Rather than expending time and energy on screening, interviewing and selection, we find a way for all interested students to be involved in the program. Thus we give all students an opportunity to get involved in the program, emphasize the responsibility that goes along with being a role model, and then hold them accountable for their behaviors through a peer review system. We actively recruit students into the peer education program, who initially come to us because they are dealing with an alcohol related problem. Therfore, unlike many peer education programs, high risk students are involved in the program. We actively recruit students who are struggling academically and then require then to participate in the Supervised Study Component of the program.
Students can enter the program in different ways.
Some initially volunteer and later enroll in the internship for credit, while others initially enroll in the internship for credit and then continue their involvement as a volunteer. Therefore, we have a different group of students every semester. Although their level of involvement may vary depending on other commitments and time constraints most students continue their involvement with the peer education program after their initial involvement. Graduate students also are involved in the peer education program. Ever semester, masters level counseling psychology and higher education students complete practicum requirements with the program and doctoral level counseling psychology students complete internship requirements with the program.