Sourcebook
Promising Practices:
Campus Alcohol Strategies
PREFACE
As each of us has been active with alcohol abuse prevention for decades, one might wonder why we became committed to this particular project at this point in time.
A primary reason for our involvement in this project is that, in recent years, we have witnessed increased attention to the negative aspects of alcohol misuse on our campuses. Media coverage and research findings documenting the problems surrounding alcohol abound. We believe that there are many positive approaches designed to deal with these problems that deserve attention. For us, it’s important to talk about "the rest of the story" and highlight promising practices across the country.
Another important reason for us has to do with the direction that institutions of higher education are taking. Alcohol misuse can affect the quality of life, as well as the quality of education, encountered by students. Unfortunately, there has been some "slowing down" of efforts to address alcohol abuse in recent years. By focusing on the positive efforts, we hope that new energy is generated.
Finally, and perhaps most pivotal, is that we come in contact with students every day. We are concerned about what they and their classmates are facing in their personal lives, as well as in the lives of their friends and their families. We think about what the college years are designed to be and how these visions are often not accomplished due to alcohol abuse. It is for individuals such as these, as well as for faculty and staff members, that we prepare this resource document.
We have heartfelt thanks to offer to many people who contributed to this project. First, to those who submitted their efforts, whether included here or not, we thank them for not only their work on their campuses, but for their willingness to share it with others. Second, to the Advisory Panel who gave of their experience and wisdom, we are thankful for their long-term dedication to the issue of alcohol abuse prevention and their active role in making this a product with broad-based grounding. Third, to our numerous local and external reviewers, we appreciate their insights from a diverse range of field experience.
We offer our sincere appreciation to our funder –The Century Council – for not only their financial support which allowed this resource document to be developed and distributed, but most significantly, for respecting and supporting the independence of the process.
Finally, we thank the project staff at George Mason University for their diligence, their attention to detail, their follow-through, and their flexibility in making this concept a reality. To Aiyshen Stanley, Program Manager, and Douglas Cole, Administrative Associate, we are truly grateful for their many efforts on behalf of this project.
We encourage every reader of this document to use it to meet the needs of your campus. While each idea included will not be appropriate for each individual’s unique needs, many large concepts (whether in an abstract or a comprehensive program description) and smaller ones (perhaps hidden in an abstract or woven into a description) may be valuable. And, even more appropriate, the approaches that work for a specific campus may very well be a blend of a part of one abstract, a part of another abstract, and the reader’s own creative approach. We wish you every success, and look forward to learning of the multiple new approaches that evolve from your networking with colleagues and sharing ideas.
David S. Anderson, Ph.D. Gail Gleason Milgram, Ed.D.
Fairfax, Virginia New Brunswick, New Jersey
November 1996
Findings
The project's Co-Directors and Advisory Panel were encouraged to find applications from a wide variety of campuses illustrating innovative strategies and approaches that went beyond those presented in the 1996 Sourcebook. The applications received in response to the 1997 solicitation process were more fully developed than those received in 1996. It appears that the standard of quality established with the publication of the Sourcebook served as a model for the applicants, who clearly defined their outcomes as well as the implementation strategies. It may also be the case that the 1997 applications described initiatives that existed a year earlier and had had an opportunity to evolve.
A large number of comprehensive programs were submitted and identified for inclusion in the 1997-98 supplement. This illustrates the fact that many comprehensive programs do exist on campuses across the country and that this is an attainable outcome for college campuses. In addition, a greater variety of strategies appropriate for commuter students were submitted and are included in this edition. Also encouraging is the fact that several institutions noted the involvement of their chief administrative officer (i.e., the President).
Another aspect of the 1997 applications is that they appear to be more grounded in an institution-wide focus than those promoted one year earlier. Again, this may be that those submitting applications for this edition reviewed the 1996 Sourcebook and recognized the importance of this emphasis. This does not suggest, however, that the grounding and networking did not exist in 1996; it is simply that it is emphasized to a greater degree in 1997.
Sourcebook
Promising Practices:
Campus Alcohol Strategies
INTRODUCTION
Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies is the result of a nationwide search to identify campus-based prevention strategies for addressing alcohol-related problems among the college student population. The Sourcebook project was initiated in 1995 in response to an increasing apprehension about college drinking. College presidents anticipated this issue, citing student alcohol abuse as one of their top three areas of concerns (Carnegie Report, 1990).
The Sourcebook’s introductory pages provide some conceptual underpinnings for the project: the nature and scope of college student drinking, historical approaches to the problem, and the goals of Promising Practices. The Introduction concludes with a detailed description of the study’s methodological approach.
College Student Alcohol Use: Extent and Impact
A. Patterns of Student Drinking. Alcohol use by college students has been an issue of special concern in the United States for many years. Although not sanctioned by college administrators, hard partying, drinking games, beer busts, and chugalugging are common behaviors on many campuses. Many young people who enter college already possess patterns of alcohol use, reasons for use, and well-developed attitudes toward drinking and intoxication (Milgram, 1990).
The fact is that the vast majority of students in American colleges and universities consume alcohol on a regular basis. Alcohol use within the previous year is reported by 83% of students, within the previous month 68%, and daily consumption is acknowledged by 3.6% of student respondents (Johnston et al, 1996). Another student survey, the Core Survey, reported that male students consumed an average of 6.7 alcoholic drinks per week, females 3.0 per week (Presley et al, 1996). As high as these figures may be, it should be noted that monthly drinking is lower today than its 1982 high of 82.8% and that daily drinking has dropped from the 1984 high of 6.6% (Johnston et al, 1996).
Perhaps more disturbing than these overall rates is the data on the frequency of intense or heavy drinking. Consumption of five or more drinks in a row in the previous two weeks is reported by 40% since the beginning of data collection by the University of Michigan in 1980 (Johnston et al, 1995). Comparable data comes from another review (Wechsler et al, 1994) that found 44% of students reporting "heavy" drinking within the previous two weeks (defined as five or more drinks in a row by males, four or more by females).
Looking at specific sub-populations on campus, researchers found that traditional-age students consumed more than those over age 24 (Presley et al, 1996). Focusing on fraternities and sororities, Wechsler, Kuh, and Davenport (1996) compared members versus non-members. Eighty-six percent of the fraternity resident members surveyed reported heavy drinking (five or more drinks at least once in the previous two weeks) versus 45% for non-members; 45% of fraternity resident members cited having had five or more alcohol-related problems since the beginning of the school year, compared to 17% of non-members. Among women, 80% of sorority resident members reported heavy use (four or more drinks) contrasted with 35% for non-members.
B. Impacts and Consequences. The problem of alcohol abuse extends far beyond the danger of chemical dependency. Anderson and Gadaleto (1994) survey college administrators every three years; respondents report evidence of the direct involvement of alcohol in residence hall damage (67%), violent behavior (65%), and student attrition (29%). Similar results were found in a survey of two-year institutions: alcohol use was believed to be involved in 47% of property damage incidents, 46% of incidents involving injuries to other persons, 43% of incidents involving injury to self, 41% of lower academic performance, and 29% of student attrition. [In general, the involvement of illicit drugs was approximately one-half that of alcohol for such incidents (Anderson and Pressley, 1991)].
Student surveys on negative effects of alcohol are consistent with reports by administrators. The Core Survey found that nearly one-fourth of respondents indicated that they performed poorly on a test or project because of alcohol or drugs, and nearly one-third had missed a class due to substance abuse (Presley et al, 1996). In a study of second-hand effects of alcohol use, 13% of
respondents cited having been pushed, hit or assaulted; 12% had sustained property damage; 43% had experienced interruptions of their study or sleep; 21% had experienced an unwanted sexual advance; 27% had been insulted or humiliated; and approximately 2% had been victims of sexual assault or "date rape" (Wechsler et al, 1995).
Data also indicate that heavy drinking is associated with "grade deflation." Presley et al (1996) compared grade averages with estimated average drinks per week:
"A" Students 3.2 drinks per week
"B" Students 4.6 drinks per week
"C" Students 5.8 drinks per week
"D" Students 8.4 drinks per week
Other negative consequences of student alcohol abuse mirror similar social and health effects in the wider society: violence and aggression, vandalism, accidental death, suicide, injuries through falls, sexually transmitted diseases, and impaired cognitive ability. Economic effects are also present. One writer claimed that the typical drinking student spends "more money for alcoholic beverages than for textbooks" (Eigen, 1991). Less quantifiable perhaps is the damaged or unmet human potential, the very raw material of the university (Sanford, 1962, and Chickering and Reisser, 1994).
C. Issues of Legality and Liability. Over and above behavioral concerns with alcohol abuse, campus leaders must confront issues of legal responsibility and institutional liability. Regarding alcohol, the university’s legal responsibility is relevant as well as perplexing. The federal government and most states have invested 18 year olds with rights and responsibilities to marry, become a parent, contract with institutions, and (in the military) operate sophisticated military weapons systems. Simultaneously, legislation universally bans the purchase of alcoholic beverages (and possession and consumption) under age 21, encompassing a majority of undergraduate college students. Although students appear to understand the motive behind the upward change in the drinking age (reduction of alcohol-related crashes among teenagers), they generally disagree with its implications, and compliance is very questionable.
College administrators are caught between legal and sub-cultural realities. The trade-off to banning alcohol on campus, for example, is the increased probability of alcohol-related crashes and trauma from forays off-campus. Further, accommodating policies differ-entially to similar students (those just under 21 and those just over 21) creates additional challenges for campus administrators.
Damage caused by alcohol abuse incidents on campus have been alleged to be attributable to individual college administrators or to the institution as a whole. Many colleges and individual administrators have faced law suits that claimed lack of appropriate institutional oversight, supervision, regulation, or response. Considerations of liability have not been ignored. For example, the American Council on Education issued "Universities, Colleges and Alcohol: An Overview of Tort Liability Issues" in 1985 and in 1992 published "A White Paper on Institutional Liability for Consumption of Alcohol and Drugs on Campus." In these papers and other documents, legal concepts such as "duty to care" and "social host liability" are addressed, then linked to appropriate standards of conduct, supervision, safety, and the education of students. Indeed, it might be argued that many campus alcohol abuse intervention strategies have been motivated by concerns about financial vulnerability.
II. Interventions: Past and Present
A. Previous Campus Efforts. Colleges and universities have attempted for decades to reduce alcohol problems on their campuses. Tracking of efforts to reduce college-based alcohol abuse began in 1979 with the implementation of The College Alcohol Survey (Anderson and Gadaleto, 1984). This survey, conducted every three years, demonstrates that the numbers of policies and procedures, prevention strategies, data gathering, and counseling and referral approaches on college campuses continually increase. Similar studies have documented growing efforts to address alcohol issues in two-year institutions, including community, junior and technical colleges (Anderson and Pressley, 1991).
While the presence of alcohol has not changed during this period of time (75% of four-year institutions allow alcohol on campus), the circumstances under which alcohol is served have changed. For example, 90% of campuses currently require that an alternative non-alcoholic beverage be available at functions where alcohol is served, an increase from 54% in 1979. In parallel, the requirement that food be served at public functions where alcohol is available was in place in only 24% of the nation’s colleges in 1979, but was in place at 83% of institutions in 1994.
Virtually all responding campuses (99.5%) reported some level of alcohol education efforts, with 81% reporting an increase in these efforts in years preceding the 1994 survey. The survey found a wide variety of prevention and education initiatives on four-year campuses, including:
• specific sites for resource materials (98%)
• a designated alcohol/substance abuse coordinator or specialist (74%) – up from 14% in 1979
• an undergraduate course including alcohol abuse material (60%)
• alcohol awareness "weeks" or "days" (90%)
• employee assistance programs (76%)
• support groups (e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous) (59%)
Survey results indicated that one third of campuses reported recent reviews of the effectiveness and appropriateness of efforts designed to reduce alcohol abuse. Similarly, 53% reported conducting a formal assessment of policies and procedures related to liability and alcohol use. Statewide collaboration with other colleges or organizations on the problem was reported by a healthy 79% of the colleges.
B. Previous National Initiatives. The rationale for campus action was boosted by a series of federal legislative initiatives. Relevant statutes include the 1986 amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, Drug-Free Schools and Campuses regulations (34 CFR Part 86), and the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990.
In addition, the Congress authorized the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to provide significant national funding support in efforts to address college alcohol abuse. Two separate ED initiatives focus on building the capacity of individual campuses, consortia of institutions, and the higher education community as a whole to address alcohol abuse more effectively. The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) generates grant opportunities, publications, training and related efforts.
Another initiative, the Network of Colleges and Universities Committed to the Elimination of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, includes training, materials, networking, regional efforts and resource development. In its College Initiative, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Prevention incorporates multiple resources, training, and technical assistance. The U.S. Department of Transportation also provided a key 1989 publication titled A Winning Combination: An Alcohol, Other Drug and Traffic Safety Handbook for College Campuses.
A variety of private and non-profit efforts exist sponsored by foundations or professional associations. The Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University convened a commission, conducted hearings, and issued a report "Rethinking Rites of Passage: Substance Abuse on America’s Campuses." National associations, such as the American College Personnel Association, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and the American College Health Association, among others, also provide focused attention to this issue, including task forces, publications, and organizations.
Additional resources are provided by OCTAA (On Campus Talking About Alcohol), BACCHUS (Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students), National Golden Key, the National Interfraternity Conference, The National Collegiate Athletic Association, Health Promotion Resources, and the Inter-Association Task Force on Alcohol and Other Substance Issues.
C. Special Problems in Campus Alcohol Abuse Prevention. Despite the increased activity and concern by national and local leadership, the literature and campus site reports indicate remaining areas of concern:
• Scope of the Problem: Alcohol abuse on campus is so pervasive that it can tend to overwhelm otherwise effective initiatives; a variety of constituencies (including vocal undergraduates) are still extremely concerned.
• Funding: With increasing cost pressures on colleges, it is difficult to assure adequate and continuous funding for alcohol abuse prevention programs.
• Isolation: Caught often between traditional academic and human resources roles, alcohol/drug abuse specialists often feel unsupported or disconnected from colleagues both on and off campus.
• Quick Fixes: In bursts of energy or emphasis, colleges may generate initiatives that are helpful, but are inappropriately considered "solutions" when long-term comprehensive approaches are required.
• Limited Evaluation: Even when sound programs are mounted, adequate assessment and outcome evaluation are frequently absent leading to subsequent questions about program effectiveness, program improvement, and even program value.
• Linguistic Confusion: Troublesome also is the confusion in vocabulary surrounding alcohol issues. Examples include misunderstanding surrounding emotionally loaded concepts like "alcoholism," "intoxication," "addiction," and a most unfortunate term – "binge drinking," used by otherwise responsible researchers instead of "heavy use."
To further elaborate on the linguistic difficulty, the term "binge drinking," while appropriate in clinical settings where it refers to the consumption of alcohol linked to addiction, is counterproductive in discussions of general collegiate drinking.
In the context of college drinking, binge has been defined as the consumption of five drinks for males and four drinks for females during one drinking experience in the previous two-week time period (Wechsler et al, 1994). It should be noted that size of drink, body weight of drinker, and length of time of drinking experience were not taken into consideration in this definition. Though four-to-five drinks are heavy consumption of alcohol, it is quite possible that the individual did not become intoxicated (one example would be if the drinking experience lasted eight to 10 hours). Unfortunately the use of the term "binge drinking," which is interpreted by many to be a drunken spree or unrestrained indulgence over a period of time, emotionalizes the issue of concern. It is important to consider using other terms such as heavy alcohol use or high-risk drinking to maintain perspective on the problem of drinking on campus.
In sum, the context preceding the Promising Practices Project was a complicated one. The need for action was easily documented from the research literature. Evidence of greater campus and national mobilization was clear. Still, unanswered concerns demanded a closer look at what was really "working" and what models might be most useful for the continuing challenge of alcohol abuse prevention.
III. The Promising Practices Project
A. Goals. This project, entitled Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies, began with clearly articulated mission, goal and objective statements. The mission (or ultimate impact) focuses on the promotion of behavioral health in the college student population by reducing health threats related to alcohol abuse. The outcome sought and project goal is to increase effective options to better accomplish alcohol abuse prevention, hopefully to replicate practices deemed promising for their campuses. The immediate project objective is to define, assimilate and disseminate information on the most helpful and current efforts to reduce alcohol abuse on the college campus.
Should these objectives be successful, a greater understanding of comprehensive campus programming will be gained. In this Sourcebook, the various components of a comprehensive program have been identified and collated to share with colleagues around the country. Project directors, staff, and advisors hope that the final products of the project will help campus leaders as they select and implement comprehensive, needs-based alcohol abuse prevention efforts.
In the section following, readers will be offered a rather detailed description of the study’s methodology, including the planning, solicitation and review processes.
B. Methodology
1. Planning and Scope. Soon after project inception, an Advisory Panel of experts was identified, recruited and asked to determine a conceptual structure for elements of campus programs, to design an application and solicitation process, and to establish a rigorous review process. In consensus with the Project Co-Directors, the Advisory Panel identified the following elements (some strategic, some structural) as salient to any review of campus initiatives in alcohol abuse prevention:
1. Awareness and Information – media campaigns, public information, large-scale events.
2. Environmental and Targeted Approaches – focus on the campus atmosphere, emphasis on specific audiences including sub-populations or high-risk groups.
3. Curriculum – courses, modules and syllabi, lectures, lesson plans.
4. Peer-based Initiatives – student-led initiatives, peer education, peer advising.
5. Training – training efforts for faculty, staff, students, campus leaders, and others.
6. Support Services – alcohol risk screening, counseling and referral mechanisms, interventions with high-risk drinkers, support groups.
7. Staffing and Resources – qualified professional and internship personnel, relevant library resources.
8. Policies and Implementation – policy review, policy development, appropriate procedures, policy dissemination.
9. Enforcement – police role delineation, discipline process, campus judicial system.
10. Assessment and Evaluation – needs assessments, development of appropriate measurement tools, quantitative and qualitative approaches to program effectiveness.
The study was designed to identify pockets of excellence in one or a collection of these elements, offering real world practices for possible adaptation and replication on other campuses.
2. The Solicitation Process. The information gathering process for the project was designed to be thorough and broad-based, making every reasonable attempt to identify promising models at colleges and universities in the United States.
Using the database from the 1996 Higher Education Directory, a letter was sent to the presidents of the 3,845 colleges/universities in the country. The letter asked them to identify the contact person for alcohol abuse prevention on their campus. Over 1,200 response cards naming key individuals were received by project staff. These individuals were then sent an application and an accompanying letter, indicating that they had been named by their president and inviting them to share potentially model program practices.
Additional steps were taken to encourage applications:
• The chief student affairs officers at all institutions received an application form.
• Press releases were distributed to higher education associations, higher education agencies, and alcohol abuse organizations at the national and state levels.
• State and regional system offices for institutions of higher education were contacted.
• Postcards were mailed to remind all colleges of the application due date.
• Calls were placed to Regional Coordinators of the Network of Colleges and Universities Committed to the Elimination of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
• Applications were mailed to individuals listed in various related databases (e.g. consortium listings).
• Calls were made to known alcohol abuse prevention programs.
• An advertisement was placed in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Ultimately, project staff received 811 formal applications from 508 colleges and universities. (See listing of institutions submitting an application at the end of this Sourcebook.)
3. The Review and Selection Process. The Co-Directors and Advisory Panel reached consensus on the general criteria to be used for the initial review process. The first level of screening involved the assessment of each application on the following seven criteria:
1. Replicability – how easily done by others
2. Cost Effectiveness – making the most of limited funding
3. Specific Focus – appropriate targeting of groups/population
4. Student Involvement – in planning, participation, and determination of acceptability
5. Context – background, rationale, appropriateness for campus environment
6. Clarity and Appropriateness of Desired Outcomes – clarity of emphasis or focus; articulation of success criteria
7. Evidence of Program Success – achievements, consequences, reports, documentation
Where notable, superior marketing and creativity of the efforts also influenced initial ratings. "Comprehensive" campus programs were reviewed separately, with ratings for each program element (see list in the Planning description above) as well as for the degree of linkages throughout the campus, the degree of institutionalization, and the degree of overall support by campus leaders.
Applications favorably reviewed by the initial expert reviewers were forwarded to one of a group of external Consultant Specialists who had an in-depth knowledge of campus alcohol programming. Based on particular expertise, each consultant was assigned to one or more categories and was asked to rate the applications again (without knowledge of initial reviews).
Upon return to project headquarters at George Mason University, each application was prepared for review by members of the national Advisory Panel. With identifiers absent, panelists reviewed the applications, as well as written comments of initial and specialist reviewers. Co-Directors and staff, Advisory Panel
members, and Consultant Specialists were disqualified in the review process when the application involved their own institution, an institution with which they had been associated, or individuals known to them personally. Every effort was made to maintain the integrity of the process and to eliminate sources of bias.
Finally, using all accumulated criteria, ratings, and reviews, final determinations were made for inclusion of exemplars of Promising Practices. In all, over 100 practices from the 811 applications were selected for highlighting in this Sourcebook. After determinations of inclusion, a summary abstract was prepared that described the key elements of the practice. These were distributed to the applicants for review and comment whenever possible. Applicants were also asked follow-up questions; additional insights on various issues are included in the abstract.
The Project Co-Directors and Advisory Panel fully understand that the listing is not likely complete, that some excellent efforts may not have been included. The press of time, lack of resources because of multiple responsibilities of respondents, changes in personnel – all may have kept some campuses from completing applications. In some cases, familiarity and high standards may have generated the feeling from potential applicants that their programs were not really exceptional, when indeed they would have qualified for inclusion. Some promising programs have been initiated after the application deadline in late Spring of 1996. Conversely, some highlighted programs will have been changed or terminated by the time this text is read. Readers are assured that information on new or overlooked promising programs or practices is welcomed by the project at anytime.
Given all the possible limitations of the project, it still seems clear that the Sourcebook is able to present evocative, practical, and hopeful models for programs, policies and practices in this critical field. In the best case, campus leaders will find the ideas useful or affirming and communications among the institutions will be stimulated, even synergized, all this generating observable progress in promoting student behavioral health through alcohol abuse reduction.
References:
American Council on Education. "A White Paper on Institutional Liability for Consumption of Alcohol and Drugs on Campus," 1992.
American Council on Education. "Universities, Colleges and Alcohol: An Overview of Tort Liability Issues," 1985.
Anderson, D.S., and Gadaleto, A.F. "Progress or Illusion: The 1979 and 1982 College Alcohol Surveys." Journal of College Student Personnel. 25: 332-337, 1984.
Anderson, D.S., and Gadaleto, A.F. "The College Alcohol Survey, 1979-1994," George Mason University (VA) and West Chester University (PA), 1994.
Anderson, D.S., and Pressley, G. "Drug and Alcohol Survey of Community, Technical and Junior Colleges 1991." George Mason University (VA) and Nassau Community College (NY), 1991.
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Campus Life: In Search of Community. Lawrenceville, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1990.
Chickering, A.W., and Reisser, L. Education and Identity. (Second Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 1994.
Eigen, L.D. "Alcohol Practices, Policies, and Potentials of American Colleges and Universities: A White Paper." Rockville, MD: Office for Substance Abuse Prevention 1991.
Johnston, L.D., O’Malley, P.M., Bachman, J.G. "National Survey Results on Drug Use: Vol.II College Students and Young Adults, 1979-1994." Rockville, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1996.
Milgram, G.G. The Facts About Drinking: Coping with Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Alcoholism. New York: Consumer Reports Books, 1990.
Presley, C.A., Meilman, P.W., and Lyerla, R. "Alcohol and Drugs on American College Campuses: Use, Consequences, and Perceptions of the Campus Environment: Vol.III: 1991-1993" Carbondale, IL: The Core Institute, 1996.
Sanford, N. The American College. New York: Wiley, 1962.
Straus, R., and Bacon, S. Drinking in College. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1953.
Wechsler, H., Davenport, A., Dowdall, G., Moeykens, B., Castillo, S. "Health and Behavioral Consequences of Binge Drinking in College: A National Survey of Students at 140 Campuses," Journal of the American Medical Association. 272:1672-1677, 1994.
Wechsler, H., Kuh, G., Davenport, A. "Fraternities, Sororities and Binge Drinking: Results from a National Study of American Colleges," NASPA Journal. 33: 260-279, 1996.
