Peer Education

Wellness and Prevention Education works with various specially trained student groups who are interested in communicating with other students in order to encourage a change in behavior or improvement in knowledge about various student issues. Currently, University Mother's Against Drunk Driving (UMADD) and Campus Assault Response Effort (CARE) student organizations are advised by Wellness and Prevention Education Services.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

History of Peer Education at The University of Texas at Tyler

The University of Texas at Tyler was originally established as an upper-level university.  UT Tyler’s mission was expanded in 1997 when the 75th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1795 authorizing it to offer classes for freshmen and sophomore students.

In the fall of 1999, a small group of students who were chosen as freshmen peer mentors began to participate in alcohol and other drug prevention programming under the office of Student Services.  It was at this time that UT Tyler became an affiliate of The BACCHUS Network, an international peer education student organization. 

As the freshmen class grew, there became a need to establish a separate student organization of peer educators.  In fall 2002, the DREAM Team (Drug Related Education and Awareness Mentoring) was created by a Junior UT Tyler student, Rhiannon Blair. 

In the fall of 2005, Wellness and Prevention Education Services, under the Department of Student Services, was created.  That same year, DREAM Team members voted to change their name to CHOICES to clarify their involvement in education for a variety of student issues.  

During the summer of 2007 CHOICES began collaborating with campus and community groups to better reach students.  This led to the creation of the UMADD group in collaboration with MADD,

and the CARE student group in collaboration with the campus and community CARE Program.

The University of Texas at Tyler continues to grow as an affiliate of The BACCHUS Network. At this time, Kimberly Harvey-Livingston, the Wellness and Prevention Education Counselor, serves as the BACCHUS Network Area 6 consultant over 5 states (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas).