PEP are student mentors who work with the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Programs (AOD) to facilitate interactive programming with HWS students. The peer educators are responsible for presenting the actual social norms to the HWS community. They produce and disseminate information on how to reduce at-risk behaviors associated with health, wellness and alcohol. The non-judgmental, harm reduction approach of the facilitators provides a forum to discuss responsible decision making and choices around day to day living, health, wellness and alcohol consumption. The student peers work in pairs and each present four to eight campus-wide presentations with likely audiences within the residence halls, theme houses, athletes, and student organizations on campus.
Each program is catered and designed for the participating audience. Programs can be adapted specifically for gender or other special interests.
PEP Program Offerings:
Stress and Stress Management: This program facilitates
discussion around the topics of stress and stress management. The
program focuses on identifying and defining stress and ways to deal
and reduce stress in the college environment. It includes a breathing
relaxation exercise and a segment on time management.
Program Objectives:
Nutrition, Exercise and Sleep: This
program facilitates discussion around the topics of nutrition,
exercise and sleep. This program focuses on the importance of
nutrition, exercise and sleep while in college and beyond. It
includes a nutrition, exercise and sleep survey, a handout on
residence hall friendly food and recipes, and nutritional guideline
information.
Program Objectives:
Please contact Sarah Entenmann (Entenmann@hws.edu) at x3478 for additional information, student applications, or to schedule a program.
This program focuses on helping students to think about their health and wellness while transitioning to college and becoming a member of the HWS community. Programs are gender-based, small groups, offered during the first four weeks of the fall semester, and are held in residence halls across campus. The program engages and challenges students to take responsibility for and make proactive choices when it comes to their health and wellness. Students are encouraged to intervene with their peers by building community and standing up for their rights and resist being the recipient of secondary effects of another individuals high-risk drinking or other drug use.
The AOD Office offers a variety of educational programs that focus on alcohol and other drug use. The following are current program offerings that students can participate in by contacting the office:
AOD provides individual, couple and group counseling to all
full-time students who are concerned about their own substance use or
who are concerned about the substance use of a family member, friend
or significant other.
Counseling services provides a safe and neutral place for students to
express their concerns to a New York State Credentialed Substance
Abuse Counselor. All counseling sessions are confidential and
information cannot be released to a third party without prior
consent.
For faculty and staff who are concerned about a colleague or family member, AOD is available for consultation regarding what resources are available.
Hobart and William Smith provide options for students who choose to live in an environment that is free from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Established in 2000, the Substance Free House is a theme house on campus where students can live and learn together. HWS has also introduced Substance Free Floors: floors in traditional residence halls where all students agree to maintain a substance free lifestyle.
Students living in substance free housing work with the Office to provide alternative programming for the HWS community. over the years, the Substance Free House has become best known for its Root-Beer Keg Parties. The house has also sponsored events such as a welcome party for first-year students, a Halloween Party, and a Safe Spring Break initiative.
Substance free housing rotates annually, so those students interested in living in substance free housing should contact Residential Education for more information about current housing options and application deadlines.