Wechsler, H., Moeykens, B., Davenport, A., Castillo, S., and Hansen, J. "The Adverse Impact of Heavy Episodic Drinkers on Other College Students." Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 56:628-634, 1995.
Sourcebook
Promising Practices:
Campus Alcohol Strategies
Comprehensive Programs
Directory of comprehensive programs
Comprehensive campus efforts represent the ideal blending of each of the 10 components developed for Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies. While the other sections of this Sourcebook highlight specific program elements and strategies in each of the components, this section focuses on colleges/universities which have integrated the components into a campus-wide initiative. As mentioned previously, implementing a comprehensive program is the most promising way to address alcohol abuse on campus.
The efforts of the 12 campuses illustrating the breadth and depth recommended for a comprehensive initiative are summarized in this section. These campus initiatives demonstrated an extensive and broad-based approach for the campus, incorporating the 10 components.
• Emphasized at Central Michigan University’s long-term program are peer-based activities, academic courses, training, a zero tolerance approach toward alcohol abuse, and broad-based campus support.
• The Center for Drug and Alcohol Education at Colorado State University invests in "Community Strategies Unlimited," the Positive Impact Program, the Saturday Night Alternative Program, Peer-Based Theater, community collaboration, and weekly workshops.
• George Mason University has Campus Networks, the Students in Prevention project, awareness weeks, educational programs, peer organizations, a Recovery Support Team, a task force, and a resource library.
• At the San German campus of Inter American University of Puerto Rico, the program’s emphasis is on positive learning environments, incorporating a Peer Support Group for students, a Faculty Support Advisory Team, and a Community-Based Program Advisory Committee. A College Cafe and a Curriculum Infusion Prevention strategy are also a part of the initiative.
• North Central College’s comprehensive program incorporates several student organizations, policies, numerous campus offices, targeted groups, and campus-wide collaboration.
• Southern Illinois University at Carbondale blends several awareness and information activities, social marketing campaigns, curriculum offerings, support services, peer approaches, and training.
• The Options Program at the State University of New York at New Paltz is a research-based coalition model that addresses social influence and environmental change. Extensive professional and volunteer staffs assist with the Social Marketing Team and the Student Action Team, providing a continuum of prevention services.
• The HEART Program at the University of Connecticut focuses on prevention and early intervention and includes: the HEART Team, PARTY-Time Hours, academic courses, and a Substance Abuse Quality Assurance Plan.
• The University of Scranton’s initiative integrates a comprehensive policy, peer education, printed information, resources, course work, and intervention services.
• CADEP at the University of Texas at Austin utilizes a harm reduction approach that includes the Lifestyle Management Peer Advisor Program, extensive academic course work, targeted efforts for campus groups, the Campus Issues Program, and the Designated Driver Program.
• The University of Virginia includes educational and research activities such as server training, peer health education, the Student Athlete Mentor Program, the Party Patrol, and Greek Risk Managers with fraternities and sororities, and First-Year Focus for new students.
• Project WE-CAN at Western Washington University encourages students to maintain alcohol consumption at safe, legal and no-harm levels. This initiative includes a Social Marketing Campaign, Health Opinion Leaders, a Community-Health Service Learning Program, faculty and staff involvement in "Partners in Health," environmental change, community collaboration, and extensive evaluation with the Lifestyles Project Survey.
Overall, the comprehensive programs illustrate ways in which distinct approaches of the 10 components to address alcohol abuse are found in a broad-based campus effort. The contact persons for these 12 campuses, when interviewed about their efforts, emphasized the importance of organizing and linking together the campus-wide effort. Please note that the 12 Comprehensive Programs are alphabetized by program title.
DIRECTORY OF COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS
Alfred University: Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs Education
Baldwin-Wallace College: Wellness Activities
Bentley College: Alcohol and Other Drug Resource Center
Berkshire Community College: Leadership in Education About Alcohol and Drugs
Capital University: Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs Education
Central Michigan University: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Intervention and Prevention Program
College of William and Mary: Alcohol Task Force
Colorado State University: Center for Drug and Alcohol Education
Eastern Kentucky University: Substance Abuse Committee
George Mason University: Drug Education Services
Inter American University of Puerto Rico: Center of Alternatives for Human Development and Prevention
La Salle University: Alcohol and Other Drug Program
Middlesex Community College: Alcohol/Other Drug and Violence Prevention Program
Montana State University - Bozeman: Health Entrepreneurship
North Central College: Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness/Prevention Committee
Plymouth State College: Comprehensive Program
San Jose State University: Prevention Education Program Center
Sinclair Community College: Prevention Education Resource Center (PERC)
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale: Wellness Center
State University of New York at New Paltz: Options: A Resource Center for Healthy Choices
Texas Christian University: Alcohol and Drug Education Center
Texas Tech University: Center for the Study of Addiction
The University of Alabama: Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
The University of Michigan: Community Approach to Alcohol and Other Drugs
United States Military Academy: Respect for Others at the United States Military Academy
University of Connecticut: HEART Program
University of Georgia: Teaching About Prevention of Substance Abuse
University of Scranton: D.I.C.E. Office
University of Texas at Austin: Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Program (CADEP)
University of Virginia: Campus-wide Initiatives
University of Washington: Committee on Alcohol and Substance Awareness
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater: Collaborative Campus Initiatives
Valdosta State University: Alcohol and Other Drug Education Program
Virginia Commonwealth University: Alcohol Awareness Program
Western Washington University: Project WE CAN
ADDITIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS
Berkshire Community College
Canisius College
Central Connecticut State University
Central Michigan University
Cuyahoga Community College
Mount Holyoke College
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Temple University
The College of Saint Rose
University of Connecticut
University of Georgia
University of Louisville
University of Maryland College Park
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey - Newark Campus
University of Missouri - Columbia
University of Pennsylvania
Walla Walla Community College
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Intervention and Prevention Program
Contact:
Central Michigan University
Enrollment: 23,390
Public, Four Year Institution
Mark J. Minelli, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Health Advocacy Services
CMU Health Services, Foust Hall 108
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
(517) 774-6992
Description:
The university’s long-term commitment to addressing alcohol-related problems is based on leadership that seeks to manage, rather than solve, these problems. As a result, campus efforts are long-term, ongoing, multi-dimensional, and available for all students and staff. CMU’s program acknowledges that the institutional mission, which emphasizes excellence in teaching and an outstanding student learning environment, can be compromised by the abuse of drugs and alcohol.
Primary leadership for the comprehensive campus-wide effort emanates from the Student Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Programming Group. This group has numerous representatives from offices and organizations participating in its monthly meetings, including representatives from Campus Police, Residence Life, Health Services, and several student organizations. Leadership also comes from a full-time prevention educator, a manager of health advocacy services and graduate interns. Support is also provided through a Wellness Resource Center, which is primarily a student-run service. Group members coordinate monthly and share the wide diversity of campus approaches on alcohol, drug, tobacco and other health issues.
One of the most comprehensive aspects of the campus effort is extensive awareness and information campaigns. Highlights include numerous campus and community health fairs, featured information on alcohol issues in newsletters from various campus departments, weekly movies, participation in National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, mocktails provided at homecoming games, distribution of red ribbons and flyers for a safe holiday season, and drinking and driving prevention materials. Advertising is incorporated in the "Bringing You the Beat" monthly calendar as well as flyers for individual events.
Closely related to these efforts are peer-based activities, including two organizations, PRIDE and GAMMA (Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol) that devote themselves exclusively to substance abuse education. Other student organizations include representatives of each of the campus’ sororities and fraternities, as well as Eta Sigma Gamma. Peer education programs feature the Peer Advocates for Healthy Lifestyles (PAHLS) and the Recovery Persons Prevention Project (R3P).
Supporting the peer activities and helping the campus effort is a new course titled "Peer Education Theory and Practice." In addition, all athletic team members must also complete a one-credit course on "Drugs and the Athlete." Other curriculum efforts include a Health Promotion and Rehabilitation substance abuse minor. Alcohol-related topics are also incorporated in numerous health, sociology, psychology and counseling courses.
Training on the campus reaches various audiences. The university’s president recently prepared an introduction trigger film for the alcohol policies and procedures training. Facilities management employees with commercial driver’s licenses are trained to identify signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse and ways to confront the user. A "Carefrontation" program for the residence hall staff provides a helpful approach for identification of alcohol problems and ways to "carefront" the person.
The campus offers 12-step groups on the campus, as well as individual and group counseling and referral services. The Recovering Persons Prevention Project (R3P) enables recovering chemically dependent individuals to share their strength with one another and their experience with interested groups and persons.
Several aspects regarding the policy perspective are noteworthy: the university describes the policy each semester in the course offering for students and the policy is distributed to all employees annually. Both on the campus and in the general community a zero tolerance approach toward alcohol abuse is underway. The police write tickets to enforce the underage drinking laws, along with the city ordinance. Alcohol offenders incur fines which are increased for subsequent offenses. Students are also required to attend an alcohol education discipline class. The university has established a tailgate policy, which limits the amount of alcohol per person and tailgate parties are dispersed by the third quarter of football games.
Evaluation of the campus effort includes use of the Core Surveys, a data collected project, conducted since the 1970s and routine program evaluation.
Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness/Prevention Committee
Contact:
North Central College
Enrollment: 2,437
Private, Four Year Institution
Barbara J. Miller, M.S. Ed.
Assistant to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
30 N. Brainard, P.O. Box 3063
Naperville, IL 60566-7063
(708) 637-5153
Description:
The college has been involved in numerous programs and strategies to address alcohol issues over the last several years. A review of campus policies and programs recommended the establishment of the Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness/Prevention Committee. Members come from many offices on campus and the surrounding community (see Task Force description in Staffing and Resources section), and make a commitment to serve for two years.
The committee plays a critical role in gathering and disseminating information on alcohol-related topics. Further, it provides support and assistance to all who are committed to alcohol education efforts on the campus. Meeting monthly, the committee reviews prior events and suggests ways of improving them. It prepares a campus-wide assessment of change in alcohol-related behaviors and develops and implements an extensive promotional campaign in which it is "cool" to make the choice not to drink alcohol or to use alcohol responsibly. Further, it implements a program that addresses the effects of second-hand alcohol abuse.
Numerous offices are actively involved in the campus-wide effort. The Residence Life Staff receives training twice a year and shares policy and program resources with students. Student Orientation Week and campus bulletin boards, as well as special information bulletins, provide information about these resources. The Prevention Resource Center, housed in the campus Health Center, provides informative materials related to alcohol consumption and/or abuse.
Three student organizations are central to programming efforts. SHAPE, campus peer educators, provide campus programs, as well as make individual contacts, to address alcohol use and/or abuse and its effects. A BACCHUS chapter has a strong presence on the campus and provides support for programming in the areas of responsible decision-making, alcohol awareness education and drunk driving. SAFE (Sexual Assault Free Environment) Educators provide information and make presentations regarding sexual assault and the relationship of alcohol to this problem.
Policies are detailed in the student handbook and through special bulletins distributed throughout the campus. An alcohol education seminar, CHOICES, is presented to students found in violation of the campus alcohol policy and others who are referred because of concerns about alcohol abuse. Students found in repeat violations of the campus policy are referred to counseling for assessment. Several offices on campus provide "self help" and "where to get help" pamphlets and referral phone numbers related to drinking problems and concerns about alcohol abuse.
The campus environment as a whole emphasizes alcohol-free activities and "natural highs," and a student-run coffee house, "Coffee Dregs," provides a place to socialize outside the residence halls.
Evaluation is conducted by the Core Survey, which is implemented regularly. Its results are used for program planning, evaluation and assessment.
Special target groups on campus are freshman, student athletes and women. Further, a substance-free wing has been instituted in an upper class residence hall.
Overall, the bringing together of numerous individuals and groups on the campus and the blending of their expertise, concerns and passions serve as the key to this campus-wide effort. Their combined efforts create the foundation for further support and provide a collective review of the nature and future direction of campus alcohol issues.
Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Program (CADEP)
Contact:
University of Texas at Austin
Enrollment: 47,957
Public, Four Year Institution
Debora J. Orrick, M.A. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Student Health Center
Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Program (CADEP)
Box 7339, University Station
Austin, TX 78713
(512) 475-8252
Description:
The Student Health Center’s Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Program (CADEP) provides a continuum of primary and secondary prevention services for university students. These range from operating a resource center and coordinating awareness weeks to training peer advisors and conducting educational programs for disciplinary referrals.
CADEP utilizes a harm reduction or harm minimization approach to reducing the negative consequences associated with substance use. The model is an abstinence-based, but not an abstinence-only, approach. The methods used by CADEP are based on the assumption that behaviors and habits can be placed along a continuum of beneficial to harmful consequences.
The goal of harm reduction is to move an individual with substance use concerns along this continuum toward more positive and more satisfying levels of health.
Central to the implementation of CADEP is the Lifestyle Management Peer Advisor program. The Peer Outreach program receives academic credit through the University’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. Students receive training in one-on-one consultation skills, as well as in making presentations. Topics include Alcohol Management; Women, Men and Alcohol; A New Game Plan; How to Help a Friend Who’s Had Too Much to Drink; and Stress Management. A related initiative is the Lifestyle Management Class (LMC), a four-hour, non-credit class offered by CADEP that emphasizes student skills development for college lifestyles management, including alcohol management, goal setting and stress management. The classes are primarily attended by students with a disciplinary referral from a campus office such as athletics, housing, the dean of students’ office, or a local or state municipal court. CADEP Lifestyle Management Peer Advisors have been trained to teach these classes. Students participating in the class are encouraged to engage in a self-assessment process to examine the relationship of alcohol use to their academic career and personal goals and to their college lifestyle management strategies.
CADEP staff also advises UT’s Designated Driver program (UT-DDP), which includes free taxi cab rides for students who are too intoxicated to drive or who are with someone who is too intoxicated to drive. The UT-DDP is coordinated by a student board of directors with advising and oversight by CADEP staff. This program is funded by the University’s Student Fees Committee and operates every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. The service only takes a student home, not to another party or bar. The taxi cab service is coordinated through the UT-DDP phone bank and the cabs are dispatched after verification that the caller is an enrolled student and the address they are being taken to is their current address. CADEP also coordinates a Students Against Driving Drunk Chapter (SADD) which functions as the "safety education" component for the UT-DDP. SADD members provide presentations to other student groups about DUI prevention, and guidelines for utilizing and accessing the UT-DDP; they also volunteer to staff the UT-DDP Phone Center.
CADEP also addresses individual needs concerning alcohol and drug-related problems. CADEP provides Individual Educational Consultations which are confidential, private sessions in which students can talk with professional CADEP staff about personal concerns regarding their own use, or the use by a loved-one, of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. The program utilizes "motivational interviewing" in these sessions and is free-of-charge for the student. For those students who have concerns about their drinking or drug use, or who are engaged in a pattern of high risk use, CADEP will provide early intervention services, such as problem severity assessment, moderation management education or recommendations for abstinence (as appropriate) and community referral services for treatment and recovery for chemical dependency. An educational consultation is usually one-hour in length, with optional follow-up sessions available upon request.
Training is offered for student leaders, staff and faculty, and includes intervention training, overview of college substance use, and stress and time management.
CADEP also coordinates the Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Network (CADEN) which is an informal meeting of UT faculty and staff who are involved in research, curriculum, development, or programs that address alcohol, tobacco, or drug issues.
Campus-wide Initiatives
Contact:
University of Virginia
Enrollment: 18,011
Public, Four Year Institution
Susan J. Grossman, Ed.D. (E-mail)
Associate Director
Institute for Substance Abuse Studies
Box 15, BRH
Charlottesville, VA 22901
(804) 924-5276
Description:
The Institute for Substance Abuse Studies (ISAS) is a multi-disciplinary organization that coordinates the educational and research activities related to substance abuse prevention at the university. Numerous offices at the university work in conjunction with ISAS to implement substance abuse education/prevention programs. The Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Advisory Committee, a forum of administrators, staff and student organizational leaders, assesses the university culture and climate, and makes recommendations for initiatives to further address alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
Training is a key element of the university’s efforts. Residence Hall Senior Staff receive pre-service training with a major emphasis on the personal challenges of being a leader and the many implications of choices regarding alcohol. This training helps them in their follow-up discussions on alcohol policy with the RAs, other staff and residents.
TIPS training (training for intervention procedures), is a two-hour server intervention program designed for individuals who will be serving alcohol. It addresses the effects of alcohol on the body, how to assess intoxication in others and intervention strategies for dealing with intoxicated individuals.
Peer health educators (PHEs) provide information and referrals on alcohol issues through patient education. They also present awareness events and programs targeted to address numerous health topics, including alcohol and other substance use. Their competence-based (rather than fear-based) programs provide opportunities to create a more positive university climate.
Three other specialized programs exist for targeted audiences. The Student Athlete Mentor (SAM) Program is designed to work student athletes. Students trained as SAMs are elected by their respective athletic teams to serve as peer substance abuse prevention specialists. The goal of the SAMs is to establish a safer social environment within their team that will result in the reduction of the negative consequences due to the misuse and abuse of drugs or alcohol. They serve as resources for their teammates for information and support, use their skills to recognize unhealthy behaviors, and make appropriate referrals when necessary.
The Inter-Sorority Council (ISC) and Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) work together on a variety of initiatives to combat underage drinking and alcohol abuse by members of their organizations. One such endeavor is the Party Patrol, a student-monitoring system for fraternity-hosted parties and fraternity and sorority mixers. A second IFC/ISC initiative is the Greek Risk Managers (GRMs) Program. This network of fraternity and sorority peer educators, selected by the IFC and ISC, assists in the education of officers, social chairs, risk managers and pledge educators.
The third targeted audience is the first-year students. Through a theater performance presented during orientation, these students are introduced to a variety of risky behaviors and issues, including alcohol abuse. Following the performance, the first-year students discuss with their RAs, trained First Year Focus facilitators and peers the vignettes on student life that they have just seen.
Another initiative offered at the university is the very popular Friday Night Series, which includes a variety of events sponsored by the university union. By providing consistent, quality programs on a Friday night (e.g., concerts, movies, comedy), the university community shows students that there are fun alcohol-free events that they can attend.
An annual Fourth Year 5K Fun Run/Walk is offered by the peer health educators. This was created as an alternative to the tradition where fourth-year students consume a fifth of alcohol at the last home football game.
Ads in two student-run newspapers and on radio have proven successful in raising alcohol awareness during the semi-annual awareness campaigns.
Finally, the University Judiciary Committee, a student-run organization, investigates and adjudicates alleged violators of the university’s alcohol policy and standards of conduct. This committee typically refers violators to a variety of university programs, particularly On Campus Talking About Alcohol (OCTAA).
Center for Drug and Alcohol Education
Contact:
Colorado State University
Enrollment: 21,451
Public, Four Year Institution
Maureen Conway (new Contact: Thomas Barr) (E-mail)
Director
Center for Drug and Alcohol Education
University Health Service
Colorado State University
Ft. Collins, CO 80523
(970) 491-1702
Description:
Colorado State University’s program comprises a wide range of services and efforts from awareness and information to peer-based activities and includes staffing and innovative implementation approaches.
Operational since 1984, the university’s approach for the comprehensive program is based on the themes of prevention, intervention, harm reduction and community collaboration.
Awareness and information constitute a large portion of CSU’s initiatives, such as the "Community Strategies Unlimited" orientation program, a one-hour session with the theme "It’s Me; It’s Now; I Can;" emphasizes strategies for building a healthy and vital community and deals with the facts and strategies regarding alcohol issues. A "To Drink or Not To…"video, developed for incoming students to correct misperceptions of alcohol use, highlights 25 students who present numerous reasons for not using alcohol, giving a real face to the 30% of CSU students who do not use alcohol.
Policies and procedures incorporate some interesting approaches. One is the "Positive Impact" program, an organization of student volunteers who work to enhance the safety and enjoyment of participants at university events. At football games, for example, the volunteers transport home the individuals who have consumed too much, address tailgating violations and take away bottles and cans (distributing cups in their place).
In addition, the Athletic Department and the TEAM coalition are reviewing alcohol management policies for their facilities. The tailgating policy requires a special events permit when groups of 25 or more are congregating at football games. Enforcement is further supplemented by campus police efforts with impaired driving, a "Party Poopers" effort conducted by the city police department and an alcohol summit which is implemented for both planning and enforcement services.
Another ongoing initiative is SNAP (Saturday Night Alternative Program), which provides an opportunity for open recreation, as well as activities for children of CSU community members. A poster contest, designed to promote cultural change through creative graphic art, depicts a low use norm. A date rape mock trial is conducted by a local district court judge in a mock courtroom.
A new resource is the Home Page for the World Wide Web, which incorporates helpful information on how to help oneself and others. Its goal is to create a resource that will not reveal the identity of the user and will thus be a method for providing confidential information to at-risk individuals.
Complementing these efforts are peer approaches. One of these is B.O.L.T. (Based On Life Theater) which features skits performed by non-theater students on alcohol, dating, violence and other health issues. P.C.A. (Peer Counselors in Athletics) and the R.A.M. (Ram Athlete Mentoring) Team provide student approaches for reaching fellow athletes. P.C.A. promotes healthy lifestyles and encourages positive choices among student athletes. The R.A.M. Team is designed as a two-credit course emphasizing alcohol and sexual assault, drugs, academics and campus resources. The G.O.L.D. Team provides student athlete consultation training and support. It presents programs to the various athletic teams on the campus.
Curriculum infusion is conducted and numerous classes reach 2,800 students. Faculty with training in the campus BASELINE program have a commitment to create infusion modules and course outlines. In some courses the Center for Drug and Alcohol Education provides course sessions to students.
Support services include "Learning Utterly Important Information." This weekly three-hour workshop provides an interactive and informative approach that examines risky behaviors, misperceptions, and addiction. A continuum of use and personal applications are also presented.
Collaboration for this campus-based effort includes an initiative entitled Team Fort Collins, which is a community partnership for prevention. CADE (Coalition of Alcohol and Drug Educators), a decade old regional coalition, is an issues forum, a support system and an information-sharing network for professionals and students in the Rocky Mountain area.
Evaluation of the campus effort is conducted by the Core Survey every two years. There is a yearly review of the stadium data, as well as an Athlete Lifestyle Assessment.
Center of Alternatives for Human Development and Prevention
Contacts:
Inter American University of
Puerto Rico
San German Campus
Enrollment: 6,392
Private, Four Year Institution
Maria S. Torres Figueroa, M.A.
Director
Norma Lugo, M.A.
Project Coordinator
Drug Prevention Program
Box 5100
San German, PR 00683
(809) 264-1912 ext. 7217
Description:
Established in 1989, this initiative exemplifies the belief that campuses can and should be more positive learning environments. The goal of the university’s prevention activities is to develop a "critical mass" of campus community members. To achieve this goal, the emphasis is on change in the overall campus environment. While the comprehensive approach involves various institutional components and individuals, faculty members are especially highlighted since they have significant influence with students. The prevention program applies to students, faculty and staff, and actively involves volunteers.
The comprehensive effort has three major elements: a Peer Support Group for Students, a Faculty Support and Advisory Team, and a Community-Based Program Advisory Committee. Each of these efforts is coordinated by the program staff. The center has a full-time staff and orients its activities to the entire university community. Personnel from throughout the university are trained and integrated into a team to deal effectively with the alcohol problems on the campus. They are personnel from the residence halls, peer counselors, student organization directors and faculty and staff coordinators.
The center staff is involved in developing the campus policy on drug and alcohol use and abuse. It also carries out a series of educational activities and provides early intervention and referral services on the campus. The center is also a major clearinghouse for information and technical support for other programs in the area. It sponsors four alcohol-free social events each semester at the recently established College Cafe.
Central to the university’s campus-wide initiative is the Curriculum Infusion Prevention Strategy program. The Peer Support Groups sponsor approximately 25 activities each year, which reach thousands of students. Developed and implemented to complement the established prevention and education program activities, three elements are integral to this program. First is the Freshman Orientation Course, a lifeskills program into which drugs and alcohol issues are incorporated. In the first two years of the project, 32 faculty were trained in the new course modality. A faculty manual and student guide that includes the 25 lessons was also developed.
