Peers Against Tobacco (PAT) is a system-level, multi-component, coordinated tobacco prevention program for colleges and universities in the state of Texas.

The goal of the Peers Against Tobacco program is for students to be health leaders on campus, empowering members of the campus community to make well-informed decisions about their health and positively influencing a healthy smoke-free campus culture.

PAT Ambassadors fulfill the program’s goal by receiving training in the foundations of public health, providing interactive and educational outreach activities such as presenting workshops to student groups and developing and staffing tobacco-free initiatives that positively impact campus health. PAT Ambassadors have the opportunity to learn about and act on a variety of health topics impacting college students:

• Foundational topics in public health practice
• Research and assessment
• Campus health content areas: tobacco use and stress management
• Public health leadership skills, including group facilitation and public speaking
• Outreach and education

Tobacco Free Campus Program will pilot a series of bystander intervention campaigns to educate and enforce the tobacco-free policy. The purpose of this program is to evaluate the impact of the bystander intervention campaign and peer ambassador program as a form of policy enforcement.

Application

The PAT Ambassador program accepts new applicants each semester. Applicants will complete a written application and may be selected for an interview. Applicants will be notified if they are accepted in advance of registration for the following semester.

Applications for Spring 2023 are open now. 

Want to apply? Contact us at (512) 232-1422 or nosse@austin.utexas.edu