Health Promotion in Higher Education – GA Training Program

1. Wellness Center Southern Illinois University Health Promotion in Higher Education – GA Training Program

2. Wellness Center Mission The Mission of the Wellness Center is to support Southern Illinois University community through evidence-informed, holistic and accessible programs and services that maximize student growth, academic success and life-long healthy behaviors.

3. Changing Models • Medical/Counseling to Health Promotion/Public Health Model • Individual intervention to a Policy, Systems and Environment approach • Content based to process based programming

4. Changing Models (cont.) • Need to attract more qualified HP GA’s • Shift from LCSW/LCPC GA’s • Approached MPH program and Health Education PHD • Promised additional GA positions to Academic Dept • In return, received opportunity to interview top candidates

5. Training Program • HP in Higher Education is a specialty career • No HP in HE degree or certificate program in the nation • Guiding Documents for HP in HE • ACHA Standards and Practices • CAS Standards • NCHEC standards and CHES competencies

6. Program Structure • All GA’s are .5 FTE – full tuition waiver • Focus on education/training • Weekly common readers • Readings support the weekly training and build upon each other • In week 9 – GA’s assume the role of facilitator • All readings prepare students for programming

7. Program Structure (cont.) • Fall – focus on mentoring and creating community/teamwork • Spring – GA implement group programming and individual programming • End of spring semester, focus on job skills • 2nd year (if appropriate) • GAs become mentor and help with the trainings • Higher level and independent programming

8. Expectations • GA’s are treated as professionals • Professional dress • Punctuality • Discipline • Required to attend meetings • Help coordinators • Develop/inform programming

9. Coordinators as Mentors • Move from boss/employee dynamic • Opportunity to take more risk – opportunity to make mistakes and correct them • Coordinator still responsible for GA development • GA are not restricted to work with only one coordinator and are encouraged to experience all coordinators style and programs.

10. Evaluation: Self-Assessment • Health Education Practice • Communication • Health Promotion Programming & Research

11. Evaluation: Mid-semester • Professional attibutes • Progress toward meeting competencies • Personal goal setting

12. Evaluation: Final • Final performance review • Focus group • Evaluation of Wellness Staff

13. Lessons Learned – The Good GAs are able to • have a variety of experiences • apply knowledge and skills in the field • experience diverse approaches to wellness • work with multiple coordinators

14. Lessons Learned – The Bad Challenges • focusing on theory and policy in training • not managing GA expectations • failing to realize GA strengths and weaknesses • expecting GAs to switch coordinators in the middle of large projects

15. Lessons Learned – The Ugly Stumbling blocks • MPH, PhD, and Dietetics GAs • differences in GA preparedness • personality conflicts • differences in work ethic

16. GA Personal Experiences

17. Thank You Southern Illinois University Wellness Center 618-536-4441 Wellness@siu.edu