A second aspect is the Pre-Service Teacher Training program. The selection of the most appropriate courses to integrate into the prevention component was accomplished in this program. Instructional guides are available for Society and Education, Human Development and Learning of Instruction, Methodology, and Technological Resources for Teaching and Teaching Practicum. Prevention education activities are incorporated into the basic curriculum for future teachers. The success of this effort is enhanced by having an advisory committee composed of faculty members.
Third, the Basic Academic Course Program includes prevention education materials in basic courses in all departments on campus. Critical to the success of this initiative is the implementation of a Faculty Advisory Board consisting of 14 professors who represent most of the academic departments. Formal integration of the prevention concepts are included in courses on grammar, literature, critical and logical thinking, anatomy and physiology, human relations, marketing and psychology.
Faculty training workshops are provided with an average of 15 professors in each workshop. Included in the faculty training is a videotaped recording of a class in which curricular infusion is used. Faculty members are trained to work as a team to develop the Introduction to University Life course. Further, in each academic department two faculty members are trained in the curriculum infusion strategy.
Evaluation of the effort, conducted by an external reviewer, is ongoing and includes favorable ratings by students and by faculty/staff. Further, a Faculty Needs Assessment Questionnaire assesses knowledge, attitudes and teaching methodologies used. Also noteworthy is that, in the Freshman Orientation Course, significant changes are found in various attitudes, perceptions, knowledge, career self-commitment, self-confidence and peer pressure.
D.I.C.E. Office
Contact:
University of Scranton
Enrollment: 4,946
Private, Four Year Institution
James T. Bryan, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA 18510-4655
(717) 941-7680
Description:
Several years ago, a President’s Task Force on Alcohol Abuse identified concerns and offered 15 recommendations in a report "Building a Community that Matters"; these are now monitored on an ongoing basis. The orientation of these efforts is to enhance the educational mission of the institution, thereby enhancing the academic and intellectual life. The emphasis of the comprehensive "campus intervention" is to challenge the prevailing campus culture at all levels and to promote serious reflection about scholarship, social life, student and campus interaction.
The university has a comprehensive Alcohol and Illicit Drugs Policy, which is augmented by the University of Scranton Response to Alcohol Policy Offenses. Each of these policies is refined periodically in consultation with key university officials and the President’s Task Force on Alcohol Abuse.
The Drug and Alcohol Information Center and Educators (D.I.C.E.) is located in the university’s Wellness Center. Staffed by a full-time Coordinator/Alcohol Drug Educator, a graduate assistant and 33 voluntary Peer Educators, the center offers a range of services to the campus community.
Integral to the DICE office are the Peer Educators. These volunteers participate in an extensive screening and training program and enroll in two courses, "Introduction to Psychology" and "Public Speaking." Peer Educators also participate in a training seminar and a one-credit class that focuses on crisis intervention, referral skills, intervention and treatment.
Two goals for the D.I.C.E. office are central to its mission of promoting a climate in which those who choose to consume alcohol learn to do so in legal, low-risk ways, and in which abstinence from the use of drugs and alcohol is acceptable. The first goal is an educational one whereby "students will make informed decisions supporting responsible alcohol use." The second goal has a prevention focus whereby "students make it a habit to participate in organized activities emphasizing the responsible use of alcohol and the non-use of illegal drugs." With these goals in mind, the D.I.C.E. office provides information at numerous points throughout the year, including holiday cards with non-alcoholic punch recipes, bookmarks, information cards with staff members’ names, summer vacation cards (inviting students to "Catch A Natural High"), posters indicating the potency of grain alcohol, table tents, a videotape made as a Communications Department class project, a televised message from the President of the university regarding alcohol responsibility while celebrating graduation, a videotaped message by the District Attorney on legal consequences, a weekly radio show highlighting program efforts, a daily airing of radio spots and a faculty brochure.
The program has three major components. A resource area, with pamphlets, books and videos, is available for the campus community. Second, the education aspect is conducted by the Peer Educators, who make presentations in classes, in residence halls and in local high schools and grade schools. The third element is alcohol-free activities offered at strategic times throughout the year. Related to these are participation in National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and Wellness Week. The D.I.C.E. office also sponsors Midnight Madness at the end of each semester.
Education and training efforts include mock trials, training for intervention procedures by servers of alcohol (TIPS), courses, comedy nights, sponsorship of basketball and volleyball games, field sobriety tests and participation in Freshmen Orientation programs.
Academic courses offered by the Human Resources Department include Addictions, Substance Abuse Education as well as Legal and Health Aspects of Substance Abuse. A Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC) certification program is also offered. The D.I.C.E. office also provides an Alcohol Education Course for students who have been charged with underage drinking by the Judicial Affairs Officer.
Intervention services include remedial support for students referred to the Counseling Center, as well as for self-referrals. Students participate in a small group experience or are seen individually. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) or the University of Scranton’s Alcohol Use History (AUH) are used to assist the counselor with the assessment process. After care programs are also available on the campus.
Drug Education Services
Contact:
George Mason University
Enrollment: 21,774
Public, Four Year Institution
Nancy Schulte, L.C.S.W. (E-mail)
Director, Drug Education Services
Health Promotion and Risk Reduction Services
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
(703) 993-3686
Description:
A campus-wide survey, conducted in 1986, was the impetus for the establishment of a program at George Mason University. The GMU program provides an approach that relies upon student leadership and guidance, as well as personal services, for implementation. Under the leadership of a full-time director and graduate assistants, the Drug Education Services for the campus incorporate numerous distinct elements.
The Peer Education Student Organization, "Campus Networks – Connecting You to GMU," promotes healthy, responsible lifestyles, and one of the four specialty groups focuses on drugs and alcohol. Peer educators present programs in classrooms and during campus-wide events. This student organization provides interactive presentations and has a campaign "Don’t Cancel That Class, Call Campus Networks" for faculty who are not able to make class. The students in the organization will fill in for the faculty member and offer a presentation on wellness issues. The 30 students also serve as mentors and referral resources.
A related initiative is Students In Prevention (SIP): GMU students lead small groups of elementary and high school students in a 90-minute program of substance abuse prevention activities. This community outreach effort encourages critical thinking skills for both SIP members and the students in the community schools. A secondary goal is to provide positive role models for the young students who are participating in the program.
Campus-wide initiatives include leadership with National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, a campus Health and Fitness Challenge, and Safe Spring Break. The Awareness Week involves a long-term planning process with leaders from various student organizations and campus administrative and academic offices. Educational programs center around the theme "It’s Elemental" which emphasizes the four elements of life: water (prepare for the overflow of knowledge), fire (don’t get burned...respect your body), earth (stand like a rock with values strong and steadfast) and wind (don’t blow off your commitments). Activities include movies, mocktails, a student leader luncheon, a high school leadership conference and a student recovery panel. The Health and Fitness Challenge represents a recrafting of the health fair concept; academic credit is granted for participation. With the focus on wellness, participatory demonstrations, information sharing and cooperative games are conducted over a two-day period. The Safe Spring Break campaign is a theme week promoting health and safety. Educational sessions and activities encourage students to make safe decisions during spring break. This includes a BACCHUS Bars media promotion, healthy lifestyle inventories, and a resource book Where the Good Times Are.
A helpful element of the campus effort is recovery housing, which supports students’ needs for a predictable environment that sets standards of behavior that are re-enforced by their fellow hallmates. Only staff and students on the recovery hall are aware of its special designation. The student staff member on the floor is carefully chosen and trained. Applicants are interviewed by a member of the Recovery Support Team; members of the team meet with residence students once every two weeks to obtain feedback. This supportive environment addresses these students’ unique needs and helps create a strong sense of community.
Related campus elements include the Substance Abuse Task Force, which reviews campus initiatives and updates the campus’ drug and alcohol policy. The Drug and Alcohol Survey is administered every two years during October. This 87-item self-report questionnaire is assigned with the support of the provost and increasingly with support of university faculty members. In addition, over 1,000 articles, pamphlets, books and videotapes are available in the Health Issues Resource Library to help students who have personal inquiries or are working on research projects. Student awareness and support of this resource is at a 70% rate.
HEART Program
Contact:
University of Connecticut
Enrollment: 22,466
Public, Four Year Institution
Janice Roberts Wilbur, Ph.D.
Coordinator
Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Health Services U-Box 11
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-5537
Description:
The HEART Program, formalized in 1991, builds on a decade of alcohol education activities at the University of Connecticut. This Substance Abuse Prevention Program is an innovative, comprehensive, multi-dimensional, campus-wide, student driven program. Its diversity and its student and administrative support are significant. A HEART symbolizes the program and its commitment to connecting with students in a way that empowers them to affect campus norms and enhance the quality of life on campus.
Central to the HEART Program is its goal:
"To develop a comprehensive prevention and early intervention program for drug and alcohol use, misuse, and dependency." Three objectives support this goal:
• To prevent the occurrence of drug and alcohol problems among students
• To reverse, halt, or retard alcohol/drug problems among students
• To minimize the effects of alcohol/drug problems on the academic, social and emotional lives of students
Implementation of these objectives is accomplished by one full-time coordinator, three graduate assistants, numerous work study students, and interns. With the exception of the coordinator, the entire HEART staff is students. Community involvement in the campus effort is demonstrated by the fact that one graduate assistant position is funded by a local alcoholic beverage distributor. The HEART Program’s areas of emphasis are realistic and focused. The staff works to emphasize responsible decision-making and how a student’s alcohol consumption can affect other students as well as the overall quality of life. The program is designed to be dynamic and versatile to meet the everchanging needs of students. The messages, challenges and "information bytes" are related to decision-making, awareness and knowledge. The HEART staff challenges students to think about their decisions and to consider how their behavior is connected to other parts of their life.
The HEART Program is composed of 10 major elements. Central to this is "the HEART Team"; this peer education aspect of the program provides undergraduate and graduate credit for over 30 students each semester. Undergraduates can put together a 15-credit peer education package. The HEART internship’s goals include education of a critical mass of students in order to have an impact on campus norms. The objectives of the program are: providing experiences for students that teach them how to think for themselves and how to give support and be caring, and reducing the risks of injuries as well as addictive problems. The interns participate in various activities designed to enhance self-esteem, competencies, community and belonging, communication and numerous skills. All students complete a contract specifying how they will be involved during the semester.
The peer educators receive extensive training prior to and throughout their internship experience. Further, they conduct office hours in a home-like, relaxed, safe setting that serves as a working model of a substance free environment. Other activities of the peer educators include facilitating small groups, presenting alcohol education programs, participating in telephone surveys, developing media campaigns and assisting with campus activities, intake interviews, focus groups, alcohol/drug assessments and outreach.
Other aspects of the HEART Program include awareness and information (at non-alcohol functions, campus activities and the campus newspaper); the mentoring program (with the first-year student experience in the supervised study program); educational programs and presentations (in freshman orientation as well as isolated programs); and fundraising.
A major aspect of the HEART Program is community service, which includes clinical hours at the Student Health Services and at the local hospital. The "PARTY-Time Hours" program assists evening and night nurses at the on-campus student health facility who in the past had been "baby-sitting" intoxicated students who were often belligerent and disrespectful. Students are trained to assist nurses in dealing with ill or injured students who have been drinking, as well as other students, often intoxicated themselves, who bring their intoxicated friends to the facility. Training includes how to deal with intoxicated students, how to determine acute alcohol intoxication and an understanding of student health service guidelines.
The curriculum offers two courses: "Drugs and Alcohol on Campus" and "Peer Counseling." The objective of "Drugs and Alcohol on Campus" is to prepare students to function effectively as members of the HEART Team. The "Peer Counseling" course is designed to provide students with knowledge and self-awareness skills. A service learning experience enhances their personal growth and development and prepares them to function effectively as peer educators. In addition to these specific courses, curriculum infusion is evident throughout the campus.
Evaluation plays a critical role with the HEART Program. The goal and objectives designed for the program serve as the foundation of the Substance Abuse Quality Assurance Plan. On an ongoing basis, the database monitors the frequency and type of services requested. A fall, spring and annual report is compiled to provide documentation regarding referrals, contact hours, student involvement, programs presented and related services. The Core Survey is used to provide information on student behaviors and background. Focus groups assist with an ongoing needs assessment of the campus population and with specific problems or situations. An annual Patient/Client Satisfaction Survey assists with overall health considerations. Student research projects and telephone surveys further assist with the evaluation activities.
The two remaining aspects of the HEART Program are support services and training. Support services include alcohol/drug assessments, the "UCONN Alternative Alcohol/Drug Rehabilitation" program for court mandated students/clients, as well as individual counseling. Family and group counseling , intervention and referral complement these activities. Mandatory education sessions ("UCONN Exposure") are educational and consists of two consecutive week one-and-one-half hour sessions. A bunjee jumping video is utilized in these sessions to challenge students to think about their decisions, encourage personal responsibility, enhance perception of risk and provide specific information about alcohol. Training is incorporated extensively for the undergraduate and graduate HEART interns. The HEART Program also conducts training with freshmen orientation leaders, the residential life staff, health services personnel, graduate students, mental health staff and the university conduct community.
The HEART Program has demonstrated significant growth over its several years of existence. Specifically, 155 undergraduate students and 50 graduate students have completed internships and 599 students have enrolled in the peer counseling classes. Over 2,000 counseling sessions have been offered and nearly 500 students have attended mandatory education sessions. Over 9,000 students have attended education programs. The quality of the working relationships with numerous campus and community offices as well as academic units and student perception and utilization of the program support its continued growth.
Options: A Resource Center for Healthy Choices
Contacts:
State University of New York at
New Paltz
Enrollment: 7,897
Public; Four Year Institution
Raymond M. Schwarz, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice-President for Student Affairs
Robin S. Cohen, M.A.
Assistant Dean
Center for Student Development
75 South Manheim Boulevard
Student Union 38
New Paltz, NY 12561-2499
(914) 257-3088
Description:
A President’s Commission on Substance Abuse was established in 1986. The commission represented groups from throughout the campus. As a result of the commission’s findings, the campus alcohol education effort was dramatically expanded to become a comprehensive research and education center. Options, a coalition model which is research-based, applies social influence and environmental change models to promote low-risk choices within the context of wellness and public health. The five strategies used are:
(1) Peer education
(2) Social marketing techniques
(3) Alcohol-free programming
(4) Advocacy projects
(5) Community service involvement
The mission of Options is three-fold: to create a campus where high-risk drinking does not occur, that is drug-free, and that promotes healthy lifestyle choices. The techniques designed to attain this mission include an ongoing assessment of individual behaviors, attitudes and perceptions; the use of a public information campaign to foster environmental change; and the incorporation of peer-based strategies. In addition, goals include the coordination of substance-free social activities and community service opportunities, as well as a continuum of services for students, faculty and staff.
The key aspect of the success of Options has been coalition building, with 200 Student Action Team volunteers serving as liaisons to 115 clubs, organizations, teams, fraternities and sororities. The coalition includes students, staff, faculty and contacts in the surrounding community.
The approach used by Options emphasizes peer involvement in conceptualizing, developing, marketing and implementing its activities. The volunteers receive training and ongoing communication through regular meetings and a volunteer bulletin. Volunteer opportunities include being a member of the Social Marketing Team and the Student Action Team. The volunteers lead programs on a variety of wellness-related topics. They also staff trivia tables upon request by residence hall staff. The most unique and innovative peer education project has been "New Positions on Sex: Moving Toward Non-Coercive Intimacy," incorporating normative beliefs regarding student attitudes about alcohol and its relationship to sexual aggression.
Central to the approach is the incorporation of process and outcome evaluation techniques. These procedures are integral for ongoing program planning. Through use of the Core Survey, a rate of alcohol use lower than that of other institutions in the Northeast has been demonstrated. Between tests an increase has been found in acknowledgement of enforcement and improvement of students not driving under the influence of alcohol. Another approach is the ongoing implementation of student focus groups and follow-up meetings after all events.
At the Options Center, an extensive resource library includes information on numerous topics that can be helpful for class presentations or research papers. Topics include alcohol, co-dependency, fetal alcohol syndrome, advertising, drinking and driving, self-help groups, sexual harassment and other health issues, as well as information about specific populations of interest such as college students, adolescents, women, and various ethnic and cultural groups.
The Options Center is linked to other administrative and service offices on the campus such as the Counseling Center, the Employee Assistance Program, the Health Center and the Dean for Student Life. In the implementing of campus events, Options works closely to co-sponsor events so that ownership remains with the constituency and participation is peer-promoted; this helps to implement a "win win" situation.
The emphasis is on creating a campus environment where individuals feel empowered to make low-risk decisions. Through the campus media and the variety of educational programs, students, staff and faculty are made aware that the majority of their peers are making healthy choices. This models the positive "can do" approach for individuals and organizations.
The coalition model used by Options is designed to demonstrate "doing more effectively – with less."
Project WE CAN
Contact:
Western Washington University
Enrollment: 10,299
Public, Four Year Institution
Patricia Fabiano, M.A., M.S. (E-mail)
Associate Director
Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services
Miller Hall 271 (MS 9091)
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA 98225-9091
(360) 650-3074
Description:
Project WE CAN is an alcohol abuse prevention program orchestrated by the university’s Primary Prevention and Wellness Services. This program was developed in 1993 to address concerns that were identified in a campus-wide survey that reported high alcohol consumption behaviors. Project WE CAN is a campus-wide initiative to raise the awareness of the entire university community regarding the negative impact of alcohol abuse on the academic and social lives of students. The program is market segmented and includes primary prevention, secondary prevention and environmental change.
The primary prevention aspect of Project WE CAN, developed to support and empower students who have already made the choice not to consume alcohol or to consume at safe, legal and no-harm levels, contains four integral strategies. First, the Social Marketing Campaign is implemented by students to combat the "imaginary peer" regarding campus alcohol consumption norms. Second, wellness residence halls support and empower students who choose not to drink. The popularity of these residence halls has grown and expanded from four floors (60 residents) to 10 floors (500 residents). Third, peer-based health opinion leaders (also known as lifestyle advisors) provide support to the benefits of low to no consumption. These individuals receive a detailed training program and a broad-based resource handbook. These peer health educators also participate in an extensive training program; a "critical mass" of 100 volunteers is developed to promote realistic campus norms and substance-free alternatives. The fourth primary prevention program is the Community-Health Service Learning program, which provides students with the opportunity to develop a lifelong commitment to healthy communities and person-to-person involvement.
The secondary prevention program works in conjunction with the residence halls, the judicial affairs office and the university police. Students who have experienced alcohol-related problems are referred for a risk reduction session with the Alcohol Abuse Prevention Specialist. Assessment instruments are used along with a "Stages of Change" risk reduction model. In a non-judgmental manner, the Stages of Change model brings students through five steps in assessing their drinking. These stages are pre-contemplation of change, contemplation of change, action, maintaining change and planning for relapse.
A significant part of the secondary prevention program is the involvement of "Partners in Health," faculty and staff members who provide assistance and referral. These individuals provide information, resources and referrals to students and their peers who may be experiencing alcohol-related problems; they receive a 36-page information resource booklet to guide them as they assist students.
A third aspect of Project WE CAN is environmental change which goes beyond preventing abuse patterns and alcohol consumption by attempting to change environmental norms. One key strategy is a community-based "Hospitality Resource Alliance." Local bar, tavern and brewery owners, as well as wholesalers and retailers, are part of this alliance. It also includes law enforcement, regulatory officials, judicial officers, educators and public health personnel. Its goal is to maintain an open dialogue with the community regarding the shared responsibility for reducing alcohol abuse in establishments surrounding the campus and to encourage the responsible use of alcohol among students of legal age who patronize these local establishments.
Other environmental approaches include working closely with the university’s Central Health and Safety Committee to prepare the biennial review of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act. Staff from Project WE CAN chair the university’s Alcohol Abuse and Drug Use Prevention sub-committee. Further collaboration occurs with the Office of Institutional Assessment and Testing to administer the biannual Survey of Campus Consumption and Consequences.
The implementation of Project WE CAN includes collaboration between the campus and the community. The project is managed by a full-time professional and is supplemented by the lifestyle advisors, student government, residence advisors and students living in the residence halls. Campus offices actively involved are the Counseling Center, the Student Health Center, the Campus Judicial Officer, the Athletic Department and the Chief Student Affairs Officer. Other significant campus resources include the university President, who provides significant support for the program, and the Faculty Senate President, who also provides visible support. Collaboration is received from the Office of Institutional Assessment and Testing, the Central Health and Safety Committee, the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Working Group and the university police. Community relationships come from a local task force, a youth task force, the public health department, public schools, the state liquor control board, local 12-step programs and the Addictive Behaviors Research Center of the University of Washington.
Evaluation of Project WE CAN is extensive. The Lifestyles Project Survey is conducted in conjunction with the Addictive Behavior Research Center at the University of Washington. The Core Survey provides additional data with national comparisons. The faculty and staff receive an Environmental Survey regarding their awareness of student consumption and consequence patterns. An assessment of alcohol consumption and consequence patterns in wellness residence halls was the subject of a master’s thesis. The lifestyle advisors receive a Peer Educator Survey to measure the formative impact of being a health opinion leader on student development. In addition, through the assistance of a graduate intern, vandalism rates are examined as a component of the project’s impact evaluation. Further, quarterly impact evaluation measures are used to document the diverse collaborative efforts. Qualitative measures of success include stories written in local newspapers, support from the upper administration as well as other critical university offices, an increase in the number of individuals who want to become lifestyle advisors and feedback from students who experienced the Stages of Change session.
Overall, Project WE CAN represents a comprehensive prevention initiative maintaining a focus on raising the health awareness of the university community. It emphasizes individual, small group and environmental strategies through market segmentation and campus and community collaboration.
Wellness Center
Contact:
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Enrollment: 23,162
Public, Four Year Institution
Barbara Grace Fijolek, M.S.
Coordinator
Wellness Center #6802
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 453-4424
Description:
The Wellness Center coordinates a wide range of activities on drugs and alcohol and related health promotion programs. With a staff of six full-time professionals and six half-time graduate assistants, numerous programs and initiatives are offered.
Several awareness and information activities are highly regarded. A weekly column, "To Your Health," is printed in the student newspaper at no cost. The campus newspaper also has a policy to not accept advertisements that glamorize alcohol. The newspaper also offers a discount to alcohol advertisers that print a "low-risk" message in their ad (such as "Don’t Drink and Drive"). Substance abuse awareness ads are printed in the newspaper’s open filler space.
Social marketing campaigns include a "Don’t Drink and Drive" media campaign for spring break, a Holiday Safety Pledge program and a Holiday Safety Challenge, with local bars competing to win points for safe-serving procedures. Another initiative is the "Positive Lifestyle Award," a $100 cash award to a student who writes a winning essay on his/her own positive lifestyle. The winning essay is printed in the campus newspaper.
Through a variety of campus and community efforts, a long-running traditional event (Springfest), which has had extensive alcohol abuse in the past, was replaced with a week-long series of music and entertainment. Another collaborative effort with local bars involved raising the bar entry age to 21. Students arrested for underage drinking are referred to the Wellness Center by the judge and the city attorney for educational intervention.
Support services include individual screenings and short-term counseling and referral for students who are sent to the Wellness Center by on-campus and off-campus systems for alcohol/drug services. Self-referrals constitute much of the population served. Athletes are another targeted group. The student Athlete Assistance program is a special program prepared for training coaches to make appropriate referrals of athletes.
Curriculum offerings are extensive. An introductory class is required for all new athletes and is offered by the Wellness Center. The Wellness Center trains the instructors of the general University Lifeskills course and assists faculty in incorporating alcohol information into courses. The Wellness Center staff offers speakers, workshops, and materials on numerous alcohol topics: drinking and driving, fetal alcohol syndrome, women and alcohol, alcohol and sexual connections, drugs in the workplace, media influences on drinking, how to help someone with a drinking problem, hosting healthy parties, drinking decisions and the college student, and acute alcohol intoxication. A comprehensive training program for faculty and staff called RSVP (Retention of Students Via Prevention) is provided. All employees receive a special RSVP training booklet titled, "How to Deal with Students with Personal and Substance Abuse Issues."
Peer approaches include wellness fairs, displays, theater groups, comedy nights, juice bars, residence hall presentations, focus groups, BACCHUS chapter drop-in centers, dances and other activities. Offices of the Wellness Center include a main office and three outreach offices (one in the residence halls, one in the Recreation Center and one in the Student Center). Each of these areas distributes pamphlets, literature and promotional items. The campus has a policy requiring Greek organizations to complete a party approval form. Sponsoring units where alcohol may be present (even when not directly supplied by the sponsor) are responsible for clean-up, alcohol-free alternatives and security.
