Health Education Programming
An integral department within the Division of Student Life, the Health Education Program specializes in health programs and resources for all Simmons students, with an aim to create an awareness of healthy lifestyle choices and to promote overall wellbeing and academic success of Simmons students. The mission of the Health Education Program is to create a health-conscious culture within the Simmons community through education, awareness events, utilization of digital and social media, peer networks, health campaigns, and state-of-the-art curriculum and programming. This work is accomplished through collaboration with faculty, staff, and students from across the campus.
Health education topics include, but are not limited to, stress and time management, nutrition and fitness, healthy eating, eating disorders and disordered eating, drug and alcohol use, self-esteem, safe sex, healthy relationships, and the prevention of relationship violence. The health education program also offers college-wide events, lecture series, peer education groups, and outreach initiatives for students to participate. On-going assessments and evaluations of programs through surveys and focus groups help to improve and develop evidence based programs and services in areas of most relevance and importance.
Programs and events are conducted by the Director of Health Education and Student Health Educators in collaboration with the Nutritionist, Health and Counseling Center, Student Life, and other student organizations.
Student Health Educators (SHES)
SHEs are undergraduate and graduate student leaders committed to health education, promotion, and awareness on campus. SHEs coordinate peer education programs and trainings, health events, and discussion groups. They assist the health education office by creating promotional materials and curriculum, and provide essential administrative tasks, and meet weekly with the Director of Health Education. SHEs are trained by the Director and by experts in the field on relevant health topics and in-turn train other students to teach peer education programs in the areas of: domestic violence prevention and the prevention of relationship violence and sexual assault education; nutrition, fitness, safe-sex, substance abuse and time and stress management. Students meet regularly, attend trainings and pre-scheduled workshops, teach peer educators, coordinate their topic areas, and schedule events throughout the year.
Peer Education Programs
Peer education programs are interactive educational presentations offered by the Student Health Educators and peer educators in the residence halls, classrooms, sports team, organizations or group of friends on a variety of health topics. To schedule a program, or to learn more about becoming a peer educator, please contact the Health Education Office at 617-521-2118.
Betsy's Friends @ Simmons
Betsy's Friends is a unique peer education program at Simmons designed to prevent and educate about relationship violence. A series of workshops are offered: How to promote healthy relationships; Creating an ideal partner; Breaking up is hard to do; Effective communication; Setting boundaries in relationships; Relationship violence: the facts; and LGBT: woman-to-woman violence. These programs provide information to educate students to understand the continuum of relationship violence, how to make healthy choices about their relationships, and how to access help if needed.
Drugs and Alcohol @ Simmons
Drugs and Alcohol @ Simmons is a peer education program designed to educate students about drugs and alcohol. This program explores the effects of drug and alcohol usage, helps students make healthy choices, and addresses safe partying, state laws, on-campus policy about usage, and how to seek assistance for addiction, if needed.
EAT @ Simmons
EAT @ Simmons is a peer education program designed to provide students with information about healthy eating, fad diets, body image and self-esteem, and sports nutrition. Students in this group work in close conjunction with the nutritionist to make this information available to their peers on campus.
Sex @ Simmons
Sex @ Simmons is a factual and informative peer education program that helps students to make informed and healthy choices about sex, intimacy, and relationships. Topics covered include anatomy of the male and female reproductive system, sexually transmitted infection, methods of birth control and emergency contraception, and on-campus and community resources to get tested for STI's and pregnancy.
Stress and Time Management @ Simmons
Stress and Time Management @ Simmons is designed to help students manage their stress and time in a more effective manner. This program covers the physiology of stress and its symptoms; students talk about personal stressors, and learn positive coping strategies to achieve balance in their social life, work, and academic responsibilities
Fit at Simmons
Fit at Simmons is a newly developed peer-led health education group that strives to bring fitness to the Simmons Community. Students of all athletic abilities and backgrounds, particularly those who may struggle with trying to fit regular exercise into their lives are encouraged to participate. In addition to group meetings and activities, he group plans to host college-wide events including a walk/run club, bike club and other fun fitness-based groups.
Student Health 101 digital magazine
Student Health 101 is an online health and wellness magazine just for Simmons students, parents and faculty. The magazine is updated monthly, and the current issue will always be available at http://readsh101.com/simmons.html. The magazine can also be found on Simmons' website. In addition, each student will be receiving a reminder e-mail each month to check it out. Student Health 101 contains valuable information that will help you make the most of your time at Simmons, as well as covering topics ranging from:
- Alcohol and other drugs
- Sexual responsibility
- Body image
- Eating well and working out
- Mental health
- Academic performance
- Sleep habits
- Sexual assault prevention
- Tobacco cessation
- Healthy relationships
- Money management
- Responsible social and communication skills
- Stress management
- General health
- And much more
The Clothesline Project
Simmons College became part of the national network, The Clothesline Project, in 1993. The Clothesline Project is a display of T-shirts that bear witness to violence against women. Betsy's Friends' coordinate this program annually in February to heighten awareness around violence against woman. Student, faculty, and staff survivors contribute to this important and moving display.
Internship Opportunities
Internships are offered to undergraduate and graduate students with the Health Education Office in collaboration with and approval by academic departments. This may be a credit-bearing experience. For more information, contact the Director of Health Education.
Service Learning Opportunities
Service Learning opportunities are offered through various venues. Students decide on a project of interest and work with the director of health education on the project's time line, research, and educational materials and present their work in a variety of settings such as information tables, educational display boards, to student health education groups, and college — wide events.
For more information on the health education program at Simmons, please contact
Priyanka Jain, Director Health Education and Wellness Programs
Main Campus Building W -005A,
300 The Fenway
617-521-2118
http://www.simmons.edu/campuslife/wellness/healthed/
