PEERS Education Group
Pioneers Educating and Empowering Responsible Students (PEERS) is a University of Wisconsin-Platteville peer education group that works towards shaping a safer, healthier, and more inclusive campus community.
- Peer educators plan events and provide programs for fellow students on alcohol, sexual violence prevention, and bystander intervention.
- They model safe and healthy behaviors and advocate for responsible decision making.
- The Prevention & Education Coordinator in the Dean of Students Office trains and supervises the peer education group.
- All members become Certified Peer Educators through the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
To contact the Prevention and Education Coordinator for more information, email preventioned@uwplatt.edu or call 608.342.1854.
To request a PEERS educational event or classroom visit, email preventioned@uwplatt.edu or fill out our form.
Pillars of PEERS
Education
We want to make sure that every Pioneer is well equipped with the information needed to be a respectful and responsible member of society. We teach students about:
- Sexual violence prevention
- Bystander intervention, which gives students the tools to keep their friends and community safe
- Safe and responsible ways to use alcohol
Leadership
PEERS offers an opportunity for students to lead campus-wide programs, as well as speak in classrooms to students.
We help aspiring student leaders by pairing them with experienced leaders to learn organizing and public speaking.
Promoting a Safe Campus
Students effectively receive messages from other students more effectively than from authority figures.
At PEERS activities, students can tell each other how important it is to respect each other and create a healthy campus culture.
Inclusivity is the key to PEERS. We think it is important to get students of all types to become campus leaders.
Join PEERS
-
Gain Skills and Experience
- Health-related knowledge of alcohol and sexual assault
- Bystander intervention
- Workshop design
- Event-planning
- Public speaking and presentation
- Marketing and communication
- Leadership and teamwork
- All majors are encouraged to join
-
Time Commitment
The time commitment is two to eight hours per week, depending on special events, etc. There are weekly meetings.
-
Compensation
This is an unpaid position, but certification fees, program materials, and meals during training are covered by the university.
-
Duties
- Successfully complete Peer Educator training at the start of the fall semester
- Attend and actively participate in weekly meetings
- Develop and present educational programs that fit student requests
- Plan and facilitate other educational events and programs like Alcohol Awareness Week, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Welcome Weekend, etc.
- Be a source of accurate information and refer students to appropriate resources
- Aid in the creation and marketing of social norms campaigns
- Assist in evaluation of programs, goals, and outcomes
- Identify campus needs and develop programs to address those needs
- Serve on relevant coalitions and committees
- Support and model the UW-Platteville Pioneer Student Conduct Code
-
Requirements
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Desire to help others
- Ability to support and model the Pioneer Student Conduct Code
- Ability to commit to membership for a full academic year
-
Desired Qualities
- You are a highly motivated, self-starter
- You have a passion to create change
- You can work with students having diverse attitudes and beliefs
To join PEERS, fill out our online form on Pioneer Link or contact the Prevention and Education Coordinator for more information, email preventioned@uwplatt.edu or call 608.342.1854.