Evaluation and assessment include regular survey of the students. A faculty and staff environmental survey is also conducted. Results show recent drops in student alcohol consumption and a reduction in negative consequences from alcohol use and an increase in referrals for educational services.
Additional Comprehensive Programs
Berkshire Community College
Christine DeGregorio (E-mail)
LEAD Coordinator
1350 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-4660 ext.268
Description:
The LEAD Program provides a host of activities for the campus and the community. The underlying themes of positive reinforcement and peer leadership emphasize civic and individual values, responsibilities, and public health issues. The education, prevention and intervention program relies upon strong student, peer, faculty and staff participation. Building upon a critical mass for change and led by an advisory committee, the LEAD Program offers numerous alcohol education prevention materials, support groups, self-tests and media campaigns, all of which are within the instructional and behavioral objectives of the project.
Canisius College
Kathryn E. Philliben, M.S. (New Contact: Jennifer Kaminski) (E-mail)
Interim Dean of Students
Director of Residence Life
2001 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14208
(716) 888-2220
Description:
The comprehensive approach designed to address the problem of student alcohol abuse on campus is best characterized as being environmental and targeted. Five initiatives specific to the student population deal with many of the challenges associated with the college’s location. Enforcement of state laws and college regulations include a double proofing-bracelet system for college based events where alcohol is distributed. The response to violations incorporates an educational philosophy, with sanctions linked as closely as possible to the offense. The PARTY Program (Promoting Awareness and Responsibility Through You) conducts a discussion with incoming students and parents. Training for those who serve alcohol is done through a workshop required for all campus sponsored events involving alcohol. OCTAA (On Campus Talking About Alcohol) is offered to interested students and campus leaders.
Central Connecticut State University
Karen Engwall, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Prevention Specialist
Office of Prevention and Counseling
132 Willard Hall
New Britain, CT 06050
(860) 832-1947
Description:
The campus efforts emphasize prevention initiatives. The "Boiling Pot" metaphor is used with the intention of creating many small outreach efforts supplementing the major ones, in order to reach a "Boiling Point" of common awareness on the effects of alcohol abuse. The campus uses Natural Helpers (a peer nominated group), Peer Educators who present short informational sessions, and a Student Assistance Plan with faculty and staff trained in listening and referral skills.
Additional Comprehensive Programs
Cuyahoga Community College
Sharon L. Bell, M.P.A.
Program Coordinator
4250 Richmond Road
Highland Hills, OH 44122
(216) 987-2059
Description:
The Alcohol-Drug Awareness Team
(ADAPT) Program is a pro-active, comprehensive primary and tertiary program for students and staff. The program’s focus includes awareness, education, faculty and staff training, curriculum infusion, student intervention and referral, and healthy alternatives. Working with three distinct campuses and transient, urban and older students, the program goals include policy design and implementation, heightened awareness, healthy alternatives and institutionalization of the program. ADAPT’s mission is to bring together individuals, groups, and organizations concerned with promoting healthy, responsible lifestyles while reducing the prevalence of substance abuse, both within the college and in the neighboring community.
Mount Holyoke College
Karen Jacobus, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Coordinator of Health Education
P.O. Box 3202
South Hadley, MA 01075
(413) 538-2466
Description:
The Alcohol and Drug Awareness project is designed to develop innovative strategies and programs to reduce high-risk behaviors associated with drug and alcohol use. The comprehensive approach includes policy development, program planning, prevention education and training, intervention and counseling. The project is a catalyst for increased community collaboration in understanding and addressing drug and alcohol concerns. As a whole the campus culture is addressed through a systematic education approach; students at risk for developing problems receive specialized services. The project’s "five C’s" serve as its foundation: commitment, clarity, consistency, coordination and collaboration. Included in the project’s implementation are an Alumnae Network, a Non-User Media Pilot Project which targets first-year students, training, peer education, and assessment and evaluation.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Ruth Stoddard, M.S.
Assistant Director of
Residence Life
501 East St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-2349
Description:
This program emphasizes educational approaches to alcohol use, by encouraging positive choices and empowering the non-drinkers. Several programs with different sub-groups of students have been implemented over the past few years. Activities include alcohol awareness week, survey of the resident assistants, risk management training with fraternity and sorority members, a SADD chapter, policy changes, training, in-services for residence-hall staff and a wellness floor.
Additional Comprehensive Programs
Temple University
Robert Schiraldi, Ed.D.
DARE Coordinator
University Counseling Services
Sullivan Hall Lower Level
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-7276
Description:
The DARE program is a comprehensive service which offers drug and alcohol related counseling and referral for the four campuses. Staffed with a coordinator, assistant coordinator, graduate assistant, and peer counselors, programs are offered throughout the year in conjunction with other university offices. Ongoing support groups are offered, with referral to university and outside agencies as needed. A task force reviews ongoing evaluations and provides recommendations for the campus efforts. Additional specific activities include media campaigns, public information efforts, curriculum infusion, coordinated enforcement and special programming for high-risk groups.
The College of Saint Rose
John R. Ellis, M.Ed.
Director
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Services
432 Western Avenue
Albany, New York 12203
(518) 454-5166
Description:
This multi-faceted prevention program incorporates media advocacy, curriculum infusion, peer education, environmental change and extensive collaboration between students, faculty and the administration. The Campus Climate Council, which meets monthly, provides leadership regarding the overall campus environment. Programs, activities, and on-going assessments are provided. Activities are designed for all college constituencies, ranging from new student orientation, administrative meetings, student leadership development, meetings of the Board of Trustees and the Horray Players.
University of Georgia
Carole Middlebrooks, M.S. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Alcohol and Other Drug Education
248 Gilbert Mental Health Center
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-8690
Description:
This campus initiative addresses the transitional nature of the student population and the unique nature of the surrounding environment. Emphasized are lowering both the problems associated with drinking and lowering the acceptance of the second hand effects of high-risk drinking. The campus initiative includes training and presentations, classroom discussions, workshops for students, service education for staff and supervisors, community presentations and orientation activities. Student organizations include BACCHUS, GAMMA, ASAP Peer Educators, and Peer Helpers - Help Net. Attention to policy development, a campus-wide advisory committee, a resource center, intervention services and referrals, evaluation, and special campus events are an intregal part of the campus effort.
Additional Comprehensive Programs
University of Louisville
Kathy Davis
Coordinator
Health and Alcohol Education Counseling Center
2207 S. Brook Street
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
(502) 852-6479
Description:
The comprehensive program involves many campus offices and academic departments. The services include numerous policies and guidelines within the overall umbrella policy for the university, such as the impaired student policy, professional code of conduct, faculty and staff policies, guidelines for student organizations, and athletic event policies. Educational programs provide information dissemination and training. Academic courses emphasize peer health education, a student athlete course and curriculum infusion. Services include numerous support groups and the use of assessment tools. Enforcement by the Department of Public Safety is thorough and followed-up by the Alcohol Peer Court. The campus offers a wellness residence hall and a lending library of resources.
University of Maryland College Park
Karla Shepherd, M.Ed. (New Contact: Jody Gan) (E-mail)
Coordinator, Programs and Orientation
2101 Annapolis Hall
College Park, MD 20742
(301) 314-7608
Description:
Under the guidance of the CARING Coalition, an umbrella organization of campus departments, students, and organizations, leadership is provided to strengthen alcohol prevention activities on campus. Activities include a social marketing campaign to correct students’ misperceptions regarding their peers’ drinking behavior and on-campus alcohol free activities are offered. The Substance Abuse Intervention Program is implemented for students charged with an alcohol violation of campus policy or state law. Other major initiatives at the university are the CHOICES Peer Educational Program, which presents programs to classes, residence halls and student organizations; the S.T.A.R.S. project focusing on student athletes; and a state-certified out-patient treatment and rehabilitation program.
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey - Newark Campus
Ernesto A. Amaranto, M.D. (E-mail)
Director
Center for Student Mental Health Services
Bergen Street, ADMC 1512
Newark, NJ 07107-3000
(201) 982-3663
Description:
Project PEARL (Professional Education Addressing Responsible Lifestyles) is a comprehensive primary prevention program for drug and alcohol abuse. Its emphasis is on creating a structure that supports healthier lifestyles for students and staff. The pro-active prevention program complements the existing campus-wide secondary treatment and tertiary rehabilitation programs. Three areas of interest serve as the basis for Project PEARL. The pro-active prevention programs center on a wellness concept that emphasizes responsible and healthy lifestyles; these are student generated and aimed at a critical mass of the campus population. The education portion includes a strong curriculum addressing the problem of drug and alcohol abuse. Third, the university meets the requirements and spirit of federal regulations. Specific activities include the wellness program, the UnBar activities and the Student Assistance Campus Committee. Alcohol-free beverages and an increasing number of social activities are conducted as alternatives.
Additional Comprehensive Programs
University of Missouri-Columbia
Kim Dude, M.Ed.
Assistant Director
Student Life/Wellness Resource Center and ADAPT
205 Brady Commons
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-4634
Description:
The ADAPT program includes a broad range of campus-based efforts. Peer educators receive extensive training to prepare them to present prevention programs. The campus effort is designed to involve students in the creation, planning and implementation of campus efforts as well as to increase the critical mass of students reached through these efforts. The alcohol awareness month, supported by an incentive system, includes peer theater, panel discussions, open houses, displays, information panels, information tables, and speakers. A weekly television show (Inside the ‘Zou) and the "Don’t Cancel That Class Service" are highly publicized and well received aspects of this campus effort. Although a number of different research projects are conducted each year, the peer educators most frequently use the "program evaluation questionnaire," which is administered after many of the programs and events.
University of Pennsylvania
Kate Ward-Gaus, M.S.Ed.
Health Educator
Student Health Services\HUP
Box 745
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
(215) 573-3525
Description:
The alcohol abuse reduction efforts emphasize collaboration and coordination. Building on the results of a campus-wide task force, campus efforts include policy development, program design, and review of new data. The comprehensive approach is both constant and ever-evolving; the efforts are reviewed and qualitatively evaluated for effectiveness. With the goal of reducing alcohol abuse, the campus efforts incorporate initiatives by numerous campus offices; these include academic support services, alumni relations, athletics, counseling services, health education, fraternity and sorority affairs, health services, the dispute resolution center, public safety, the parents program, residential living, and the women’s center.
Walla Walla Community College
Christina Connerly
Program Coordinator
500 Tausick Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 527-4686
Description:
The Student Wellness Education and Action Team (S.W.E.A.T.) promotes awareness, prevention, education and community service regarding drug and alcohol abuse. Using the results of the student interest survey and other evaluation processes, the campus efforts include policy review incorporating student, faculty and staff input, attention to the creation of a new campus environment, numerous campus-wide awareness activities (such as awareness weeks, student convocation, window displays, presentations for target populations, leadership training, and a new student information day). Other sponsored activities include open gym nights, the raw-hide saloon (for rodeo athletes), a tail-gate potluck party, a "stress-free" zone, curriculum infusion initiatives, and wellness conferences.
Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
Contact:
The University of Alabama
Enrollment: 19,046
Public, Four Year Institution
Charles L. Brown, Ph.D. (E-mail)
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Box 870116
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0116
(205) 348-6681
Description:
Through its Alcohol and Violence Prevention Task Force, the university aims to create a safe social, cultural, and learning environment. The program combines university personnel and services from the university community. The Task Force solicits feedback and reviews the effectiveness of various prevention programs.
The Task Force strategy builds on the belief that prevention messages are more effectively conveyed student to student through non-traditional approaches. With leadership provided by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Task Force promotes alcohol-free social options and a campus environment where destructive abuse is considered undesirable.
Peer education programs generate student involvement. Through the Women’s Center, two groups of peer educators speak to student organizations on alcohol abuse and associated sexual violence. The Gentlemen’s Agreement is a group of 12 male graduates and undergraduates who speak to fraternities and other student organizations on the legal and interpersonal issues concerning alcohol and violence. The Female Focus, a similar group of 12 female students, speaks to sororities and women in residence halls on these issues. "Wasted Times," a group from Educational Theater, addresses the social and sexual issues related to alcohol abuse in a non-traditional format.
Peer education is further enhanced by E.C.H.O.S. (Education Concerning Healthy Options for Students), which presents to student organizations, sororities, and fraternities. In addition to presentations, the peer educators sponsor information tables, bulletin boards, and printed materials. The E.C.H.O.S. host an Alcohol Awareness Week Safe Spring Break campaign and sponsor information tables, bulletin boards, and printed materials.
A resource library available to all faculty, staff, and students is located at the Women’s Center, where books, videotapes, and brochures designed to educate, prevent, and refer are available. The Housing Office also maintains a resource room. Health Promotion provides Health Care Packs for all residence assistants to do passive programming campaigns in their area. Focused training is provided for the social chairs of Greek organizations; topics include risk management, party management techniques, warning signs of excessive drinking, and liability issues emerging from state statutes. The Office of University Housing trains the student staff to detect abusive and addictive behavior, and in strategies for referrals.
Substance-free living environments are available for students who sign a PACE (Pledge Aimed at Community Enhancement). Through a survey conducted by the university, 53 percent of residence students indicated their desire to participate in such a program.
To promote alcohol-free activities on campus, a weekly Gallery Coffee House is offered with live music, coffee, and food. The Ballroom Series offers students and community residents an alcohol-free environment in which to enjoy local bands.
The Women’s Center offers mini-grants of $200 to student organizations for the most creative alcohol-free programs, events, or activities. The Women’s Center also produces "Our Voice," a newsletter that focuses on alcohol abuse and its relationship to violence against women.
Audience participants rate events very positively, confirming the effectiveness of non-traditional prevention methods. The coffee house averages 35 people each night, and events funded by the mini-grants reach a total of 1,500 students. Students’ use of alcohol, consequences of substance use, and campus attention to these issues are monitored through the Core Survey.
Alcohol and Drug Education Center
Contact:
Texas Christian University
Enrollment: 7,050
Private, Four Year Institution
Angela Taylor, M.S.
Director
Texas Christian University
Box 297740
Fort Worth, TX 76129
(817) 921-7100
Description:
The Alcohol and Drug Education (ADE) Center provides programs, training, counseling, and alternative activities to promote healthy lifestyles and responsible decisions. Students are encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility for self, for others, and for their community by taking a lead in setting behavioral norms for their campus community.
Staff members at the ADE Center include specialists in substance abuse programming and training, as well as licensed counselors, who work closely with academic departments. At the beginning of each academic year, a two-page article on ways of including drug and alcohol information in class material is incorporated in the "Teaching Effectiveness Bulletin." An example of the center’s regular involvement with academic departments is a journalism class that designs a 3-D media campaign as their final project. Each student in the class must design a drunk and drugged driving campaign.
The campus’ Critical Incident Task Force reviews alcohol and drug policies annually. Students are informed of the campus policies by residence hall staff and new student orientation staff and through the student handbook. Students who violate policies a first time pay a fine of $75 or perform community service. They also receive a confidential substance abuse screening assessment and attend an education group. Second-time violators pay a fine of $150, receive a substance abuse screening assessment, attend an extended education group, perform 20 hours of community service, and have a letter sent to their parents.
The student leadership in the campus-wide effort is provided through the University’s BACCHUS Chapter, Students Reaching Out (SRO), which incorporates four distinct groups. The Campus Mentors receive advanced training for personal one-to-one helping relationships. Peer Educators receive national certification once they are trained for interactive prevention programs. Hyperfrogs support the university’s athletic teams. R.O.A.D. (Responsibility of Adult Decisions) workers offer free mocktail service to student organization functions. In conjunction with R.O.A.D., SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) conducts a campus-wide safe ride campaign. SRO also has responsibility for coordinating several activities each semester; among these are Safe Break, National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, Red Ribbon Week, Safe Halloween, and Safe Summer.
Training seminars and organization-specific manuals work with targeted populations, such as residence hall staff and academic department and athletic department personnel. The seminars focus on the effects and consequences of alcohol abuse to train attendees in making appropriate recommendations and referrals. Faculty Campus Mentors receive prevention materials specific to their academic discipline. In addition, training is offered to parents of incoming freshmen. TIPS training is provided to those most likely to serve alcohol, especially fraternity and sorority social chairs and local bars.
Outreach ADE members and student athletes work with the Community Association of Youth Against Drugs and the university’s Upward Bound Program in the local school district. These coalitions allow participants to serve as role models and to present prevention programs.
To provide media coverage, the campus newspaper carries prevention ads every two weeks. The radio station airs public service announcements, including those prepared by Recording Artists Against Drunk Driving (RAADD).
Evaluation includes the administration of the Core Survey every two years, student evaluations of the education groups, and a statistical compilation of the alcohol violation data base. Results gained from these strategies assist in program planning.
Alcohol and Other Drug Education Program
Contact:
Valdosta State University
Enrollment: 9,585
Public, Four Year Institution
Randy Haveson, M.A.
Coordinator of Alcohol and Other Drug Education
Counseling Center
Valdosta State University
Powell Hall - East
Valdosta, GA 31698-0166
(912) 259-5111
Description:
The Office of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Education is the nucleus of a campus-wide effort to provide services and programs for students, faculty, and staff on substance abuse issues. This comprehensive program integrates educational strategies and treatment resources for all aspects of the campus community. Assisting the program coordinator is the campus Task Force on Alcohol and Other Drugs that consists of students, faculty, and administrators from a variety of campus offices and organizations.
Students guide many of the campus-wide efforts through Natural Highs, affiliated with the national BACCHUS organization. Natural Highs organizes major campus events, such as Alcohol Awareness Week and Safe Spring Break Party, and provides activities and programs for students on the weekends. During finals week each academic term, Natural Highs sponsors "Scoops & Scribbles," at which time ice-cream sundaes and finger paints are provided for students. Another student initiative is the KARMA (Knowledge, Awareness, Respect, Maturity, Achievement) Peer Education Program. Students recruited through orientation programs, introductory classes, and the campus e-mail system attend a two-hour training and a one-hour small group discussion weekly. Following training, students give presentations to classes, residence halls, Greek organizations, and local high school students on the topics of alcohol, drugs, how to help a friend with a substance abuse problem, sexual assault, eating disorders, and HIV/AIDS. The peers are also involved in community efforts, working with the local Red Ribbon Week committee, working with at-risk youth in the middle and high schools, and creating and performing puppet shows for local elementary school children.
A significant "teachable moment" comes after a student is cited for violation of the campus drug and alcohol policy. A number of educational opportunities are provided for the violators of the policy. Depending on the severity of the violation and the cooperation level of the student, the violator may receive a comprehensive chemical dependency assessment, attend OCTAA, or go on a "scavenger hunt" through the "Uppers, Downers, All Arounders" CD-ROM in which students are given a list of questions they must answer by searching through the CD.
Curriculum infusion efforts are made by encouraging faculty to include material from the AOD office in their course work. Faculty are made aware that the Coordinator of the AOD Education program and the Peer Educators are available to give presentations in their classroom. Presentations are also made at new faculty orientation and departmental meetings.
Another important service provided by the Office of AOD Education is the confidential assessment and short-term early recovery program. Students may receive short-term counseling in the AOD Office or through the campus Counseling Center. Referrals may also be made to community agencies.
The effectiveness of the campus effort is evaluated through use of the Core Survey. Other evaluative measures include the level of student participation at events and programs, evaluations given after class presentations, the number of students attending confidential assessments, and the number repeat offenders of the campus drug and alcohol policy.
Alcohol and Other Drug Program
Contact:
La Salle University
Enrollment: 5,590
Private, Four Year Institution
Robert J. Chapman, Ph.D. (E-mail)
Alcohol/Other Drug Program Coordinator
Counseling Center
1900 West Olney Avenue
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA 19141-1199
(215) 951-1355
Description:
The comprehensive Alcohol and Other Drug Program is staffed by a full-time Addictions Counselor and a part-time graduate assistant. The program provides individual assessments and referrals, short-term counseling, program development, and community education.
A central portion of the campus-wide effort is community education. Implemented by trained peers, this program is coordinated by a graduate student Resident Educator who supervises the training and activities of approximately 12 peer educators. The community education program provides opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to obtain information from different experiential activities. One activity is "non-alcohol beer tasting" in which non-alcoholic beers are sampled at the university’s alcohol-free nightclub. In another activity, a breath analyzer is set up at the entrance to a resident hall on a university "party night." Students have the opportunity to test their blood alcohol level, review their feelings and make a conjecture regarding their level of intoxication.
The "Dear John" campaign uses "refrigerator magnets" bearing AOD information and campus phone numbers. These are posted in every bathroom stall in the residence hall.
Role play stages situations involving drinking (e.g., one roommate confronting another about his/her drinking). At a crucial point, the action is frozen and the facilitator prompts the audience to question the role players as to how they feel about being confronted or confronting.
Other services of the community education program include a newsletter, topical workshops in the residence halls, and a resource center. Alcohol-related programming is also provided in Alcohol Awareness Month, which developed from the long-sponsored Alcohol Awareness Week.
The Resource Center incorporates drug and alcohol computer networks, bulletin boards, and databases that facilitate personal assessment. Students are encouraged to seek consultation to discuss information gained from the assessment process. The Resource Center also includes brochures and other printed material. An AOD related web page has also been established on campus.
An alternative program allows students to participate in an alcohol awareness seminar when they violate the university’s alcohol policy. Conducted by the University Peers, this program informs participants about alcohol and its impact upon the consumer.
The university’s clinical program incorporates three elements. Individual counseling services are available upon referral or request. "Pre-treatment" counseling is available for individuals who may be at risk of developing a problem with alcohol or other drugs. Group counseling is available to the university community at large.
AOD programs on alcohol have been developed for courses in human genetics, personnel management, economics, literature, global history, and others.
Evaluation includes formal survey tools and interview techniques to assess student perceptions of the AOD Program and its activities. In addition, a small scale qualitative review of faculty satisfaction of the program suggests that it is visible, valuable, and effective in its efforts to provide accurate information for decision-making regarding drugs and alcohol.
Alcohol and Other Drug Resource Center
Contact:
Bentley College
Enrollment: 6,401
Private, Four Year Institution
Eydie Liebman, M.S.W. (E-mail)
Student Life Coordinator for
Substance Abuse Prevention
Bentley College
Office of Student Affairs
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02154
(617) 891-2161
Description:
The implementation of the drug and alcohol program involves many offices—including Residence Life, Counseling and Student Development, Student Health Services, Campus Police, Athletics, and Student Affairs. The Alcohol and Other Drug Resource Center was created to house materials and training efforts. This Resource Center is centrally located on the campus, making it accessible to all members of the college community.
The goal of the program is an environment that is healthy, safe, and conducive to academic achievement. The staff believes it must create a culture to promote this environment, and faculty and staff believe they can be effective in promoting this healthy lifestyle only if they are kept informed of health and wellness issues. The Alcohol and Other Drug Resource Center serves as a venue for collecting and distributing this information.
Ultimately, the aim is to increase the students’ knowledge about alcohol and drugs and give them accurate, consistent information to use in making informed decisions. The goal also includes strengthening students’ decision-making and communications skills that they can apply in high-risk situations. Further, the Resource Center staff attempts to increase the number of students who attend drug and alcohol education programs, attend training sessions, are involved in alcohol-free events, and are engaged in the planning of theme weeks. The Resource Center funds and implements the Falcon Challenge, a program that gives students incentives to plan and attend substance-free events on campus.
Programs on risk management, social host liability, alcohol first aid, interventions, and related issues are conducted for residence hall groups, at orientation programs, with athletic teams, and with Greek letter organizations. Training is provided throughout the year for all Residence Life staff, prior members of the campus judicial boards, and other campus leaders. Peer educators, Students Promoting Responsible Issues To Everyone (S.P.R.I.T.E.), help organize campus programs such as the Health and Wellness Fair and the Sexual Assault Awareness Day. Interactive computer programs and Internet access are widely available in the Resource Center, as are books, journals, and videotapes. Brochures are supplied on a variety of topics—including basic facts about alcohol, alcohol first aid, date rape, interventions, and campus and off-campus resources. Students are encouraged to help create brochures on topics not represented.
