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How Can I Get Involved With the Health Promotion Department?
The mission of the Health Promotion Department is to promote the health of UGA students by providing education, counseling and other resources which support students in their efforts to improve their health, through self care and self-responsibility, and by fostering a healthy campus environment that is conducive to academic and personal success. Our vision is to have students and the UGA community who are informed and empowered health care consumers, who have information and skills needed for life-long wellness and disease prevention and who live and learn in an environment that supports optimal health. Providing learning experiences for UGA students is at the heart of both the mission and the vision statements.
To help us achieve our mission and vision, we use a number of strategies to inform, educate, effect change, raise awareness and enhance the learning environment of UGA students. The spectrum of strategies includes classroom presentations on a variety of health topics which impact student's lives, campus outreach, special events, and working with campus and community coalitions, etc. We work to increase an individual student's capacity through counseling, education and skill building and we work on environmental change through educational campaigns, building coalitions, policy change, etc.
Another important part of enhancing the learning environment is to provide opportunities for professional growth of both undergraduate and graduate students. There are a variety of ways in which students can learn more about health promotion on a college campus. They are described below:
- Join one of the following health-related student organizations:
- Volunteer for campus-wide events. These events are aimed at UGA students to raise awareness about particular health issues. Examples include:
- Great American Smokeout (November, January)
Contact: Gloria Varley, Director of Health Promotion Department (gvarley@uhs.uga.edu)
- World AIDS Day (December)
Contact: Katy Janousek, Sexual Health Coordinator, Health Promotion Department (kjanousek@uhs.uga.edu)
- Sexual Responsibility Week (February)
Contact: Katy Janousek, Sexual Health Coordinator, Health Promotion Department (kjanousek@uhs.uga.edu)
- Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February)
Contact: Angie Ruhlen, Nutrition Services Coordinator (aruhlen@uhs.uga.edu)
- National Nutrition Month (March)
Contact: Angie Ruhlen, Nutrition Services Coordinator (aruhlen@uhs.uga.edu)
- Safe Spring Break (March)
Contact: Deanna Walters, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Prevention Coordinator (dwalters@uhs.uga.edu)
- Apply for practicum and internship opportunities. These experiences are available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in health, student affairs, and other related programs for the fall and spring semesters. Students must submit an application and resume (applications are available in the Health Promotion Department).
Deadlines are as follows:
Fall Semester: June 1
Spring Semester: November 1
Students are encouraged to make sure that available opportunities in the Health Promotion Department are ones that fit their individual needs. Health Promotion staff will have different projects and opportunities each semester (internships may not be available every semester).
Students will be treated as University Health Center employees and must conduct themselves accordingly. A mid-semester and final evaluation will be completed by the supervisor and student.
For more information, please contact Gloria Varley (gvarley@uhs.uga.edu) or call 706-542-8690.
- Students in the Food and Nutrition major (or Health Promotion and Behavior majors who have taken nutrition courses) can apply to be Peer Nutrition Educators (PNEs). They must first take the PNE class and are then eligible to become PNEs. For more information, please contact Angie Ruhlen, Nutrition Services Coordinator, (aruhlen@uhs.uga.edu) or call 706-542-8690.
- Volunteer in the Health Promotion Office
Responsibilities:
Maintain a supply of packaged condom samples, Quit Kits, Travel Clinic folders, and folded brochures.
Assist student workers, interns, and practicum students.
Optional Responsibilities:
Assist in revising printed and online materials.
Assist in researching topics on health promotion related subjects.
Assist Health Promotion student groups with special events and projects.
Attend student group meetings.
Commitment:
The Health Promotion Department is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Volunteers are asked to commit to a work schedule for the semester dictated by the amount of time she/he has available. Students may volunteer from 1 hour to 20 hours per week.
Qualifications:
Must be an enrolled undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at the University of Georgia.
How to Apply:
Complete the Volunteer Application form and you will be contacted within two weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Katy Janousek (kjanousek@uhs.uga.edu or 706-540-8690).
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