As part of the Health Promoting University at UAB mission and vision, Student Housing and Residence Life works collaboratively with offices within the Division of Student Affairs to promote and execute many wellness initiatives, both within the residence halls and across campus.
Counselor in Residence Program
The Counselor in Residence (CIR) program at UAB is a collaborative effort between Student Counseling Services (SCS) and Student Housing and Residence Life (SHRL) to increase access to mental health services by providing after-hours walk-in initial consultations with a clinical counselor. Intentionally placing a licensed clinical counselor within the residence hall is a proactive approach to decreasing barriers to mental health support and increasing the availability and ease of access to counseling services.
To learn more about our Counselors in Residence, the Blazers, Let’s Talk Drop-In Hours, and other services provided by the program, visit the Student Counseling Services website HERE.
Peer Wellness Ambassadors
Peer Wellness Ambassadors (PWAs) are a committed group of students who understand the importance of health and wellness and the value of connecting students to resources on campus to be successful while at UAB. Through intentional collaboration and support from Wellness Promotion, Student Counseling Services, and the Office of Student Housing and Residence Life, Peer Wellness Ambassadors help to foster a healthy environment within first year and upperclassmen residence halls utilizing our two branches: Peer Education and Peer Coaching.
Peer Education
PWA Educators are first year students who live and work in our first-year residence halls. These students help to create a healthy environment for our residents by offering engaging and educational programming that allow each member of our community to thrive and sustain the challenges, rigors, and stress of pursuing an academic degree while living in the residence halls. As a peer to their fellow residents, PWA Educators can create opportunities for mutual growth and connection within our on-campus communities.
Look for events on Engage and follow us on Instagram @uab_pwa for event reminders and wellness education throughout the academic year!
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Wellness Wheel Curriculum
Peer Wellness Ambassadors work towards creating captivating programming through the lens of the Wellness Wheel and the 7 Dimensions of Wellness: occupational wellness, physical wellness, emotional wellness, spiritual wellness, financial wellness, environmental wellness, and social wellness. Throughout the academic year, PWA Educators provide education and hands on learning opportunities related to various wellness topics outlined in our Wellness Wheel Curriculum by hosting monthly events and creating informational bulletin boards in the residence halls.
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PWA Signature Programming
In addition to offering peer coaching, PWA Coaches plan and execute large scale wellness related programs throughout the academic year.
- Murder Mystery Dinner Party is a community-wide event hosted around midterms during the fall semester. PWAs invite residents to join in solving the mystery of who committed the crime and identifying the wellness themes throughout the story that contributed to the suspects' motives. Check out Engage for more information as it gets closer to fall midterms!
Semester Send Off is a community-wide donation drive benefiting Blazer Kitchen in the Hill Student Center. PWAs will table in the residence hall lobbies and residents can donate non-perishable food items, hygiene products, and other household supplies they may not want or need as they get close to moving out of the halls. In exchange for donations, residents can send themselves or a friend a Finals Week Survival Kit full of self-care items and encouragement for finals.
- Murder Mystery Dinner Party is a community-wide event hosted around midterms during the fall semester. PWAs invite residents to join in solving the mystery of who committed the crime and identifying the wellness themes throughout the story that contributed to the suspects' motives. Check out Engage for more information as it gets closer to fall midterms!
Peer Coaching
PWA Coaches are returning UAB students selected to serve in a peer coaching compacity for residential students. The primary responsibility for PWA Coaches is Peer Chats: our peer coaching program available exclusively to students living on campus. These team members are collaboratively trained by our Counselors in Residence with Student Counseling Services and receive ongoing training and support that emphasizes student privacy and prioritizes creating a space for students to feel heard and understood by fellow students and connecting their peers with other mental and physical health and wellness resources on campus or in the Birmingham community.
Peer Chats
Peer Chats are private, nonjudgmental, 1:1 chat sessions for residential students seeking assistance with concerns that affect mental health such as stress, test anxiety, sadness, loneliness, relational issues, and adjustment concerns.
Monday - Thursday
6:00 - 9:00pm
Text your name and residence hall to (205) 201-0678 to meet with a trained peer coach.
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Meet the PWA Coaches
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Peer Chats FAQ