Judicial sanctions implemented by the center include: a "minor" alcohol violation program that reviews college policy and basic alcohol facts; a "serious" alcohol violation program that reviews high-risk and low-risk choices, the risks of getting drunk, decision-making skills; and a "host-liability" program that reviews the college policy and provides information on how to host a safe "legal" party. The "A Step Ahead" Program is an eight-week program for students who are returners to the judicial system. For infractions of college policy, students can be assessed community service hours in addition to attendance at education programs.
Alcohol Awareness Program
Contacts:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Enrollment: 21,349
Public, Four Year Institution
Maureen Earley, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Assistant Director of Health Promotion
Vicki Mistr, Ph.D.
Coordinator
Substance Abuse Programs
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 842032
Richmond, VA 23284-2032
(804) 828-9355/2086
Description:
The goals of the university’s alcohol awareness program are to raise faculty, staff, and student awareness of alcohol issues, to deliver educational and support programs on alcohol, and to provide alternative activities to foster a social environment that does not emphasize alcohol. Over the past 10 years, the campus Office of Health Promotion has expanded to meet the education needs of the campus community. The strategies include a careful assessment to establish goals and objectives and evaluation to guide future efforts.
Trained health professionals, peer educators, and faculty members provide education to raise awareness, allocate resources, and empower the community to address alcohol issues.
Alcohol Awareness Weeks is a concentrated multi-media three-week event held prior to spring break. The occasion provides instruction on OCTAA (On-Campus Talking About Alcohol), Let’s Be Frank Day, a Safe Spring Break party, daily displays with alcohol facts, regular education programs, resource tables, and SIT-TV (Stay in Touch — television information on screens in the student commons). The Stall Street Journal is a one-page newsletter posted on a regular basis in residence hall bathroom stalls.
Daily displays educate students about the dangers of alcohol abuse and reinforce students whose approach to alcohol use is not abusive.
In addition to the OCTAA instruction, TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures by servers in training) educates Residence Life staff about serving alcohol. "Fishing for a Guest Lecture?" offers classroom lectures by health promotion staff and peer educators on alcohol and related health and wellness issues. A brochure is distributed that advertises the guest lecture program, as are special editions of the health promotion newsletter "Health Update" that contains alcohol facts, suggestions on incorporating alcohol education into the courses, and information about the science of alcohol abuse. Faculty members receive a brochure entitled "Alcohol Education . . . What Can You Do? Make An Assignment." New Student Orientation presents several student programs about alcohol abuse (e.g., parents can see "Smoothing the Waters," a presentation about alcohol use confronting students as they move into the college community). The student group "Men Against Rape" participates in rape prevention education and annually sponsors a White Ribbon Campaign to raise awareness about sexual assault.
The BEER (Believing Everyone can Enjoy Reality) Peers are a component of the university’s campus alcohol strategies. This diverse group of 15 students receives leadership training in communication, presentation skills, OCTAA, and related alcohol issues. The BEER Peers, in teams of two to four, annually present approximately 40 programs to students and community groups.
The campus alcohol policies are widely distributed throughout the campus community, and the university’s cooperative agreement with the city police refers students who are arrested on alcohol charges to the university’s OCTAA training. Faculty and staff on the campus hearing board receive specialized training about the effects of alcohol to help them in their adjudication of a sexual assault allegation.
The College Health Risk Behavior Survey and the Commuter Student Survey contribute to campus assessment and the evaluation program. Results guide programming about risk behavior of college students and help identify the best ways to reach the commuter student.
Alcohol/Other Drug and Violence Prevention Program
Contact:
Middlesex Community College
Enrollment: 6,021
Public, Two Year Institution
Judith Ramirez, R.N., M.S.W. (E-mail)
Project Director
Middlesex Community College
33 Kearney Square
Lowell, MA 01852-1987
(978) 656-3237
Description:
With a student population of commuters divided between a suburban campus and an urban campus, the college’s comprehensive program targets a wide range of men and women. The overall goal of the program is to influence student attitudes so that there is a behavioral change in situations related to students’ life experiences, both on and off the campus. Specific objectives include providing students with alternative socializing models, changing students’ perceptions about alcohol use, and reducing violence among students through the introduction of conflict resolution and peer mediation models.
Leadership is provided by the Program Director who is assisted by student peer volunteers from the Law Center, faculty, and a 10-member Advisory Board. Serving on the Advisory Board are two students from each campus, a faculty member, community representatives, and three administrators.
The Advisory Board’s role is to participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of each of the campus program initiatives.
A primary thrust of the campus program is the involvement with student peer educators. The "Matter of Fact" Improvisational Theater Troupe performs alcohol-abuse-related vignettes for student audiences at both campuses four times each year; and the program is presented to the community’s high school students. Following each performance, the actors remain in character while the narrator circulates through the audience and encourages discussion in a non-threatening atmosphere.
Students also receive training in mediation and conflict resolution. Mediation Centers on each campus are staffed by students, faculty, and staff, each of whom volunteers to provide 32 hours of service.
Presentations on alcohol abuse and alcohol awareness are made on the campuses, primarily in the cafeteria where there is the greatest student traffic. These sessions are led by students who have had personal experience with alcohol abuse and by community leaders who are working in the field of drug and alcohol abuse issues. Information sessions also demonstrate the effectiveness of peer mediation and conflict resolution. In addition to the prevention and education activities, 26 support groups meet weekly on one of the campuses. These support groups are attended by students and community members, and include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Court-Mandated Batterers Group.
Several curriculum-related components are part of the campus-wide initiatives. One course on alcoholism is offered in the Social Sciences Program, and another course offered in the Business Administration Program covers the laws applicable to hotel, motel, and restaurant operations. Other curriculum-related projects include the development of a one-credit course in conflict resolution techniques, a student-led mediation workshop, and information sessions and panel presentations.
Marketing of the campus effort is conducted through letters, posters, flyers, e-mail, voice mail, classroom announcements, and advertising in the campus newspaper. Advertising also occurs in local newspapers and on cable TV through the services of the college’s Publicity Department. An evaluation is conducted through the use of the Core Drug and Alcohol Survey and a Student Needs Assessment.
Alcohol Task Force
Contact:
College of William and Mary
Enrollment: 7,709
Public, Four Year Institution
Mary Crozier, Ed. S. (E-mail)
Substance Abuse Educator
College of William and Mary
Campus Center, Room 153
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
(757) 221-3631
Description:
College personnel believe that substance abuse prevention efforts are the shared responsibility of the entire community. The Alcohol Task Force strives to create a "safety net of educated persons which includes students, faculty and administrators." The campus-wide Alcohol Task Force oversees drug and alcohol prevention programming for the university. Specific goals are eliminating underage drinking, reducing abuse of alcohol among those who choose to drink and for whom it is legal, reduction of negative consequences, and support for those who choose not to drink. These goals are accomplished through programming that systematically targets and tailors programs for groups on campus.
The alcohol policy, a single policy for faculty and students revised annually, is distributed in the student handbook, the college catalog, and in a separate pamphlet. Enforcement of the alcohol policy is based on "self determination," which holds students responsible for infractions in the residence hall and upholding the honor code.
Multiple approaches are used in the awareness and information activities. SoberFest is the Alcohol Awareness Week, the centerpiece of which is the Progressive Party, sponsored by various student groups. Outreach education is offered to different groups, including the Greek Life Council, pledge groups, athletic teams, and residence halls. Passive programming includes posted literature, give-away materials, and referral numbers. Annual awareness campaigns include Safe Spring Break and AIDS Awareness activities. The F.I.S.H. (Free Information on Student Health) Bowl is a student-run resource center. Containing books, videos, posters, pamphlets, and journals, the F.I.S.H. Bowl is staffed by 30 trained student volunteers who answer questions, make referrals, assist with academic research, and check out materials.
In addition to the F.I.S.H. Bowl volunteers, peer health educators are trained and certified in the BACCHUS model; they participate in awareness campaigns and deliver programs throughout the academic year.
Strategies designed to affect the campus environment include the Meridian Coffee House and the University Center’s Activities Board (U.C.A.B.). The U.C.A.B. promotes 50 entertainment events each semester, including films, bands, coffee houses, novelty activities, dances, lectures, and cultural programming.
Assessment evaluation initiatives have been undertaken since 1989, and since 1993 the Alcohol Task Force has developed and implemented a faculty survey. These surveys help the committee to understand patterns of use, guide programming, identify strengths, and evaluate effectiveness impact. Other signs of effectiveness include the receipt of awards and letters of recognition, as well as evaluations of specific events and increases in student participation in alcohol education and prevention efforts.
Center for the Study of Addiction
Contact:
Texas Tech University
Enrollment: 24,185
Public, Four Year Institution
Debbie Frapp (New Contact: Kathy Mooney) (E-mail)
Assistant Director
Texas Tech University
P.O. Box 41162
Lubbock, TX 79409-1162
(806) 742-2891
Description:
Initiated in 1986, the Center for the Study of Addiction implements strategies to create a "recovering community" environment on the Texas Tech University campus. Designed to help students make the transition from "recovering addict" to "productive, responsible citizen," the center provides support for over 200 recovering students to study together, play together, work together, and live together.
In helping the recovering community, the center has had an effect on the entire student body. During its years of operation, there has been less than a 5 percent relapse rate among recovering students associated with the center, compared to the suspension of more than 50 percent of the recovering students enrolled at the university prior to the center’s existence. Further documentation of success shows an average 3.37 cumulative grade-point average for currently enrolled recovering students, compared to 2.68 for all university undergraduates.
The comprehensive program implemented by the center focuses on the creation of a "Community of Recovering Students." One segment is the Addiction and Substance Abuse Specialist (A.S.A.S.) organization, a registered student organization with over 200 members. Comprising recovering students, students who want to become addiction counselors, and those who want to be affiliated with a group committed to substance free living, A.S.A.S. has raised over $60,000 for scholarships for recovering persons.
The center also holds support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Celebration of Recovery (a special group for all types of recovering students). Average combined weekly attendance at these meetings exceeds 400 students. Counseling for alcoholics and addicts is one aspect of the campus services. Extensive involvement with students who are children of alcoholics is also a component of the program. The center also offers a peer support process by providing tutorial assistance for recovering students. Students are expected to help each other in the basics, especially in learning how to study. Participating students receive an academic incentive scholarship of $500 per semester when they maintain a 2.5 grade-point average. When a student makes a higher grade-point average in any given semester, the scholarship is increased the following semester. To further assist in finances, the center has raised over $500,000 in endowed scholarships to help qualified students return to school.
Substance Abuse Studies (S.A.S.) is an integrated, interdisciplinary academic curriculum in addiction studies. The curriculum provides a thorough preparation for students who want to be knowledgeable about addiction and recovery and meets state educational requirements for licensing as a chemical dependency counselor. Specific courses include family dynamics, addictive relationships, treatment, health-education programming, criminology, behavior, society, and financial counseling.
The Service Plus policy at the center is conducted by having a diverse continuum of services and care. Overall, the center is highly successful. Its efforts are recognized by national agencies and organizations. An average of two students a week enter into recovery as a result of the activities of the center and the widely known support groups. The center’s services have an influence on both the recovering student and the overall student body.
Collaborative Campus Initiatives
Contact:
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Enrollment: 10,441
Public, Four Year Institution
Lynn Mucha, M.S.W.
EAP/SAP Coordinator
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
800 West Main Street
Whitewater, WI 53190
(414) 472-1490
Description:
The approach to alcohol education, prevention, and intervention is a collaborative and complementary effort involving the entire campus and members of the local community. Leadership for the program comes from numerous offices. Initiatives emerge from the Student Assistance Program (SAP), Department of Residence Life, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and the Department of Safety Studies.
SAP, housed in the University Health and Counseling Services, is the primary resource for intervention and referral. It sponsors events for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and Safe Spring Break activities. SAP’s other activities include an annual Alcohol Awareness Poster contest held in conjunction with Spring Break.
It also provides educational programs for other campus organizations and places articles and prevention advertisements in the campus newspaper throughout the year.
Integral to the campus program is peer involvement. The Whitewater Health Awareness Team (WHAT) involves trained students who perform a play that examines the connection between sexual assault and alcohol use. Students also make up the Student Health Advisory Committee, which provides feedback on the campus culture and peer norms associated with alcohol use. This committee recently conducted a series of focus groups on themes related to drinking behaviors, campus norms, and peer perceptions of substance use.
The university’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) publishes a quarterly newsletter for faculty and staff. "Constructive Stepping Stones" contains information related to student alcohol use and trends to provide faculty and staff with information on the student population.
Training is provided throughout the academic year. Residence Life staff receive training on signs and symptoms, crisis intervention, and intervention and referral methods and resources. The University Health and Counseling staff and affiliated interns participate in in-service training. Faculty and staff receive departmental training and written information. The University Health and Counseling Services also conducts a violence survey that identifies correlations between alcohol and drug use and the violence-related experiences of students.
The Department of Safety Studies offers six sections of the course "Alcohol and Other Drugs" each semester. This course reaches 265 students each year and also provides effective referral for both the SAP and the University Health and Counseling Services. The Residence Life staff conduct What About You (WAY), an alcohol education seminar for Residence Hall students who are sanctioned for alcohol policy violations.
One innovative approach to promoting alcohol-free activities that is popular on campus is the Underground Dance Club offered every Thursday night. This event, sponsored by the Campus Activities and Programs Office, provides a safe, supervised, and alcohol-free environment where students are encouraged to dance and socialize. The average attendance of nearly 600 students each week testifies to its success.
For evaluation, the Core Survey is administered to students by the SAP every two years. In addition, a centralized method of tracking drug- and alcohol-related negative consequences is being implemented to gather data for outcome measures. This system will gauge the effectiveness of prevention programs by recording changes in the frequency of negative consequences of alcohol use experienced by students.
Committee on Alcohol and Substance Awareness
Contact:
University of Washington
Enrollment: 36,585
Public, Four Year Institution
Deborah Costar, M.A. (E-mail)
Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs
University of Washington
476 Schmitz Hall, Box 355831
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543-4630
Description:
The university provides a wide array of services and programming designed to provide students with education and assistance in making good decisions and reducing the risks associated with substance use and abuse. Much of the educational programming is coordinated by the Student Affairs Committee on Alcohol and Substance Awareness (CASA), which includes students, staff, and faculty members. In addition to implementing educational programs, the committee distributes information about other substance education resources and programs on the campus.
A key aspect of the campus-wide effort is the play "Talkin’ About It", the story of a college student confronted by problems associated with substance abuse. Performances of the play are followed by discussions led by a specially trained student.
Substance Awareness Week offers a wide range of events, including a Wall of Awareness, a coffeehouse, a performance by the Residence Hall Student Theater Troupe "Reality Check," distribution of bookmarks and posters with prevention themes, a quiz entitled "What’s Your Alcohol IQ?" and a health fair. The information brochure "It’s a Never-Win Situation" outlines alcohol and other drug information and sources of assistance. Other efforts include Fall Fling, an alcohol-free activity welcoming students back to the campus; a brochure entitled Your Safety...Your Health, which includes policies and laws on alcohol and other drugs; a sexual assault brochure; and quarterly advertisements in the student newspaper.
Policy initiatives include registration agreements with fraternities and sororities, implementation of rules and regulations in the campus stadium, and the Residence Hall Patrol unit of the University Police. Fraternities and sororities are required to register parties where alcohol is to be consumed and to conduct educational programs on substance awareness for their members.
Targeted services include a Substance and Alcohol-Free Environment (SAFE) House. This living option permits students to live in a community where alcohol, illegal substances, and tobacco products are not permitted.
Freshmen Interest Groups (FIGs) help incoming freshmen enter the university’s community. Program participants are placed in "clusters" of three to five classes and take part in weekly seminars and social activities. Substance awareness programs are incorporated in these seminars. Through the Addictive Behaviors Research Center in the Department of Psychology, Project Dionysus provides educational and evaluation services. A menu of programs for fraternities and sororities is offered, including "When Drinking is Risky Business," "Here’s Looking at You," "Sex, Lies and Alcohol," "Alcohol: The Magic Elixir," "Alcohol: What’s the Problem?" and "Playing the Game: A Date Rape Video." Academic courses addressing alcohol issues are offered in the Department of Psychology, as well as in the School of Nursing, the School of Pharmacy, and other academic units.
Evaluation of institution-wide efforts includes records kept of the number of participants in substance awareness programs and activities, oral and written comments on the offerings solicited from program participants, and a biennial University Life and Substance Use Survey providing comparisons of students’ reported behaviors and ratings of committee programs. A review of the results provides the committee with on-going information about future directions.
Community Approach to Alcohol and Other Drugs
Contact:
The University of Michigan
Enrollment: 36,687
Public, Four Year Institution
Mary Louise Antieau (E-mail)
Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs
The University of Michigan
6015 Fleming Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340
(313) 936-6308
Description:
Various units on campus establish their own substance policies, which are reviewed by the university Policy Council. Awareness strategies are widespread. The first is initiated during new student orientation and emphasizes the norms and policies of the campus, as well as state laws. Informative measures include distribution of large posters, placement of table tents, bookmarks with alcohol use information, and written materials. Awareness strategies also include MAIZE CRAZE (a substance-free event offered prior to the start of classes), an alcohol awareness week, mocktail events, free movies, Sober Sensations where students socialize with student athletes in an alcohol-free setting, and the drunk-driving simulator car. Targeted programming includes the distribution of a "Safer Spring Break" kit.
Student attendance may be mandated at an alcohol workshop conducted by graduate students for any student who violates the Code of Student Conduct, the Residence Hall community Living Standards, the Policies for Student Athletes, or the standards of any other student organization. Over one-half of the student rooms are designated substance free, and applications for this popular option currently exceed the number of spaces available. Linkages with the surrounding community are found in the membership of the Policy Council and in the collaboration with licensed vendors to discourage underage drinking and irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
Student leaders and peer groups provide programs on alcohol issues, which include presentations in classes, such as Psychology and Social Work, and in residence hall groups, fraternities, and sororities. A relatively new peer program, "M-Pact," trains student athletes to inform other athletes on a range of topics, including sexual assault and alcohol issues. The Greek Activity Review Panel responds to alleged violations of Inter-Fraternity Council or Panhellenic Rules. In addition, the Residence Hall Repertory Theater Troupe provides information on topics from sexual assault to alcohol use and abuse.
Supervisors and managers from a range of service units are trained to recognize behaviors that suggest alcohol abuse or addiction and to make referrals for assessment and treatment. In addition, select staff receive training in the appropriate responses to an alcohol emergency.
Numerous free or inexpensive confidential support services are available for students, faculty, and staff members. Students may self-refer for a preliminary self-assessment and general information, using such tools as the "Drink Wheel." In-depth counseling is also available at the Counseling and Psychological Services, and more specialized treatment is available in the surrounding community. The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program staff is trained to conduct preliminary assessments and to refer students to appropriate services. Student peer educators conduct presentations in undergraduate classes, particularly the Comprehensive Studies Program and Psychology classes.
The adoption of a code of student conduct in 1993 represents a significant enforcement change for the campus. Community standards for residence hall students discourage abuse incidents and enforce progressive discipline patterns. The Athletic Department prohibits alcohol inside the football stadium and all other arenas. Campus and local police warn offenders and escort those under the influence of alcohol from the sports arenas.
Evaluation is conducted in two parts. Specific programs are self-evaluated and a university-wide survey is administered to faculty, students, and staff. Currently, baseline data exist, and future data collection efforts are being designed to generate comparison responses.
Comprehensive Program
Contact:
Plymouth State College
Enrollment: 3,982
Public, Four Year Institution
Patricia L. Kirby, M.B.A.
Coordinator of Wellness Services
Wellness Center, Plymouth State College
MSC #55
Plymouth, NH 03264
(603) 535-2853
Description:
Plymouth State College addresses alcohol issues through two programs by conducting educational efforts, promoting alcohol-free activities, and responding to students who are having difficulties with alcohol. CHAT (Chemical Health Advisory Task Force) serves as one of the umbrella organizations. Chaired by the Substance Abuse Coordinator, CHAT includes members of Campus Security, Residential Life, Student Affairs, News Services, Student Senate, Greek Life, and other organizations. The CHAT committee meets monthly to review policies, practices, and procedures relevant to drug and alcohol issues, and to make revisions as necessary. The Wellness Center, the other umbrella group, promotes healthy lifestyle choices through wellness housing, the Center for Community Enhancement, and a variety of other student wellness organizations and personnel. The center includes resources and activities based on a whole person wellness model: Occupational, Spiritual/ethical, Social, Intellectual, Physical/material, Emotional, and Environmental (OSSIPEE).
Other peer-based initiatives are the Peer Educators of Plymouth State (PEPS), a group of students intent on educating themselves and the campus on issues that most affect them, and PACE (Programming Activities in a College Environment), a student activities board that plans comprehensive and diverse co-curricular programs.
Numerous awareness and information strategies are implemented on campus. Theme weeks include Wellness Week, Alcohol Awareness Week, Natural Highs Week, and Stop the Violence Celebrate Peace Conference. In these theme weeks, strategies implemented include a graffiti board display, a Jeopardy-style quiz, brown bag lunches, workshops, wellness-based performances, a series of targeted posters, and exhibitions.
From the academic perspective, two undergraduate courses deal specifically with alcohol issues: "Substance Abuse" addresses policies, programs, and practice issues, and "Drug Behavior" addresses the relation of substances to mental and physical health. Four other courses related to wellness promotion are also available.
In a proactive approach, security officers lead discussions about alcohol, drugs, and related crime issues. Violators of campus policies receive increasingly strengthened sanctions. Other campus support services include individual counseling, group workshops, and special focus groups, such as on-campus talks from OCTAA (On Campus Talking About Alcohol) and confidential group meetings for adult children of alcoholics.
Evaluation is handled by the administration of the Core Survey every two years. In addition, a survey of employees—the Chemical Health Program Employees Survey—provides information on campus drug and alcohol issues. While reductions in heavy drinking have been noted in recent years, campus leaders acknowledge that significant work remains to be done.
Health Entrepreneurship
Contact:
Montana State University - Bozeman
Enrollment: 11,267
Public, Four Year Institution
Jeff Linkenbach, Ed.D.
Assistant Director for Health Promotion
Student Health Services
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-7337
Description:
Operating from the Health Promotion Program in the Student Health Center, this comprehensive program demonstrates breadth and depth by integrating numerous components into one campus-wide initiative. The overall goal of the program is to redefine drug and alcohol norms on campus through the development of autonomous "micro-businesses" that focus on health. Thus, the role of the Health Promotion staff becomes that of health entrepreneurs.
The Health Hologram Model provides the framework and criteria for assisting each organization to develop as a micro-business. By functioning as a small business development center, the Health Promotion Program helps organizations to identify funding opportunities, strengthen their mission statements and objectives, and ultimately become self-sufficient and conduct their own health programming. Students and staff members establish goals and measure progress by compiling data according to the eight areas of the Hologram: research/social marketing, publicity, behavior change, community involvement, membership/leadership development, mentoring/continuity, finances/fund raising, and networking.
All relevant peer-based groups are connected through a coalition of student-based health promotion groups known as the Wellness Coalition. The coalition synergizes the resources of 13 health-oriented peer groups by creating a solid core of student health activism in the student government, and it serves as one of 27 committees within the student government.
Other student-facilitated programs encourage organizations such as fraternities and sororities, and special interest groups, such as athletic teams, to critically examine and redefine their relationships to alcohol and drugs. Peer theatre productions also play a key role in the Health Entrepreneurship Model. A variety of productions begin with the Health Promotion Program working in collaboration with other campus departments, which, it is hoped, will in time incorporate the program’s messages into their own self-directed activities.
Health Promotion Staff teach related courses, including internships in the Expeditions MSU Outdoor Orientation Program and in Health Leadership, as well as courses on Applied Health Promotion Research and Experiential Counseling. Awareness campaigns are conducted in collaboration with other campus groups, and most are combined with already existing campus activities such as sporting or club events. Media campaigns, based on data obtained in campus-wide surveys, are developed to reflect the unique profile of MSU’s students (e.g., campaigns directed around skiing).
Environmental strategies infused into the daily operations of the institution include the Events Management Team which works at sporting events to make alcohol-related interventions. The Health Promotion staff is involved in enforcement in collaboration with several campus-wide committees, and is also involved in the training of Residence Life staff.
