronting NYU students and how would you address those issues? (max 450 words)
- Peers Educating Peers about Substances (PEPS)
Selection and Training Timeline
| November 2008: | Application Period Begins |
| February 1, 2009: | Deadline to Submit Application for SAE, PHAT, PEPS, and SHA |
| February 4, 2009: | SAE Interview Notification |
| February 6-11, 2009: | SAE Interviews |
| February 12, 2009: | SAE Hiring Notification |
| February 13, 2009: | SAE Training Begins (specific dates listed below) |
| February 20, 2009: | PHAT, PEPS, and SHA Interview Notification |
| February 25-27, 2009: | PHAT, PEPS, and SHA Interviews |
| March 6, 2009: | PHAT, PEPS, and SHA Hiring Notification |
| August 23-28, 2009 9am-5pm: | PHAT, PEPS, and SHA Training |
| April 25, 2009 10am-12pm: | HPO Spring Training Day for SAE, PHAT, PEPS, and SHA |
If you apply for a SAE position, you will be notified whether or not you have been selected for an interview on February 4, 2009. If you apply for a PHAT, PEPS, or SHA position, you will be notified whether or not you have been selected for an interview on February 20, 2009. Individual interviews will take place in the Health Promotion Office, 726 Broadway, 3rd floor. Please note that you can be selected for a SAE position in addition to either a PHAT, PEPS, or SHA position.
Training Requirements
SAE: Spring Training 2009
If you are selected as a SAE, you must attend an 8-session training beginning on February 13, 2009. Attendance at each session is mandatory. Each training session will be located at Third North Residence Hall, C-2 Conference Room. The training schedule is as follows:
- Friday, Feb. 13, 2-5pm
- Friday, Feb. 20, 2-5pm
- Friday, Feb. 27, 2-5pm
- Friday, March 27, 2-5pm
- Friday, April 3, 2-5pm
- Friday, April 17, 2-5pm
- Friday, April 24, 2-5pm
- Friday, May 1, 2-5pm
PHAT/PEPS/SHA: Fall Training 2009
If you are selected as a PHAT, PEPS, or SHA, you must attend a week-long training beginning Sunday, August 23 through Friday, August 28, 2009, from 9am-5pm each day (location TBD). 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.
SAE/PHAT/PEPS/SHA: HPO Day, Saturday, April 25, 2009
If you are selected as a SAE, PHAT, PEPS, or SHA, you must attend HPO Day on Saturday, April 25, from 10am-12pm, at the Health Promotion Office, 726 Broadway, 3rd floor.
SAE/PHAT/PEPS/SHA: 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 (SAEs will not have Continuing Education sessions during the Spring 2009 semester).
Information Sessions
Please check back for a schedule of Fall 2009 information sessions.
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 a Peer Educator supervisor during regular business hours (Monday - Thursday 9am - 6pm and Friday 10am-6pm).