What is the Peers Educating Peers (PEP) Program?

Housed under the Counseling Center, PEP is a student peer education group at New Jersey City University that provides interactive outreach programming on social issues such as substance abuse, multiculturalism, sexual health, LGBTQ awareness, conflict mediation, relationships, and highway traffic safety. The premise of the program is that students are more likely to hear a difficult message if the messenger is a peer who has similar concerns and/or pressures.

What is a "Pepper"?

Peer Educators receive trainings to conduct presentations on campus, local schools, universities, and social service agencies reaching their audience through a variety of interactive strategies including icebreakers, skits, and role-playing. Peer Educators attend weekly meetings, that focus on self-empowerment, and skit rehearsals to learn improvisatonal theater techniques.

PEP and YOU

Are you an Education major who dreads standing in front of a class? A Psychology student who lacks interpersonal skills? Being a Peer Educator gives you practical, hands-on experience in public speaking, presenting to a variety of groups in different settings, designing, and implementing educational programs, as well as networking with students. When you become a Peer Educator, you greatly enhance your resume and increase your marketability for graduate school programs and/or career objectives.

Mission

If PEP had a motto, it would probably be: "You can't help others without helping yourself." Mutual support and personal development are at the very core of the Program. At weekly meeting and at two weekend retreats each year, Peppers work on themselves and the group dynamics in order to get a better understanding of what makes each tick. The self-discovery process and the group's cohesiveness have been instrumental in both helping students stay in college and make healthier life choices that have a significantly positive impact on their lives.

Reach us at:

New Jersey City University

Gilligan Student Union Building (GSUB) 327 || (201) 200-3166