Qualitative and quantitative approaches are used to conduct needs assessments, measure outcomes, and assess the effectiveness of programs. For example, since the inception of the Events Management Team in 1994, there has been a significant drop in the number and severity of alcohol-related problems at sporting events. Hundreds of referrals to the campus early intervention program, known as Insight, have resulted from the training of Residence Life staff. The Expeditions MSU Outdoor Orientation Program has high retention rates for its participants. The evaluation process also creates ongoing opportunities for collaboration with faculty members through joint projects and publications.
Leadership in Education About Alcohol and Drugs
Contact:
Berkshire Community College
Enrollment: 1900
Public, Two Year Institution
Christine DeGregorio, M.Ed. (E-mail)
LEAD Project Coordinator
Berkshire Community College
1350 West Street
SBA 108
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-4660 ext. 268
Description:
LEAD (Leadership in Education About Alcohol and Drugs), the college’s comprehensive substance prevention program, is overseen by a Project Coordinator assisted by two groups: an Advisory Committee, made up of community experts, and a campus-based Drug Abuse Education and Prevention Task Force. The support of the college administration is essential to implementing the campus program by creating an environment in which alcohol abuse and drug abuse are not tolerated. Many faculty and administrators contribute time, space, and materials.
This campus-wide effort offers members of the campus and community a range of activities, the underlying themes of which are positive reenforcement and peer leadership, with emphasis on civic and individual values and responsibilities. The design of the programs is three-fold: first, it assesses the environment and contributes to written policies and procedures for the college community; second, it promotes education, prevention, and intervention efforts that include curriculum adaptations, student-peer participation, staff orientation, and training; third, it provides activities to motivate students and generate positive publicity.
The campus plan comprises cognitive, affective, and psycho-motor objectives. Cognitive objectives include the ability to identify available services and recognize safe limits of alcohol consumption. Affective objectives include developing regard for the campus attitude to substances and a readiness to speak out in cases of substance abuse. Psycho-motor objectives include moderate use of legal substances and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. This approach is flexible and provides direction and consistency to prevention efforts.
The specific program content for the college has two thrusts. The first is that substances, when abused, have a negative effect on one’s life at home, at work, and at school; the second is that intervention and support are available to those with substance abuse problems. Strategies to address negative consequences include a strong prevention message at the start of the semester, scheduled meetings with the advisory board, meetings with peer educators, and promotion of events and activities. To initiate intervention and support, a bi-monthly alcohol education program is offered, services are maintained throughout the year, and support groups are provided. In this program, students assess their drinking patterns and identify how alcohol-related behaviors resulted in referral for judicial sanction.
Marketing and public awareness are achieved through frequent positive messages, regular posters, flyers, and press releases. The most effective exposure comes from a series of flyers posted bi-monthly in all restroom stalls. The LEAD office also develops its own prevention pamphlets and brochures based on the latest information applicable to non-traditional students.
Evaluation is done by conducting the Core Survey on a two-year cycle. Assessment of the program’s impact is qualitative and is based on participation in programs. The LEAD office notes a recent increase in requests for speaking engagements.
Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education
Contact:
Capital University
Enrollment: 4,071
Private, Four Year Institution
Mike Morrow-Fox
Director
Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education
Capital University
Kline Clinic Building
Columbus, OH 43209
(614) 236-6313
Description:
The goal of the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Education is to promote the university’s missions of academic excellence, community service, and community leadership. Policies and programming create an environment in which health, civility, and adult behaviors are the expected norm and AOD abuse is viewed as an anti-social act. Prevention is viewed as a community rather than as an individual activity, and as an ongoing initiative rather than as a one-time program. The Office of AOD Education focuses on strengthening healthy and challenging unhealthy norms of drug and alcohol abuse.
Leadership for the campus-wide program comes from the Director of the Office of AOD Education. Assistance is provided through the multi-disciplinary campus substance abuse committee. The prevention programs are guided jointly by numerous individuals and offices on campus, including the President, the Provost, the Vice President of Enrollment Services, academic departments, the Student Government, student activities and others. In addition, State Offices of Public Safety, Liquor Control, and MADD support this prevention initiative.
Policies on alcohol are adopted from the recommendations of a student/faculty/staff review board. Students responsible for underage alcohol consumption face progressive discipline, which consists of a screening interview, disciplinary probation, institutional aid review, parental notification, educational requirements, contacting legal authorities, and dismissal from the institution.
Educational campaigns are part of the campus strategy. In the alcohol awareness week, the Dead Day event has student participants wearing t-shirts that state "I can’t talk to you today because I died; Ask me about it." For the Look Who’s Not Drinking Campaign, a t-shirt slogan states "In an average week almost half of all college students drink no alcohol . . . Deal with it!"
One focused initiative is the Brotherhood/Sisterhood Alcohol Risk Management Project. With a goal of helping Greek letter organizations prevent high-risk alcohol use in their chapters, grant funding is available to support chapter efforts to discourage heavy drinking. Strategies include convening a chapter meeting to discuss the risks associated with alcohol abuse and adopt a policy to address alcohol abuse at chapter functions. Thirty potential chapter norms are given as examples and are adapted from "Our Chapter, Our Choice" training program.
The Curriculum Infusion Program is a major part of the campus-wide effort. The On Campus Talking About Alcohol (OCTAA) seminar is taught to every required core "Lifetime-Health" class. Advanced courses are offered through the campus departments of Education, Psychology, and Health and Sports Sciences.
Substance-free floors are the largest residential program on campus, and the success of this program lies in its student control and extensive bylaws.
Evaluation is conducted through administration of the Core Survey on an annual basis. Survey return rates of more than 60 percent are received through publicity and by offering campus bookstore gift certificates. Monitoring of alcohol-related incidents on campus reveals a decrease in recent years.
Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs Education
Contact:
Alfred University
Enrollment: 2,405
Private, Four Year Institution
Ian Neuhard, M.P.S. (E-mail)
Director
Alcohol and Other Drugs Education
Alfred University
Saxon Drive
Alfred, NY 14802-1205
(607) 871-2133
Description:
This comprehensive education and prevention program is based on theories of environmental change. The formal mission of the office is to provide information, activities, services, and support to university students, faculty, staff, and administration. Ultimately, the aims are to promote substance abuse resistance and to foster healthy life style choices. The Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Education maintains a resource center with books, pamphlets, posters, reports and videotapes. This center provides residence hall staff, peer educators, faculty, and staff with information for both personal and professional use. Under the leadership of a director, a campus-wide advisory committee with 12 representative members of the university community provides direction and support for the campus-wide program.
Central to the program are 33 peer educators recruited for three peer education groups, collectively known as SAIL (Students Advocating Intelligent Lifestyles). These groups conduct individual programs as well as programs in conjunction with other student organizations. Currently two-thirds of these peer educators completed national certification requirements. The Office of AOD Education serves the peer education residence hall staff, and faculty and staff. The resource center houses books, pamphlets, posters, reports and videotapes.
Campus-wide advertising and media campaigns have resulted in thousands of student, staff, and community contacts. From a social activity point of view, the office has conducted, co-sponsored, or participated in awareness and alternative social events, as well as educational and media activities. Though AOD is located on a campus for students who prefer a substance-free environment, additional center activities include Greek Risk Management, TIPS Training, Training for Residence Life Staff and Student Organizations, research, Approval of Alcohol Premise for On-Campus Events, formal classes for Judicial Policy Violators, referrals for students abusing alcohol or drugs, policy review and revision, and program evaluation.
The Core Survey is conducted every two years. An analysis of existing data, such as judicial violations, security responses hospital transports for alcohol poisoning and university withdrawals shows alcohol-related incidents have decreased in recent years.
Prevention Education Program Center
Contact:
San Jose State University
Enrollment: 26,500
Public, Four Year Institution
Harriet K. Pila
Director, Prevention Education Program Center
San Jose State University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0031
(408) 924-5945
Description:
Campus-wide leadership for alcohol and drug abuse prevention, date/acquaintance rape, and sexual assault prevention is provided by the Prevention Education Program (PEP) Center, which was instituted following a U.S. Department of Education grant. The PEP Center participates in the establishment of alcohol policies and related policy issues; it also provides a sanctioned judicial program to educate students and prevent substance problems from recurring. The PEP Center works in conjunction with academic departments to encourage students in leadership roles through practicum and internship experiences. Faculty assistance in programming efforts is enlisted, and academic departments are provided with information that can be used in lectures during awareness and promotional weeks. The student educators present guest lectures in classrooms continuously throughout the semester. In addition, students design information for faculty to use in their courses. The staffing includes a full-time director and administrative assistant, as well as guidance by the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Committee, which includes faculty members, administration, students and community members.
The PEP Center has three main functions. First, it is a resource for the campus community, providing current research, multi-media materials, and workshop presentation files. Second, it offers culturally sensitive referrals to students who require extra services in the areas of substance abuse and sexual assault. A third function, forming the structure of the program, is devoted to outreach efforts within the campus and the local community. Two student groups complement the PEP Center and conduct the campus-wide outreach efforts: PEP-SE (Prevention Education Program Student Educators) and the Choices Team (student leaders and student athletes).
Fundamental to the success of the PEP Center is the support from the campus and surrounding community. Multiple coalitions with individuals and organizations contribute to the achievement of the program’s goals. The primary focus of the PEP Center is to mobilize campus resources for the prevention of substance abuse and sexual assault by providing students with leadership opportunities in outreach, programming, public speaking, and coordinating substance abuse education. Ultimately, the PEP Center promotes a culturally sensitive environment conducive to responsible decision-making regarding alcohol use or non-use.
Awareness and information strategies focus on the prevention of substance abuse problems, as well as on the promotion of alcohol-free activities and cultural sensitivities that are incorporated in all awareness efforts and media campaigns. Activities include media campaigns, presentations, poster contests, exhibits, special event weeks, guest speakers, promotional programs, newspaper articles, campus-wide programs and specific target area presentations. Student educators plan most events and advertise their messages for the campus community.
Evaluation is continuous and includes annual research conducted to benefit the current knowledge base and future programming. Research demonstrates a decline in use of substances on campus, while alcohol-related problems have remained steady and referrals to the PEP Center have increased. The campus environment appears to be shifting to one in which alcohol-free activities are increasingly more acceptable.
Prevention Education Resource Center (PERC)
Contact:
Sinclair Community College
Enrollment: 20,000
Public, Two Year Institution
Cynthia P. Brown-Chery, M.S.
Counselor/Coordinator of Prevention Education
Sinclair Community College
444 West 3rd Street, Room 10324
Dayton, OH 45402-1460
(937) 512-2752
Description:
The Prevention Education Resource Center (PERC) provides year-round services and programming related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for the college’s students, faculty and staff. PERC is coordinated by a professional counselor in the Department of Counseling, Student Development and Veterans Assistance. Additional staff includes an assistant coordinator, peer educators, and numerous volunteers.
PERC’s activities are informed by the department’s mission and goals, as well as the institution’s core indicators of success. Within this framework, activities, outcomes, and measures of evaluation are linked to departmental and institutional standards. PERC’s initiatives thus enhance student development, access to success, lifelong learning, community focus, stewardship, and a quality workplace.
The mission of the PERC is, first, to increase awareness of the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and, second, to educate, show compassion for, and provide care for students in need. PERC believes that prevention is a combination of efforts to ensure healthy, safe, and productive lives for students and the campus community. Primary prevention covers education, literature, workshops, and training; secondary prevention provides crisis intervention for counseling, detoxification, and treatment; tertiary prevention is aftercare, including support groups.
PERC is involved in numerous campus programs, including the Wellness Fair, Health Fair, Fall Festival, Winter Fest, Spring Fling, Crime and Safety Awareness Expo, and Welcome Week. It also sponsors a workshop on the problems related to alcohol abuse offered during Alcohol Awareness Month. PERC hosts open house events four times a year and is involved with new student orientation.
Advertising is conducted through computer information kiosks, flyers, the student newspaper, the President’s Bulletin, the campus monthly calendar, electronic signboards, poster cases, TV and radio, and classroom promotion. A newsletter, PERC UP, is published three times a year. PERC also publishes the "Students Rights, Responsibilities, and Information" document annually. This document includes the Substance Abuse and Prevention Policy; the state’s DUI laws; and other state, local, and federal laws and resources. Marketing support comes from various campus offices.
PERC’s offers three different support groups weekly. In addition, 12-step meetings— including Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, and Alcoholics Anonymous— are held offered weekly on campus. PERC also maintains links with community agencies, hospitals, and treatment centers.
Numerous factors contribute to the success of the PERC’s efforts. Primary among these is its alignment with institutional goals, which ensures adequate funding. The use of peer educators who bring their own life experience to each outreach activity further enhances the program’s success.
Written evaluation of PERC’s efforts indicates satisfaction with the programming. In conjunction with the Campus Office of Institutional Planning and Research, PERC has conducted a student needs assessment to determine perceptions of substance use among students and the awareness of PERC’s services. Evaluation also includes a weekly inventory, a literature rack tally, outreach record sheets, and monthly, quarterly, and annual activity reports. Outstanding service by PERC staff is acknowledged by departmental "Staff of the Week" and "Staff of the Month" awards and student advocate honors.
Respect for Others at the United States Military Academy
Contact:
United States Military Academy
Enrollment: 4,054
Public, Four Year Institution
Major Dave Jones
Special Assistant to the Commandant for Respect for Others
United States Military Academy
Leader Development Branch, Building 745
West Point, NY 10996
(914) 938-2494
Description:
The aim of programs addressing alcohol at the United States Military Academy (USMA) is to educate the student body (the Corps of Cadets) on responsible alcohol use.
A philosophical underpinning of the Academy is the Bedrock. Bedrock I, Honor, has been in existence since 1802. Bedrock II, adopted in 1992, emphasizes "Respect for Others." Use of drugs and alcohol is included in this "Respect for Others" initiative.
All cadets receive 15 hours of alcohol-focused education through numerous agencies. The peer education group ADDIC (Alcohol and Drug Dependency Intervention Council) is run by students, and its representatives receive an additional 33 hours of education. The ADDIC cadets assist with policy planning and implementation, and facilitate communication flow among faculty and staff and cadets. Complementing the counseling center, which addresses general counseling issues, are an alcohol and drug counseling center and medical personnel. For disciplinary concerns, the Military Police make referrals, and the discipline office becomes involved. Faculty and staff members serve on the Respect for Others Education Team (ROET). The Alcohol and Drug Control Office Leader Development Branch (ADCO-LDB) provides preventive education and services to cadets.
The curriculum on alcohol issues includes information on the difference between "drinking" and "a drinking problem," intervention strategies when a peer or subordinate has a drinking problem, leadership responsibilities, the implications of condoning another’s drinking problem, the deglamorization of alcohol, and peer education strategies.
Three complementary programs address drinking and driving behavior among cadets. The Pledge Program encourages all cadets to pledge to wear seat belts, not to drink and drive, and not to ride with anyone who does. The Designated Driver Program encourages those who socialize with alcohol to identify a driver who will remain alcohol free. The Taxi Program encourages cadets to call a taxi if they need to, a USMA fund covers the fare.
A new addition to the alcohol program is the Chain-Teaching Program, in which cadets of senior status lecture and discuss alcohol-related issues. After the program, cadets sign a certificate stating that they understand and concur with the alcohol-related issues they have just discussed.
Posters entitled "Risky Business" are distributed to every cadet room, and each cadet receives a personal "Risky Business" card that includes important phone numbers. The "Risky Business" theme announces that "the decision to drink is . . . risky business. Leaders must assess risks and take appropriate action!"
Trends associated with alcohol-related offenses, maintained for the last five years, demonstrate a decrease in the number of alcohol-related offenses. Cadets see their leaders take alcohol seriously, and program leaders hope that the cadets will do so also. Through this process, the program’s staff strives to instill the idea that consuming alcohol is an issue of responsibility and not a privilege.
Substance Abuse Committee
Contact:
Eastern Kentucky University
Enrollment: 15,727
Public, Four Year Institution
Michalle S. Rice, M.S. (E-mail)
Chair, EKU Substance Abuse Committee
EKU Counseling Center, Ellendale Hall
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY 40475-3114
(606) 622-1303
Description:
The Substance Abuse Committee (SAC), following its establishment as an ad hoc committee, was designated to continue as a permanent committee on campus. The mission of SAC includes recommending policies regarding substance abuse, encouraging programs which elevate the awareness of the campus community, and supporting effective intervention efforts. Members are faculty and staff from academic and administrative areas, and student representatives from student organizations and the student body.
SAC was created to review and change university alcohol policies, and as a result of its recommendations, the university is a substance-free institution that prohibits the consumption of or possession of alcohol on its grounds. It is also a violation of university policy to be drunk and disorderly on campus grounds or at university-sponsored activities. SAC continues to review these policies to reflect the needs of the university and its students.
In its comprehensive approach, SAC attempts to change student attitudes toward substance use. In partnership with the Department of Health Education, SAC assisted in establishing the On-Campus Talking About Alcohol (OCTAA) educational program, which is based on the lifestyle risk-reduction model. This eight-hour program is incorporated in a required health education course and is delivered to 2,000 students each year. Individuals trained to deliver the program include faculty, athletic staff, counseling center staff, residence life staff, and other student affairs staff.
Through surveys from 1990 to the present, SAC also addresses student attitudes and perceptions by challenging these with student-reported actual use and beliefs. This information is often disseminated through "freebies" (i.e., water bottles, pens, key chains), brochures, psycho-educational programs, and student orientations.
Awareness and information is disseminated through the Alcohol Awareness Week and the Health and Wellness Month, both student created and student driven. New student orientation is another vehicle for disseminating educational information and explaining the university’s substance abuse policy. Alcohol-free activities include a weekly comedy series and a weekly "DETOUR" dance. Additional alcohol-free activities, as well as psycho-education hall and campus programs, are offered on a regular basis. SAC often co-sponsors alcohol-free campus activities through monetary support and media marketing. From an enforcement perspective, first offense standard sanction is social probation, which includes opening a record on the student that follows the student for five years. If repeat offenses occur, social probation is revoked and the first offense is considered in conjunction with the second and following offenses. Possible sanctions include a substance abuse assessment by a mental health provider (i.e., the Counseling Center), eviction from university housing, and university suspension. The sanction process is currently under review by SAC to develop a more structured response to violations.
The key to the success of SAC and its comprehensive approach has been the involvement of diverse university departments committed to prevention issues. This unified approach continues to strengthen prevention efforts and change student attitudes and behaviors.
Teaching About Prevention of Substance Abuse
Contact:
University of Georgia
Enrollment: 30,149
Public, Four Year Institution
Carole Middlebrooks, M.S. (E-mail)
Coordinator
University Health Center - Alcohol and Other Drug Education
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1755
(706) 542-8690/7774
Description:
The purpose of the campus-wide program is to create an environment in which a change in attitudes, behaviors, and use of substances is possible. While efforts are geared toward specific sub-groups within the university community, the primary focus for the prevention programming is the overall student population. For many years programming efforts were directed toward trying to change the behaviors of abusive drinkers; current intervention efforts, however, emphasize reduction of high-risk norms and target both non-drinkers and moderate drinkers.
The desired outcomes for the Teaching About Prevention of Substance Abuse (TAPS) Program are a decline in the number of problems associated with substance use, decreased tolerance for the second-hand effects of high-risk drinking, decreased quantity and frequency of substance use among students, and a campus and community environment that supports low-risk drinking guidelines through policy, role modeling, and attitude changes. Multiple strategies are employed to reach the university community.
A central aspect of TAPS’ efforts is its social marketing campaign "Power Choices: Take Care of Yourself. Care About Each Other," which includes ads in the student newspaper, cards on campus buses, posters, flyers, and special articles in campus publications. Assisting the full-time coordinator is a Campus-Wide Network on Alcohol and Other Drugs, whose mission is to develop a coordinated and collaborative effort promoting education, intervention, and resources on the campus to foster a positive climate for learning.
Collaboration efforts by TAPS target specific sub-populations. Brochures have been prepared in conjunction with the athletic department and the campus police department.
General presentations are made to residence halls, student organizations, faculty, staff, and community groups. Training, conducted on policy issues, problem recognition, confrontation skills, intervention techniques, and referral skills, is offered for justices and defender advocates, residence assistants, graduate assistants, and advisors. The OCTAA (On Campus Talking About Alcohol) helps students and professionals understand the Life Style Risk Reduction Model for Alcohol/Drug Prevention and Intervention. This program is offered twice each academic term, and attendees are interested students and staff, as well as students mandated through the University’s judicial process and the Municipal Court and Pretrial Diversion Program.
Three student organizations complement TAPS’ efforts. The ASAP (Advice on Substance Abuse Prevention) peer educators attend a three-credit course specifically designed to train peer educators on substance abuse prevention. Topics include the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors of substance abuse, as well as program planning and presentation skills. This course is available as a three-hour credit class and a one-hour follow-on class for students who present programs. BACCHUS conducts activities for Awareness Weeks and campaigns. The Commission on Risk Management, which includes representatives from fraternities and sororities, assesses Greek behaviors and develops action plans for addressing high-risk behaviors.
Results of the campus-wide program include abolishment of several events at which there had been traditionally heavy alcohol use, a no alcohol rule in the campus stadium, requirement that every fraternity/sorority pledge attend a sanctioned TAPS program before initiation, and the increased popularity of the peer education class.
Wellness Activities
Contact:
Baldwin-Wallace College
Enrollment: 4,789
Private, Four Year Institution
Jane Ehrman (New Contact: Jamie Gray) (E-mail)
Assistant to the Dean of Students
Baldwin-Wallace College
275 Eastland Road
Berea, OH 44017-2088
(440) 826-2178
Description:
The goal of this comprehensive, environmental approach to preventing and reducing alcohol abuse is to educate students, faculty, and staff, as well as to change the climate of the college community. The message disseminated by this campus-wide program is: "Don’t abuse yourself, others, or the community as a result of the choices you make about alcohol." The institution also tries to highlight and reward the non-users who represent approximately 40 percent of the campus. The program’s efforts are enhanced by the active involvement of the college President.
The college’s approach is two-pronged. First, it addresses heavy alcohol use, as well as negative outcomes resulting from the misuse of substances. Second, the issues are addressed in a variety of ways— including academic classes, activities, educational sanctions, and passive education. While all students and community members are addressed in the campus program, primary attention is given to first-year students, fraternity members, athletes, and those who have violated the college’s alcohol policy. All activities provided are organized, publicized, and designed by students in response to specific needs determined by the campus community.
Awareness strategies emphasize a media campaign funded and organized by the Student Senate. If an area bar pays for advertising space highlighting upcoming events, the Student Senate pays for adjacent ads that address healthy, independent choices regarding alcohol use. Awareness weeks include Alcohol Awareness Week during the fall and Sexual Health Awareness Week, which provides education about alcohol and its role in dating violence. The Safe Spring Break campaign includes the "Midnight Breakfast" at which faculty, administrators, and staff members serve a free breakfast to all students on the Sunday before finals of the winter term.
The Peer 2 Peer student organization promotes educational initiatives on campus. Other resources include "Mere Images," a social drama troupe that simulates a series of situations in which students may find themselves. Additional activities include May Day games and health promotion grants for educational events that address health and wellness issues. The funds for these events come from fines paid by students as partial sanctions for violation of alcohol policies.
Infusion courses include the Freshmen Experience in which the vast majority of first-year students are enrolled. Other curricular strategies include a Substance Abuse/Chemical Dependency Course and Faculty Role Modeling.
"Midnight Madness" is a Wednesday night program targeting fraternity men and athletes that provides alcohol-free activities. Another approach includes, a series of programs directed at male athletes on campus.
Environmental approaches include the "Difficulties With Alcohol" Program for those who violate the college’s alcohol policy: a two-hour session for first offenders and a six-hour session for second offenders. The college has established two wellness halls where students sign agreements to not use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs while in the hall. Support services include assessment and screening by the Counseling Center for individuals concerned about addiction to alcohol.
Assessment evaluation includes use of the Core Survey; evaluating alcohol-related incidents; review of Health and Counseling Center data; security reports; and faculty, staff, and student feedback. Focus groups are conducted by the Senior Sociology Seminar class each year, and follow-up surveys are conducted for the "Difficulties With Alcohol" Program.
