University Unions & Student Activities

Schiffert Health Center

Health Education
McComas Hall (0140)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
phone: 540/231-3070
fax 540/231-7473 or 540/231-6900
http://www.healthcenter.vt.edu/HE

Wellness Peer Educators
The Wellness Peer Educators(WPE) are a group of student volunteers trained by the Virginia Tech Health Education staff to facilitate fun, interactive, health and wellness educational programs to other student organizations, groups, and residential halls throughout the campus community. They do this through participation in the WPE Student Development Program. Students are trained to teach interactive workshops to their peers on various college health topics including STDs, contraception, relaxation techniques, low risk drinking, skin cancer prevention, breast and testicular cancer prevention, and nutrition and fitness.

The mission of the Wellness Peer Education Student Development Program is to provide an effective peer network to encourage, support, and promote healthful living for all students. The program seeks to make students aware of the issues associated with unhealthy behaviors through education and up-to date information, as well as life skills training to assist students in making healthy life-style choices. The philosophy is that students can play a uniquely effective role in encouraging their peers to consider, talk honestly about, seek professional advice, and develop responsible habits and attitudes toward the use or non-use of alcohol, safer sexual behaviors or abstinence, healthy eating choices, and other related health issues.

The program exists to:

  • Provide volunteer and student development opportunities.
  • Provide a peer network to promote healthful living for all students and assist in making referrals when a student is in need of professional assistance.
  • Answer the growing demand at Virginia Tech for education in the areas of sexuality, contraception, intimacy, nutrition, relaxation techniques, low-risk alcohol choices, and disease prevention.
  • Provide experience for students to help their fellow students and themselves in making healthy life-style choices.
  • Provide a venue for students to feel they can discuss issues openly and without judgment.
  • Provide a venue for students to become knowledgeable regarding student health issues.
  • Provide a venue for students to develop self-confidence, public speaking, group facilitation, and communication skills.
  • Provide a venue for students to practice effective problem-solving, decision making, and program planning.
  • To provide health promotion/wellness programs and activities consistent with the National Health Objectives and wellness focus for the Student Affairs Division.
  • To establish a standard of training for peer health educators that insures quality presentation of health promotion/wellness programs.
  • To promote the personal growth of peer health educators through professional development, recognition, and social/group interactions.
  • To empower students with knowledge and skills to make choices that will enhance their health and well-being.
  • To offer informative and interactive programs that will motivate students to assume responsibility for their own health.

The Wellness Peer Education program sponsored by the Schiffert Health Center is registered through Student Activities as a University Student Life Program.

Health Promotion Team
The Health Promotion Team is a student organization that works to inform and educate Virginia Tech's student body on healthy living. Such activities as informational displays, informational speeches, booths, and special events are held each semester. Some of the areas we work on include HIV/AIDS, eating disorders, breast cancer, STD's, contraception, skin cancer, smoking, preventable diseases, and stress reduction. We often collaborate with other student groups on major health promotion events.

For more information on either of these opportunities, go to: http://www.healthcenter.vt.edu/he/volunteer/index.htm

Student Activities

Leadership Development Opportunities