Peer Health Educator Application - Health Promotion and Education

Position Description

We are currently accepting applications for Peer Health Educators for the Spring 2025 semester!

If you have any questions before applying you can contact our office at hpe-office@wmich.edu or 269-387-3263.  

Title: Peer Health Educator, Health Promotion and Education 

Reports to: Sexual Health/Mental Wellness/Sexual Assault Prevention and Education, Coordinator 

General Description of Duties:  

A peer educator is someone who maximizes their knowledge and skills to help their peers make healthy (or healthier) choices (NASPA). Our peer educators focus on promoting healthy behaviors, increasing awareness of important health issues, and connecting students with relevant resources. Through workshops, presentations, and programming spaces, peer educators play a vital role in fostering a healthy and supportive campus environment.  

By participating in any of the Peer Education programs, students will be able to: 

  • Use participation to fulfill academic requirements including internship, practicum, and volunteer hours. 

  • Receive a national peer educator certification. 

  • Improve communication, presentation, and event planning skills. 

  • Apply for a paid position in HPE after 1st semester. 

Requirements:  

  1. Certified Peer Educator (CPE) training and completion is required for all Peer Educators working within the Office of Health Promotion and Education.  

  1. Complete Title IX and Clery training 

  1. Participate in the following events for an average of 5 hours per week 

  •      Attend mandatory weekly team meetings 

  •      Attend a minimum of one event on-campus or in the community focused on justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion per semester to then share at a team meeting.  

  •      Co-facilitate First Year Experience (FYE) presentations within their primary program.  

  •      Co-facilitate additional program presentations as requests by campus partners are made.  

  •      Assist with implementation process of events that aim to address a program concern.  

  1. Demonstrate effective communication and organization skills. 

 

Description of Programs: 

F.I.R.E! (Fighting Ignorance and Rape Through Education) 

FIRE! Peer Educators are committed to educating students and the WMU community about sexual assault prevention, response, and support. Their mission is to create a campus culture that actively and effectively prevents and responds to sexual assault, and to create an environment that does not support violence. FIRE! works towards this goal by providing education on topics including consent, setting boundaries, understanding disrespectful behaviors, and how to support survivors and their families. Peer Educators also staff the FIRE! Place, a resource and support center for students to learn more about the resources available to support anyone affected by violence. 

Sexperts  

Sexperts strive to reduce stigma associated with sexual health by increasing access to information, education, and resources available to students. Sexperts provide a non-judgmental and inclusive space to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need to make healthier choices about sex and relationships. Their programming includes topics such as consent, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, boundaries, and healthy relationships. In addition to educational programming, Sexperts also coordinate the Safer Sex Supplies Delivery Service for students in the Residence Halls. 

 
Mental Health P.A.L.S. (Powerful Advocates Learning to Support) 

Mental Health Pals work together to brainstorm and collaborate on fun and meaningful ways to educate the WMU community about mental well-being. Theyteach their peers about suicide prevention, how to assess their overall wellness,to engage in healthy coping skills to improve and maintain their mental wellbeing, and to share mental health and wellbeing resources that are available to the WMU community. They have also created the Common Ground, which is a space for students to decompress, make new friends, and take a break between classes.

Required