Additional Comprehensive Programs
Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness/Prevention Committee
North Central College
Barbara J. Miller
Assistant to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
North Central College
P.O. Box 306330 North Brainard Street
Naperville, IL 60566-7063
(630) 637-5153
Description:
Primary enhancements are with assessment and evaluation strategies. Two substance free residence halls, housing primarily freshman students, provide the opportunity to collect data and statistics on vandalism, alcohol-related violations, academic success, and retention. The results demonstrate a decline in alcohol-related incidents and vandalism. Also, the college leadership committee conducted an audit of the alcohol policy.
The "Jail & Bail" Program, includes the Vice President for Enrollment, Management and Student Affairs who acts as the judge. Numerous weekend programs and activities help create an atmosphere in which students enjoy and participate in the many events planned at times when "drinking" is considered an alternative activity.
Progress appears with a heightened awareness of how drinking affects others, fewer major alcohol-related problems, fewer reports of disturbances due to alcohol, and few alcohol policy repeat violators.
Alcohol Intervention and Prevention Program
Central Michigan University
Mark J. Minelli, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Manager, Health Advocacy Services
Central Michigan University
Foust Hall 108
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
(517) 774-6992
Description:
Building on the university’s missions of excellence in teaching and a quality student learning environment, new strategies include an on-going story in the campus newspaper personals section, t-shirts with anti-drunk driving messages, and free video rentals and reduced prices for recreation during the last week of school. Educational sessions are offered on first aid for the intoxicated person and trained sexual assault peer advocates are always on call.
An Addiction Anonymous meeting is offered for persons with addictive behaviors, such as food, alcohol, drugs, co-dependency, smoking, gambling, spending, and for adult children of alcoholics. This 12-step support group replaces previous separate groups.
The university community policing officer appears successful, and a second officer has been hired. The city-wide "Cops in Shops" program, which helps prevent the underage purchase of alcoholic beverages, is being expanded to the entire county.
HEART Program
University of Connecticut
Janice Roberts Wilbur, Ph.D.
CoordinatorSubstance Abuse Program
University of Connecticut
606 Gilbert Road, U-159
Storrs, CT 06269-3011
(860) 486-5537
Description:
This comprehensive program exemplifies a "bottom up" rather than a "top down" approach which relies heavily on student support, non-linear planning, creative approaches, and the development of quality programs and interventions.
Additional environmental and targeted approaches include support groups such as Adult Children of Alcoholics, Recovery, Al-Anon, a transition group for graduating students, and a bereavement group.
Social marketing efforts include a freshman seminar lecture, the Acute Alcohol Intoxication Assessment Certification Program, and a Violence Network Information Card. Cost-effective marketing methods incorporate student-produced materials; simple marketing strategies include HEART stickers and stamps.
The HEART internship educates a core group of students to help change campus norms, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries, lessen addictive problems, and provide students with experiences that teach personal and supportive decision-making.
Assessment and evaluation efforts include a Normative Perception Survey, mailed to residence hall students.
Note: Of the twelve comprehensive programs identified in detail in the 1996 publication, three institutions chose to resubmit applications based on significant enhancements to their existing campus-wide effort. These brief descriptions document new efforts since the initial abstract.
Sourcebook
Promising Practices:
Campus Alcohol Strategies
AWARENESS AND INFORMATION
Directory of Awareness and Information Programs
Creating awareness and disseminating information are among the most popular approaches used by colleges and universities. Promoting increased understanding about alcohol and its effects, offering alternative activities, and discussing personal choices are the goals of awareness and information programs.
The versatility, creativity and energy of the awareness and information component make it one of the most widely used approaches and one that extensively overlaps with the other nine components of a comprehensive campus program. The creative approaches demonstrate well-designed methods for communicating accurate information to a variety of target populations. Interviews with those submitting the initiatives reveal that it is important to be creative, both in the message and in the design and location of advertising materials. These professionals emphasize the value of having fun and being daring in these information campaigns. Further, they note that initial funding, such as that which came from the U.S. Department of Education’s FIPSE grant program, was helpful and proves that a lot can be done with limited resources.
Typical approaches within this area are:
• An alcohol awareness week – or a day or a month – offers an opportunity for a wide variety of events in a focused period of time. On many campuses the awareness events are linked with a wellness theme (Dundalk Community College). On other campuses they may be part of the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. These events include Safe Spring Break campaigns, rape awareness weeks, holistic health weeks and related theme weeks and months (many universities cited in this section have programs).
• Alcohol-free parties include substance-free events, such as dances, that offer alternatives to alcohol consumption and mocktails, where non-alcoholic beverages are served to students (see multiple abstracts in this section).
• Social marketing programs directly involve campus media in breaking down myths and correcting beliefs regarding abusive drinking. The primary purpose is to change campus norms and perceptions of these norms. Monthly campaigns (Tidewater Community College, University of Iowa, California State University, Long Beach University and Nebraska Wesleyan University) and student perception campaigns, as documented at numerous institutions, might include newspaper ads, posters, perception surveys (Marshall University) and campus newspaper advertisements.
• Theater groups offer another strategy, and demonstrate energy and creativity through improvisational and scripted skits. The Dead Day/Grim Reaper program helps illustrate alcohol-related crashes.
• New student orientations set the campus tone regarding alcohol issues as early as possible. They include written information, programs during the summer, correspondence with students and parents, and carnival-type activities, as well as awareness programs for all new students at the beginning of the academic year. Other helpful approaches are freshman initiatives, orientation programs, parent letters (Augsburg College), and freshman seminars.
• Games or game shows promote public awareness about alcohol issues (Rutgers University, Mississippi State University and Park College).
• Other initiatives include outreach to local schools, newsletters, distribution of materials and gimmicks (such as highlighter pens, keychains, rulers, trashbags and red ribbons), campus newspaper advertisements (University of Florida), posters, resource centers, informational publications, and brochure racks and moveable brochure racks. Related initiatives include campus-wide media efforts (The College of Saint Rose and Stanly Community College), awareness weekends (King’s College), and efforts targeting specific groups (see abstract on Pledge Programs).
Awareness and information efforts also have a place in a comprehensive program (Austin Peay State University). Linkages to issues such as violent behavior, acquaintance rape and impaired driving are integral to these initiatives. Student organizations, such as the BACCHUS chapters highlighted in this section, provide helpful leadership.
In the interviews professionals commented on the importance of involving students in the design, pre-testing and implementation of awareness campaigns. Ongoing communication and collaboration among departments are essential to the successful implementation of awareness and information efforts.
Finally, from a conceptual perspective, campus leaders note that blending alcohol abuse prevention messages with a positive lifestyle and holistic health approach results in the greatest acceptance of the information.
The following are additional noteworthy programs for Awareness and Information reported elsewhere in this Sourcebook.
Baylor College of Dentistry
Substance Abuse Education
Bowling Green State University
Class for Policy Violators
Central Michigan University
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Intervention and Prevention Program
Charles County Community College
Alternative Activities
George Mason University
Drug Education Services
Indiana University - Bloomington
Alcohol IQ Network
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
The Center of Alternatives for Human Development and Prevention
Iowa State University
Filling the Media Gap
Longwood College
Orientation Programs
Longwood College
Wellness Center Initiatives
Louisiana State University
Network of Student Organizations
Lyon College
Orientation Programs
Northeastern Illinois University
Partners in Prevention
Northern Illinois University
Social Influence Campaigns
Santa Clara University
Training For Residence Hall Personnel
State University of New York at New Paltz
Options: A Resource Center for Healthy Choices
University of Alaska at Anchorage
Passive Programming Techniques
University of Connecticut
The HEART Program
University of Illinois at Chicago
Peer-Based Workshops
University of Missouri - Columbia
Alternative Activities
University of Missouri - Columbia
Inside the ‘Zou
University of Missouri - Kansas City
Social Events Sponsorship
University of Northern Colorado
Comprehensive Process for Policy Enforcement
University of South Carolina
Theatrical Performances
University of Texas at Austin
Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Program (CADEP)
University of Virginia
Campus-wide Initiatives
University of Washington
Broad-based Evaluation Efforts
Walla Walla Community College
Student Wellness Education Action Team
Washington College
Public Safety Officers
Washington State University
Alcohol: Norms, Values and Responsibilities
Washington State University
Targeted Peer Assistance
Washington University
Orientation Programs
Western Washington University
Project WE CAN
DIRECTORY OF AWARENESS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS
Alcohol and Drug Committee: Great Basin College
Alcohol Awareness Month: San Benandino Valley College, Southern Maine Technical College, University of Missouri - Columbia
Alcohol Awareness Week: Dean College, Georgia Southern University, Mount Olive College, Rhodes College
Alcohol-Free Activities: East Carolina University, Pasco Hernando Community College, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
All-U-Day Tailgate Party: Penn State Worthington
Alternatives to Drinking: Georgia Southern University
BACCHUS Chapter: Ashland University, Ferrum College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Indian River Community College
Bathroom Stall Flyers: Caldwell College, College of Eastern Utah
Bile Them Cabbage Down: Bethel College
Campaigns by the Month: Nebraska Wesleyan College, Tidewater Community College
Campus-wide Media Effort: The College of Saint Rose
Campus Newspaper Advertisements: University of Florida
Conference on Drinking and Driving: University of Illinois at Springfield
Dance Program: Oberlin College, University of Northern Colorado
Dead Days/Grim Reaper Program: Ohio Dominican College, University of West Florida
Drink Think - Alcohol Conference: Wake Forest University
Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program: CHI Institute RETS Campus
Drug and Alcohol Weekend: King's College
Facing The Wall: University of St. Thomas
Freshman Initiatives: University of Oregon, University of Wisconsin at Parkside
Focused Awareness Week Events: Hillsborough Community College, Lycoming College, Rochester Community College
Funnel of Obsession: East Carolina University
Games: Mississippi State University, Park College, Rutgers University
Halloween Mini-Drama Project: Mountain Empire Community College
Health Tips: McHenry County College
Holistic Health Extravaganza: Dundalk Community College
Informational Publications: Austin Peay State University, Kansas State University
Living With a Buzz: Millersville University
Lollanobooza: College of St. Benedict, University of Illinois at Chicago
Mocktails: Baltimore City Community College, Villanova University
Natural Highs Day: Dickinson College
Natural Highs: Carroll Community College
New Drug Awareness Seminars: Casper College
New Opportunities for Role Models: Wesleyan University
Notre Dame Social Life: University of Notre Dame
Orientation Programs: Eastern Michigan University, Hastings College, University of Portland
Parent Letter: Augsburg College
Perception Survey: Marshall University
Pledge Program: Muhlenberg College, Stanly Community College, University of Portland
Posters: The Ohio State University, University of San Francisco
Promise Tree: Indian River Community College
RADAR: Rosemont College
Safe Break Kits: Saint Mary College
Safe Driving Campaigns: Aims Community College, Bryant College, Castleton State College, Chowan College
Series of Campaigns: University of Redlands
Social Marketing Campaign: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Spring Party Challenge: The University of Maryland in College Park
Student Club Poster Contest: Walters State Community College
Student Perception Campaigns: California State University - Long Beach, University of Iowa
Student to Student Guide: Boston College
Summer Previews: Northern Arizona University
Super Bowl SunDRY: Hillsborough Community College
Weekly Advertisements: College of William and Mary, University of Arizona
Alcohol Awareness Month
Contacts:
San Bernandino Valley College
Enrollment: 10,720
Public, Two Year Institution
Joan Harter, M.A.
Department of Human Services
701 S. Mount Vernon Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92410
(909) 888-6511 ext. 1579
Southern Maine Technical College
Enrollment: 2,532
Public, Two Year Institution
Mark Krogman, LCSW
Director
Counseling Department
Fort Road
South Portland, ME 04106
(207) 767-7368
University of Missouri - Columbia
Enrollment: 22,136
Public, Four Year Institution
Kim Dude, M.Ed.
Assistant Director Student Life
Wellness Resource Center and ADAPT
205 Brady Commons
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-4634
Objectives:
• To increase student and staff awareness of alcohol issues
• To promote healthy living through a month-long series of activities and displays
Description:
At the University of Missouri - Columbia, the annual Alcohol Awareness Month expands the Alcohol Awareness Week offered in previous years. With the theme "State of Mind," it begins with a kickoff rally and a proclamation-signing ceremony offered at the campus’ administration building. The proclamation is signed by the presidents of all the major student organizations, the chairpersons of the faculty council and staff council, the chancellor and the mayor. Activities during the month include a panel of students in recovery, a "jail and bail" program, a happy hour with alcohol-free beverages, information tables, a mock DWI crash, a peer education display, a community forum, a peer theater presentation, a panel on "how to help a friend" and an alcohol-free coffee house. One of the major events is "Don’t just talk the talk...Walk the walk," a 24-hour walk in which groups of students in teams walk continuously for 24-hours in a tag team approach.
To bolster attendance, an incentive point system is used, names and addresses are taken at most of the Alcohol Awareness Month’s events and points are given at each event, with some events receiving more points than others. At the end of the month, monetary awards are given to the residence hall floor and hall, and the Greek pledge class and Greek house, that accumulate the highest percentage of attendance throughout the month.
The underlying messages of reducing heavy drinking and following the concept of 0-1-2-3 are promoted during the month. Students are told to drink 0 amount of alcohol if they are going to drive, no more than one drink per hour, no more than two nights of drinking per week and no more than three drinks in any one sitting. Some public service announcements are played on the local television station to further advertise the month.
At San Bernandino Valley College, the Alcohol Awareness Month employs volunteers from human services, student government and other student organizations. "Free for the Weekend" provides coupons for free entertainment for the following weekend to those students who sign the pledge to remain alcohol free. During this month, the sponsors’ goal is to provide support and alternatives for students who choose to be alcohol/drug free and also to provide intervention and referral services for students who are abusing alcohol or drugs. Representatives from numerous agencies and programs in the community distribute information and make presentations throughout the month. The Office of Public Relations arranges television interviews and newspaper articles. Additional assistance is provided by local entertainment facilities, who provide coupons for free services
At Southern Maine Technical College, a "menu" of potential activities is distributed to all faculty members. The menu approach offers them a range of choices from passive to interactive, enabling faculty to tailor the activity to their own comfort level and perception of student interest and receptivity. Faculty members are invited to sponsor an alcohol awareness activity in one of their classes during the awareness month. Members of the campus-wide Substance Abuse Advisory Board, made up of faculty, staff and students, assist in marketing the effort to department chairs and developing programs for the classroom setting. Topics include a community member talking about the 12-step process, a focus group, a structured interactive game, a discussion of the campus’ survey results and a videotape on alcohol advertising. Approximately 25% of the college’s students are reached by this approach.
Alcohol Awareness Week
Contacts:
Dean College
Enrollment: 915
Private, Two Year Institution
Jennifer Drake-Deese, M.A.
Coordinator
Counseling Services
99 Main Street
Franklin, MA 02038-1994
(508) 541-1602
Georgia Southern University
Enrollment: 14,138
Public, Four Year Institution
Edward Bayens, Ph.D. (E-mail)
Director
Judicial Programs
P.O. Box 8068
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460
(912) 681-5409
Mount Olive College
Enrollment: 870
Private, Four Year Institution
Karen Van Norman, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Dean
Student Development
634 Henderson Street
Mount Olive, NC 28365
(919) 658-7167
Rhodes College
Enrollment: 1,489
Private, Four Year Institution
Ricci Hellman, Ed.D.
Administrative Director
Health Services
2000 N. Parkway
Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 843-3849
Objectives:
• To promote activities in conjunction with a campus-wide alcohol awareness week
• To heighten awareness of alcohol and related issues among students, faculty
and staff
Description:
While many campuses sponsor a week of activities during National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, some campuses have their own distinct awareness week with a wide variety of programs held on campus for members of the college community. At Georgia Southern University, numerous activities and programs are available. The most popular and well attended ones are the Simulated DUI Crash, the Victim Impact Panel, the Alcohol Liability/Risk Management Seminar, the Wrecked Car Exhibit, the MADD Poster Board Exhibit, and the Breath Analyzer. At the Simulated DUI Crash, student peer educators and volunteers are involved in an alcohol-related crash. Recreation of field sobriety tests, a 911 call response by emergency agencies, and the jaws of life attract the attention of campus members. The Seminar on Alcohol Liability/Risk Management, sponsored by two fraternities, addresses the risks that student organizations incur when they sponsor programs where alcohol is permitted. The president of the university signs a proclamation designating the week as an alcohol awareness week on the campus and states that the university is committed to presenting programs throughout the academic year that discourage the misuse of alcohol amount students on campus.
At Dean College, FREAK Week (Finding Responsible and Entertaining Alternatives on Kampus) is designed to educate and entertain students. The week of activities includes a mocktail booth, a crashed car, a simulated car crash with the Convincer, a discussion on heavy drinking, information tables, a pledge, socials and the "Wall of Reality."
Rhodes College sponsors two distinct awareness weeks: "Alcohol and Culture," and "Absolute Awareness." The former week emphasizes the impact of alcohol on the community and individual responsibility. The week includes a "Free Spirit Tent", discussions on alcohol and cultural diversity and on women and alcohol, and promotion of the "Safe Rides" program. "Absolute Awareness" focuses on how alcohol affects personal and collective lives. Activities include a bulletin board display, the movie "Under the Influence," an information booth of resources, a "Sobriety Checkpoint" demonstration, "Alcohol IQ Tests" with confidential self-assessments, "progressive drinking games" featuring students going through residence halls quizzing other students on facts related to alcohol, and a bi-weekly electronic newsletter.
At Mount Olive College, a week-long series of programs, events and promotions is designed to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and its consequences. Event planners encourage alternatives to alcohol use for the relief of stress and to have fun. Examples of programs include staged drunk-driving arrests and a subsequent trial which uses local police and attorneys. Other activities include a free day at the local health spa to relieve stress, mocktails served at a comedy show and stress relief kits placed in all student and faculty mailboxes. Each day features a different theme to address specific aspects of the topics.
Alcohol-Free Activities
Contacts:
East Carolina University
Enrollment: 17,657
Public, Four Year Institution
Donna J. Walsh, Ph.D. (E-mail)
Director
Health Promotion and Wellbeing
303 Erwin
East Carolina University
Greensville, NC 27858
(919) 328-6793
Stephen Gray, M.S. (E-mail)
Associate Director
Mendenhall Student Center
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
(919) 328-4711
Pasco Hernando Community College
Enrollment: 6,636
Public, Two Year Institution
Bob Bade, M.A.
Coordinator
Shirla Andes, M.A.
Assistant Coordinator
Student Activities
10230 Ridge Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654-5199
(813) 847-2727
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Enrollment: 10,938
Public, Four Year Institution
Phil Parrish, M.Ed.
Coordinator
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program
Box 1157
Edwardsville, IL 62026
(618) 650-2348
Objectives:
• To promote awareness of the viability of alcohol-free activities
• To engage students in their own prevention efforts
• To provide students with information about alcohol and drugs
Description:
A wide variety of activities can be offered to demonstrate the value of alcohol-free events. These may be instituted to addressed a problem (East Carolina University) or promote community involvement (Pasco Hernando Community College). Midnight Madness is offered at East Carolina University to counteract the downtown Halloween night activities; this Halloween party has attracted an increasing number of ECU students and guests each year. Transformed by decorations, the campus center houses various alcohol-free events for students. Games and costumes are widespread, and prizes are given for pumpkin-carving contests. A dance, karaoke and shows with performing artists are offered on the same evening and fortune tellers and wizards are also on site. Food is served, and the building’s bowling and billiards are available.
At Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Tons of Fun is offered as an annual late night function where more than 30 student organizations sponsor activities in a carnival-like atmosphere. Events such as eating contests, bingo, frozen turkey bowling, wacky relays, twister and karaoke are sponsored by student organizations. At midnight, free pizza and soda are served, and a late night dance concludes the event.
Tons of Fun was designed to counteract the student belief that they cannot have fun without alcohol. It engages students in their own prevention efforts by having them volunteer to provide activities, work concessions or participate in games. Held on a Friday night, it helps bring students from their "designated party night" into an alcohol-free environment. A committee of students, faculty and staff meets to coordinate activity ideas. Many of the administrative details are arranged by the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program staff and student volunteers are selected to staff the event.
The Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) Chapter at Pasco Hernando Community College organizes an Easter Egg Hunt since many students have children. The overall aim of the project is to provide a long-term alcohol a awareness program in the community. During this hunt, the children search for eggs and win prizes, while parents receive information on how to talk to their children about drugs and alcohol. The event is offered over a two and one-half hour period, with different age groups scheduled for different times.
BACCHUS Chapter
Contacts:
Ashland University
Enrollment: 5,823
Private, Four Year Institution
Jennifer Mosher (New Contact: Dawn Gorski) (E-mail)
Health Educator (Director of Wellness, Greek Life, and Orientation)
Student Health Center
401 College Avenue
Ashland, OH 44805
(419) 289-5202
Ferrum College
Enrollment: 1,124
Private, Four Year Institution
Patricia W. Crawley-Gray, RN (E-mail)
Director
Health Services
P.O. Box 2203, Ferrum College
Ferrum, VA 24088
(540) 365-4468
Georgia Institute of Technology
Enrollment: 12,900
Public, Four Year Institution
Michelle Burne, M.P.H. (New Contact: Heather Surrency) (E-mail)
Director
Wellness Center
275 5th Street
Atlanta, GA 30332-0470
(404) 894-4869
Indian River Community College
Enrollment: 21,134
Public, Two Year Institution
Patricia Corey, RN (E-mail)
Coordinator
Health and Wellness
3209 Virginia Avenue
Ft. Pierce, FL 34981-5599
(561) 462-4738
Objectives:
• To promote the responsible use of alcohol by those of legal age
• To provide positive and healthy events for the campus community
Description:
A national organization, BACCHUS (Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students) emphasizes numerous campus-wide alcohol awareness events and is a popular approach to implementing campus activities. At Ashland University, sponsored programs include a Lifesavers Pledge, a Spin and Win Game (alcohol- and drug-related questions), a Tree of Life Campaign (students pledge not to drink and drive during the holidays), a presentation on the legal consequences of underage drinking and on host responsibility by an attorney, an explanation of drunk-driving laws by a highway patrolman, Dead Day, a mocktail bar, a movie night at a local theater, a Red Ribbon campaign, wrist bands to use at social events where alcohol is served, and awareness week and spring break week campaigns.
At Ferrum College, BACCHUS is sponsored by the College Health Center and contributes to every major event and theme week at the college. In conjunction with other campus organizations (e.g., the student government, MADD, the residence hall association, faculty, student activities, etc.), the BACCHUS chapter works to provide quality programs. Activities include an alcohol orientation for new students, a wellness fair, a Red Ribbon campaign, soberfest, driving reflex simulator, mock DUI arrest, coffee houses, mock car crash, radio shows, luminaries, safe break kits, raffles and the Vince and Larry crash test dummies.
Get A Buzz On Life (GABOL) is a student group that provides alternative activities for Georgia Institute of Technology students. This BACCHUS chapter sponsors major events such as the Safe Holiday and Spring Break pledge campaigns that encourage students to pledge to not drink and drive. Parties are hosted in conjunction with the residence hall association and awareness events for sexual assault and other alcohol-related problems are offered. Alcohol IQ games for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, including mocktails, are a major activity. Collaboration is extensive between GABOL and the wellness center, the student government and the residence hall association.
At Indian River Community College, the BACCHUS club works in conjunction with the Campus Coalition Government. They sponsor events in cooperation with National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and for holiday and spring breaks, and they often include local agencies such as the police department. The club averages six events each year and attends a state-wide peer education conference. The group provides Bactails (alcohol-free cocktails) at most of their events. Posters, pamphlets and promotional materials are used to communicate the group’s messages.
Campaigns by the Month
Contacts:
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Enrollment: 1,610
Private, Four Year Institution
Jody Donovan, M.Ed.
