About Us

The Bacchus Peer Education Group is a student-centered organization of St. Edward's University student volunteers and interns called Bacchus Peer Educators who work closely with the Counseling and Consultation Center. We are apart of the international association called The BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network, which is a collaborative of college and university based peer education programs focusing on alcohol abuse prevention and other related student health and safety issues. Our goal is to provide accurate health information and enable other students to make positive decisions for themselves that impact their health.

Program Description

The BACCHUS Peer Education Group operates from the basic belief that students can effectively influence the attitudes and behaviors of other students in positive ways. We brings the "students-helping-students" approach to life.

Through education and experiential activities, the program trains qualified students to help other students deal effectively with college lifestyle choices, especially as they relate to alcohol and drug use and the potential hazards alcohol and drug use has upon their lives.

Under the supervision of BACCHUS Health Education Coordinator, Melissa Case, M.Ed., peer educators gain valuable experience in a number of areas, including developing and conducting health education programs for university student groups; developing, coordinating, and staffing campus informational displays; and acting as resource guides for students requesting help making healthy choices.

Lower and upper division undergraduate and graduate students from any educational background may apply for the program as long as they will be available to participate for a minimum of two semesters.

Benefits of Becoming a BACCHUS Peer Educator

• Gain valuable experience applicable to future employment, academic endeavors, and/or professional licensure
• Learn about alcohol and drug use, abuse, and other college health issues, and explore program development, coordination, and presentation skills
• Enhance personal communication skills, decision-making skills, leadership skills, and self-awareness
• Earn credit hours in the Department of Communication or the Theatre Department; use those hours to satisfy elective requirements
• Experience the satisfaction of service work through volunteering time, energy, and knowledge to help other students make healthy choices
• Enhance the resume by demonstrating an attitude of service to the community
• Enjoy the intimacy of interacting with like-minded people in a small experiential and classroom setting

BACCHUS Peer Educator Program Requirements

• BACCHUS Peer Educators act as role models for other students. As such, they must consistently make responsible lifestyle choices, especially in the area of alcohol and drug use
• Peer Educators begin by taking THAR 3336.05/COMM 4353.02 Peer Education/Peer Theatre which represents the training portion of the program. This course provides three credit hours and satisfies general elective requirements. Class format includes didactic presentations, experiential exercises, and group participation. Attendance and active participation in all phases of the class are required.
• Additional information in packet below

How to Become a BACCHUS Peer Educator

1. Complete fully the BACCHUS Peer Educator Application (see below), available at the BACCHUS Peer Education Center located in Moody Hall, Room 102 or the application link below
2. Interview with the BACCHUS Health Education Coordinator to obtain permission to register for Peer Education course
3. Register for THAR 3336.05/COMM 4353.02 Peer Education/Peer Theatre

Peer Educators

BACCHUS Information Packet & Application (MS Word version)

Human Sexuality Educational Programming Policy

"It is the responsibility of the university community to guide students in the formation of the total person. 'Students are helped to understand themselves, clarify their personal values and recognize their responsibility to the world community.' (The mission of St. Edward’s University)

In an attempt to help clarify how this guidance is extended with regard to programming for issues of sexuality, we offer the following:

As a Catholic university, St. Edward’s understands this formation process through the prism of Catholic moral theology by way of highly interdependent and interactive components. These components include church teachings, sacred scripture, secular disciplines and the human experience.

When planning or organizing programs that address human sexuality, the university’s aim is to provide a balanced and holistic approach. This approach incorporates a variety of dimensions: the physical, the psychological, the social, the intellectual, the moral and the spiritual. As a Catholic university of higher learning we embrace diversity, intellectual freedom and the pursuit of wisdom." (pg. 32, Student Organization Manual 2004-2005)

Event Calendar (pdf document)

BACCHUS Constitution (MS Word)