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Planning for the future of peer education
1University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|May 1, 1993
Summary
University of Massachusetts peer education programs utilize students to promote health and wellness regarding alcohol, drug use, and sexuality. Restructuring into an integrated course addresses challenges while maintaining program vitality and flexibility.
Area of Science:
- Health Promotion
- Higher Education
- Public Health
Background:
- University of Massachusetts established a pioneering peer education program in 1970.
- Peer educators address alcohol and drug use and sexuality on campus.
- Student peer educators are effective agents of change due to their ability to connect with contemporaries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the restructuring of the University of Massachusetts peer education program.
- To explain the rationale behind integrating three topic-based programs into one 2-semester course.
- To outline long-range goals for sustaining peer education.
Main Methods:
- Program restructuring from three distinct topic-based programs to a single, integrated 2-semester course.
- Adaptation to address personnel issues and economic constraints.
- Development of long-range goals for program continuity and vitality.
Main Results:
- The integrated 2-semester course structure is an appropriate response to critical personnel problems and economic realities.
- Peer educators continue to positively impact campus health through innovative interventions.
- The program maintains its value and adaptability.
Conclusions:
- The restructured peer education program at UMass, Amherst, balances effectiveness with practical constraints.
- Flexibility and continuity are key to the long-term success of campus peer education initiatives.
- Peer educators remain a vital component of health promotion strategies in higher education.