Director of Student Life
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
5000 St. Paul Avenue
Lincoln, NE 68504
(402) 465-2161
Tidewater Community College
Enrollment: 17,660
Public, Two Year Institution
Jan Taylor
Coordinator
Student Activities Coordinator
1700 College Crescent
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
(804) 427-7226
Objectives:
• To promote alcohol-free social and recreational events as a proactive alternative to the use of drugs or alcohol
• To provide ongoing information on alcohol, drugs and wellness initiatives
• To emphasize and implement wellness activities as a proactive alternative to the use of drugs or alcohol
Description:
Several approaches are used to enhance the educational experience with alternatives to negative societal influences. At Tidewater Community College, a holistic approach emphasizes theme-based activities throughout the academic year. These include: "None for the Road", "Natural Highs," "Naturally Spirited", "Highlighting Your Life," "Kisses are Sweeter than Wine", "AIDS Awareness and Safer Sex", and "Enabling". The "None for the Road" campaign, for example, has fact-based articles distributed to the entire student body, theme-based stickers placed on all commercial pizza boxes delivered during the first two weeks of the semester, and a "links of life" chain with colored paper rings signed by students who pledge not to drink and drive. During the "Naturally Spirited" campaign, a "Whine and Cheese Social" is offered with non-alcoholic grape juice and cheese crackers, and area nightclubs are encouraged to provide free soft drinks to designated drivers at New Year’s Eve parties.
At the beginning of each semester, bookmarks with different alcohol and drug awareness or crisis contacts are placed in each book sold at the bookstore. Other activities include an October Fest Fair, a Carnival Game, distribution of highlighter pens with the theme and message, fact sheets, lectures, flyers, and brochures.
Through the CHOICES program at Nebraska Wesleyan University, students receive an alcohol-related educational message in their campus mailboxes each month. Seasonally, they receive a promotional item: a key chain in the shape of a key ("the key to making good choices"); a cup with the logo "bubbling over with good choices" at winter break; a mini beach towel to "stay dry" during spring break; and a bumper sticker – a reminder of summer choices related to drinking and driving.
On a monthly basis, a CHOICES booth is set up at a varsity sporting event and staffed by student assistant mentors. Public awareness bulletin boards, located in high traffic areas on campus, contain facts, figures and memorable messages about alcohol use and alternative choices. In addition, student organizations sponsor a carnival and tail gate party during the first home football game: a "Jail and Bail Booth," a bar for mocktails, and numerous carnival booths for fun and awareness are set up near the stadium.
Campus-wide Media Effort
Contact:
The College of Saint Rose
Enrollment: 3,879
Private, Four Year Institution
John R. Ellis, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Director
Prevention Services
The College of Saint Rose
432 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 454-5166
Objectives:
• To expose college constituencies to issues surrounding the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs
• To prepare media campaigns to coincide with holidays and events Description:
The College of Saint Rose implements a coordinated and comprehensive program utilizing media advocacy, curriculum infusion, peer education and environmental change. One major initiative is to expose the numerous constituencies on the campus, from the Board of Trustees to the students, to the physical, mental and social implications of the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. This is done through a massive multi-media blitz, using posters, handouts, brochures, newspaper articles and ads, balloons, videotapes, computer software programs and audiotaped public service announcements. These educational items are targeted and distributed to all campus constituencies.
Various groups on the campus incorporate the drug and alcohol prevention information into their routine activities. For example, the campus ministry includes prevention information in its regular bulletin and minority student services provides information in its programs. The academic computing office places computer mousepads with drug and alcohol prevention information imprinted on them in all computer labs on campus. Seven different messages, such as "This problem can infect or affect others" and "Too much of either one will cause serious problems" appear on the mousepad following the overall thematic statement "Getting Drunk is Like a Computer Virus."
The career services office includes prevention information in its regularly presented workshops and seminars and the alumni magazine features several articles on the college’s prevention efforts. Often, these media campaigns are designed to take advantage of holidays and events such as orientation, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Super Bowl, St. Patrick’s Day and spring break. Materials include a card that encourages the wearing of a green ribbon on St. Patrick’s Day to support low-risk drinking choices; a card on Valentine’s Day to "Keep it Sober Sweetheart," a bookmark entitled "Study Hard and Party Smart" (a program on the four stages of drinking), and a social marketing series that contains facts on college student drinking.
One result of this dissemination of prevention information is the fact that the percentage of students who are aware that there is a Drug and Alcohol Prevention program on the campus increased from 23% to 58% in a three-year period.
Campus Newspaper Advertisements
Contact:
University of Florida
Enrollment: 38,277
Public, Four Year Institution
Liz Broughton, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
1215 Norman Hall
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 392-0731
Objectives:
• To raise awareness of alcohol issues in an entertaining and creative way
• To increase student/peer discussion about alcohol issues
Description:
The "Mark and Val Saga" is a series of ads that depict characters and situations that are surreal, much like daily "soap operas"; this awareness approach reaches nearly every student for the entire semester. Humor is central to this process as it promotes interest in following the story and provides ice breakers for ongoing discussions. The ads are placed in the "Connections" section, which is similar to "personals" of the student newspaper at a cost of approximately $300 per semester. To elicit interest, ads are more frequent and more eccentric at the beginning of the semester and are usually run on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. The planners scheduled a "Meet Mark and Val" program in which the two student assistants who developed the project sit at a table in a student high traffic area to answer questions regarding alcohol, relationships and the purpose of the ads.
A pair of comments in the series begins with Val saying: "Mark, thank you for a liberating experience, I felt like a child again running through the grass at the nudist colony. Where were you after Wednesday’s Luau? Val." The response from Mark was: "Val, Wednesday? It’s Wednesday already?! The last thing I remember is break dancing at the Luau and I woke up this morning in Daytona. Luckily, I had my roller blades and was able to make it back for class. Mark."
Dance Program
Contacts:
Oberlin College
Enrollment: 2,741
Private, Four Year Institution
Barbara Mehwald, M.A.
Assistant Dean
Residential Life at OCMR 19 A
Oberlin, OH 44074
(216) 775-8707
University of Northern Colorado
Enrollment: 10,426
Public, Four Year Institution
Ann Quinn-Zobeck, M.A.
Coordinator
Drug Prevention/Education Program
University Center Room 2050
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-2573
Objectives:
• To implement alcohol-free activities
• To promote a belief among students that they can have fun without the use of alcohol or drugs
Description:
The Free Your Mind Dance Program is an alcohol-free, weekly event at the University of Northern Colorado, and is scheduled in direct competition with off-campus parties. Organized by the BACCHUS Club in the student-run Center for Alcohol Resources and Education for Students (CARES), the dances feature music by a professional disk jockey, crazy contests, prizes, and no-cost non-alcoholic drinks. The campus pub, where the dances are held, agrees to not serve alcohol one night a week and lets the volunteers run the event. The dances are co-sponsored by campus organizations, including honor societies, residence halls, campus police and fraternities and sororities. Volunteers pick a theme and design advertisements.
At Oberlin College, an alcohol-free ballroom dance is sponsored by one residential community, with the goal of making a campus-wide statement and impact. Students volunteer to develop themes, secure funding, prepare decorations, organize setup and takedown, and handle publicity.
Dead Days/Grim Reaper Program
Contacts:
Ohio Dominican College
Enrollment: 1,713
Private, Four Year Institution
Christina Curtiss, M.Ed.
Director
Jennifer Brown
Director, Residence Life
1216 Sunbury Road
Columbus, OH 43219
(614) 251-4588
University of West Florida
Enrollment: 7,818
Public, Four Year Institution
Gregory E. Dziadon, Ed.S.
Assistant Director, Student Affairs
Campus Alcohol and Drug Information Center Pensacola, FL 32514
(904) 474-2384
Objectives:
• To help students experience the reality of the statistics of alcohol-related crashes
• To heighten awareness about alcohol-impaired driving
Description:
The Dead Days Program at the University of West Florida incorporates the "Grim Reaper" who appears on campus randomly touching community members; each touch represents a life lost from an alcohol-related crash. The "victims" are marked by placing on each person a black ribbon or some other distinguishing feature. The 48-hour project is co-sponsored by a local fraternity chapter and coincides with homecoming week, thus sending a serious message during the week of fun activities. The final appearance takes place on stage at a professional comedian’s performance; all "dead people" in attendance stand while the significance of the program is explained.
At Ohio Dominican College, the Grim Reaper appears during the Health Awareness Fair. Two individuals dress up as the "Grim Reaper"; wearing black robes and carrying scythes, they walk silently around campus "killing" students. If a student is "killed," he/she goes to a central meeting place and dresses in the "ghost" attire. Students are notified ahead of time and are asked to get permission from their professors to wear the costume in class.
Drug and Alcohol Weekend
Contact:
King’s College
Enrollment: 2,271
Private, Four Year Institution
Rev. Joseph A. Sidera, Ph.D.
Director of Counseling
King’s College
133 N. River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
(717) 826-5873
Objectives:
• To provide an opportunity to learn more about oneself and one’s use and abuse of drugs and alcohol
• To promote healthier alternative activities
Description:
To help students address drug and alcohol issues from a prevention perspective, the Drug and Alcohol Weekend (D/AWN) acts as a "wake-up call" before major problems occur. Away from the campus drinking milieu, D/AWN gives students the opportunity and direction to ask themselves about their abuse from a family, personal and environmental perspective. Through discussion, games and other activities, students reflect on why they are getting into trouble. Activities offered during the weekend include preparation of a personal coat of arms, completion of a personal substance abuse assessment, films (e.g., "Finding Out", "The Champ" and "Do Right"), a focus talk by a recovering alcoholic, family reflections, meditation letters and private feedback from the Team.
This weekend is run by members from two College Counseling Centers (King’s College and Misericordoa College) and is offered two or three times a year depending on the need. Many students are referred by the Dean of Students with behavior change, leading to retention in college, as the desired outcome. Most of the students who participate in the weekend finish college, serving as a testimony to the helpfulness of this approach.
Facing The Wall
Contact:
University of St. Thomas
Enrollment: 2,298
Private, Four Year Institution
Deborah Baker, Ph.D. (E-mail)
Director
Counseling and Testing Service
3800 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 525-3162
Objectives:
• To raise awareness that alcohol affects the lives of many people
• To promote participation in a ongoing communication activity
Description:
As part of the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, a project called "The Wall: What Has Alcohol Meant in Your Life? Add Your Brick to the Wall" takes place in the student center. A large piece of butcher paper with the program caption at the top is secured to a prominent wall next to the campus cafeteria. On a table in front of this, students have access to 4" x 8" "bricks" (red construction paper) and crayons. They are asked to write ways that alcohol has played a part in their life and tape their brick to the wall. In addition to the bricks, the table contains alcohol-related educational pamphlets and flyers, and a description of the services of the counseling services office. Practicum students monitor the table to ensure that materials remain well stocked.
The project is viewed as a success since many bricks appear on the wall and many students stop to read the wall regardless of whether or not they placed their own brick on the wall. The bricks that appear primarily describe the negative effects of alcohol; however, there are some that describe the good feelings or perceived luck that alcohol use has produced for them. Since no bricks are censored, students respond to the messages they disagree with by writing another brick. Campus planners are considering another use of the wall as "Lessons I Have Learned From Previous Spring Break Adventures" as an awareness approach during the week prior to spring break.
Freshman Initiatives
Contacts:
University of Oregon
Enrollment: 16,681
Public, Four Year Institution
Linda Devine, M.P.A. (E-mail)
Assistant Director
Student Life Retention Programs
Office of Student Life
5216 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-5216
(541) 346-1123
E. Miki Mace (E-mail)
Program Administrator
University of Wisconsin at Parkside
Enrollment: 5,027
Public, Four Year Institution
Marcy Cayo, M.S.
Program Manager
900 Wood Road, Box 2000
Kenosha, WI 53141-2000
(414) 595-2338
Objectives:
• To inform new students about a variety of issues including alcohol use and wellness
• To address the misperceptions of freshmen regarding heavy drinking
Description:
Detailed and focused campaigns are offered to freshmen beyond the orientation period. At the University of Wisconsin at Parkside, the "University Seminar" is required for all students and incorporates alcohol issues, such as drinking and driving, alcohol consumption levels, stages of use, heavy drinking and consequences of alcohol misuse. Designed to assist students to deal with the difficult decisions and peer pressure that they often face, it helps students recognize that the norm of heavy drinking is neither normal nor healthy.
The Focus on Freshmen project at the University of Oregon addresses freshmen misperceptions of the prevalence of heavy drinking. The Reality Check Information Campaign, conveys information in a low-key manner and advertises events that serve alternatives to heavy-drinking occasions (myth/reality advertisements, orientation tidbits, alternative activities, and the IntroDUCKtion presentation that discusses alcohol use and consequences). The "Drinking is Glamorous?" advertising campaign challenges the perception that drinking is glamorous and highlights the consequences of drinking for alcohol users and their friends.
Focused Awareness Week Events
Contacts:
Hillsborough Community College
Enrollment: 20,642
Public, Two Year Institution
Claire Jordan (E-mail)
Student Activities Advisor
Student Services
1206 N. Park Road
Plant City, FL 33566-2799
(813) 757-2107
Lycoming College
Enrollment: 1,524
Private, Four Year Institution
Mark J. Britten, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Director
Counseling Services
700 College Place
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PA 17701-5192
(717) 321-4052
Rochester Community College
Enrollment: 3,940
Public, Two Year Institution
Melissa Bondy (New Contact: Katie Swegarden) (E-mail)
Director
ADAPT (Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Prevention Team)
851 30th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904-4999
(507) 285-7210
Objectives:
• To use the campus alcohol awareness week to highlight the linkage between alcohol and certain consequences, such as date rape and violence
• To provide information about ways of preventing problems associated with alcohol
• To assist students identify and use campus and community resources that respond to substance abuse and related issues
Description:
In an effort to illustrate the significant role that alcohol plays in date rape, and physical and sexual violence, focused awareness weeks are offered. Lycoming College addresses the linkage between alcohol abuse and physical violence. The "Clothesline Project" has students print messages on colored T-shirts, which are hung on a clothesline for others to view. The different colored T-shirts represent different categories of sexual and physical violence. The value of the Clothesline project is its dramatic visual appeal and the direct involvement of students in decorating shirts to express their experiences with and opinions about violence. The Clothesline is displayed in a different location on campus each day for five consecutive days, thereby helping ensure that all students, faculty and staff have an opportunity to view the messages.
At Hillsborough Community College, a presentation links abusive alcohol use and unhealthy sexual practices. The slogan "You’ve Got To Wrap The Mast" builds upon the analogy that "before you set sail, you’ve got to wrap the mast." Incorporated in the event are icebreakers, trivia games, participation events and an AIDS questionnaire. Central to promoting the event are campus peer educators.
Rochester Community College’s Rape Awareness Week consists of a series of events that focus on the theme, "Let’s Make a World Without Rape." Students are encouraged to explore their own personal behaviors, with an emphasis that violence is a responsibility of everyone. The program illustrates the connection between substance use and violence, observing that alcohol and drugs contribute to, yet do not cause violence. Numerous campus and faculty members are encouraged to be involved, including extra-credit points and response papers. The community-wide "Take Back the Night" march and rally marked the kickoff of the college’s activities. Activities scheduled during the week include an information booth, Dating Game (a skit about perceptions of date rape, communication and the effects of alcohol on the decision-making process), My Life (the story of a college student rape victim/survivor, which illustrates the connection between substance abuse and rape), a mock trial, a sexual health day, a movie ("The Accused"), a discussion of definitions of sexual assault and rape, and a closing ceremony celebrating the commitment to ending violence.
Games
Contacts:
Mississippi State University
Enrollment: 14,152
Public, Four Year Institution
Laura Walling, M.Ed.
Director
Recreational Sports
P.O. Box 6285
Mississippi State, MS 39762
(601) 325-3175
Park College
Enrollment: 8,494
Private, Four Year Institution
S.L. Sartain, M.S. Ed., Ed.S.
Dean of Students
8700 NW River Park Drive
Park College
Box 3
Parkville, MO 64152
(816) 741-2000 x6377
Rutgers University
Enrollment: 33,416
Public, Four Year Institution
Richard L. Powell, M.P.A. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Alcohol and Other Drug Education Program for Training (ADEPT)
Department of Health Education
11 Bishop Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
(908) 932-7710
Objectives:
• To increase student knowledge about alcohol facts
• To heighten awareness of alcohol issues and consequences related to their alcohol use
• To assist students in exploring choices involving alcohol use encountered in typical social settings
Description:
A game format promotes information and insight about alcohol and its consequences in a creative and interactive manner. This is a stand alone event that may also may be incorporated into other activities. For example, Park College implements a game show format in its orientation program; Mississippi State University schedules six "Bully Choices Quizshows" at home basketball games; and Rutgers University’s game "Imagine That!" can be used in many settings.
An interactive game show format is used during Park College’s new student orientation. This program consists of a panel of staff and community experts who pose questions to opposing teams of new students. The students respond and are given additional information following each question. Questions have to do with substance abuse, the campus drug and alcohol policy, relationships, and campus and community resources. This format was adapted from a program developed by Texas A&M University.
The Bully Choices Quizshows occur during halftime of selected home basketball games. During the semester, alcohol facts are printed in the student newspaper and are aired on the campus radio station. For example, "45% of MSU students say they prefer NOT to have alcohol available at parties" and "33% of MSU students reported driving while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs during the previous year"! During the basketball games, three students are selected from the crowd at random and escorted to the floor where the MC asks a question from the recently published facts. The first student to press the buzzer and correctly answer the question is awarded a $100 cash prize. During timeouts at the game, the announcer gives other alcohol-related messages to remind students of this event.
The game "Imagine That!" simulates several nights out during which alcohol is involved in various social settings. Individuals faced with choices regarding their relationships with others and their knowledge of the possible consequences of alcohol-related decisions learn about themselves and their friends and the choices that they both make. Participants discover that no two circumstances are the same for all individuals. The game does not advocate what is good or bad, or right or wrong; rather, it examines the consequences that can occur when individuals make personal choices.The first version of this game was created as a joint venture between a communication class and the Department of Health Education. This simulation game is designed to personalize the information in order to heighten participants’ awareness regarding their behaviors. "Imagine That!" builds on the understanding that more than information about alcohol use is needed to affect behavior.
Holistic Health Extravaganza
Contact:
Dundalk Community College
Enrollment: 3,444
Public, Two Year Institution
David Agger, L.C.S.W-C. (E-mail)
Assistant Professor
Kathy Szymanski, M.A.
Director
Substance Abuse Prevention and Assistance
7200 Sollers Point Road
Baltimore, MD 21222
(410) 285-9897
Objectives:
• To make health promotion and wellness explicit in activities and messages
• To institutionalize the college’s substance abuse prevention effort
Description:
A collaborative group of staff, faculty and students, in an effort to institutionalize the campus prevention effort, and to highlight the themes of health promotion and wellness, offered a "Holistic Health Extravaganza." This is a day-long event offered annually with information, samples and live demonstrations. The event is held during the week of the spring/vernal equinox, which signals nature’s renewal in the Northern Hemisphere and a time of new beginnings and fresh growth. It offers the members of the community the opportunity to explore alternative choices promoting their own health and wellness (the college states that it does not endorse or accept responsibility for the practices presented in the events). The goal of this interactive health fair is to create a proactive learning environment and to provide new, diverse and alternative information and resources that promote the health of members of the college community.
Activities include acupuncture, aroma-therapy, astrology, chiropractic therapy, dance therapy, homeopathy, massage therapy, reflexology, wellness and yoga. Faculty members are encouraged to infuse a wellness module in their courses, as an extra credit activity or as a written or oral assignment.
Informational Publications
Contacts:
Austin Peay State University
Enrollment: 7,440
Public, Four Year Institution
Diane Berty (E-mail)
Director, LifeChoices
P.O. Box 4728
Clarksville, TN 37044
(615) 648-6304
Kansas State University
Enrollment: 20,664
Public, Four Year Institution
Bill Arck, M.S. (E-mail)
Director, Education Service
Kansas State University
Lafene Health Center
Manhattan, KS 66506
(913) 532-6927
Objectives:
• To communicate information on alcohol and drugs
• To promote students who choose not to use alcohol and drugs as the predominant student constituency
• To increase faculty and staff sensitivity to and awareness of drug and drug and alcohol issues
Description:
A newsletter, "Higher Education", is produced three times a year for distribution to Kansas State University students, faculty and staff to ensure that basic alcohol and drug information is communicated. The office staff compiles the latest facts, statistics and resources pertaining to that topic, with pertinent information from professors, research offices or departments on campus.
Some faculty members use the newsletter information in their classrooms and/or for departmental publications or flyers. Students regularly inquire about information seen in the newsletter.
Austin Peay State University uses several approaches to communicate student drug and alcohol use data and information. This includes small ads in the campus paper such as "Take the time to care for yourself and your friends...celebrate a Safe Spring Break." Another ad states, "Remember the 3Rs: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions. Have a Safe Break!"
Mocktails
Contacts:
Baltimore City Community College
Enrollment: 6,806
Public, Two Year Institution
Scharmaine Robinson, RN (E-mail)
Coordinator
Health Services
2901 Liberty Heights Avenue
Main Building, Room 26
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 462-8384
Villanova University
Enrollment: 10,735
Private, Four Year Institution
Janice Janosik, M.S. (E-mail)
Director
Center for Alcohol and Drug Assistance
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 519-7407
Objectives:
• To enhance students’ awareness of having fun without the use of alcohol
• To increase student awareness and understanding of alcohol and related issues
Description:
Providing alcohol-free beverages is a part of many campus programs, and is also a stand-alone activity. The Health and Wellness Center of Baltimore City Community College provides mocktails during events/weeks that focus on alcohol awareness: National Alcohol Awareness Month, National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, and the weeks prior to school closing for winter and spring breaks. Mocktails are offered for four hours a day during each of these occasions so that they are available to both day and evening students. Located near the campus Health and Wellness Center, the mocktail table is staffed by student workers, who also provide information on alcohol-related topics.
Villanova University offers mocktails at events co-sponsored by the Campus Activities Team during Merry Christmas Villanova Week. With the theme of "Toast The Holidays Safely," the Center provides free mocktails and snacks during a two-day Christmas Bazaar which is heavily attended by students, faculty and staff. Free coasters and keychains are also distributed, as is information about drinking and driving.
Notre Dame Social Life
Contact:
University of Notre Dame
Enrollment: 11,123
Private, Four Year Institution
Gina Kigar, M.A. (New Contact: Gina Poggione) (E-mail)
Coordinator
Office of Alcohol and Drug Education
1 Mezzanine Level/La Fortune Student Center
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(219) 631-7970
Objectives:
• To provide factual real life learning experiences of student and alcohol use
• To increase the number of students reached through alcohol abuse prevention messages
Description:
Trying to find a prevention tool to fit the uniqueness of the campus and its student body, the Office of Alcohol and Drug Education determined a videotape was the best tool. The videotape, which was produced by an on campus video production company, features students, staff and alumni.
An advisory committee of students and staff wrote the skit, designed the layout and assisted in the recruitment of students to be featured in this product. A realistic approach is used with attention to an accurate and complete portrayal of university life, pressures, friends, fitting in and alcohol use/abuse.
Although the video is designed for freshmen, it is used in residence halls with all students to begin small group discussions on alcohol use. Led by peer educators trained in group facilitation and knowledgeable in alcohol facts, these discussions emphasize self-responsibility and healthy decision making.
Orientation Programs
Contacts:
Eastern Michigan University
Enrollment: 23,777
Public, Four Year Institution
Mary Jo Desprez, M.A.
Coordinator
Health Education
Snow Health Center
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(313) 487-2226
Hastings College
Enrollment: 1,882
Private, Four Year Institution
Judy Sandeen, RN (E-mail)
Director
Campus Health Services
P.O. Box 269, Hastings College
Hastings, NE 68901
(402) 461-7372
University of Portland
Enrollment: 2,600
Private, Four Year Institution
Bill Zuelke, M.S. (New Contact: Dr. Barbara Norcross-Renner) (E-mail)
Counselor
Alcohol and Drug Prevention
University Health Center
5000 N. Willamette Boulevard
Portland, OR 07203-5798
(503) 283-7134
Objectives:
• To make each new student aware of the norms for alcohol use on the campus
• To promote student responsibility for his/her behavior and resulting consequences
Description:
Providing information programs for new students is a helpful aspect of campus initiatives. As a component of new student orientation, Eastern Michigan University offers a special session called "First Year: Decisions for Life." This interactive two-hour program deals with issues and situations college students face during their first semester. These include drug and alcohol use, sexual activity, communication, and acquaintance rape. Trained staff and peer educators present information and facilitate audience participation. The program focuses on a student’s responsibility for his/her behavior and the resulting consequences. When presenting the program to the first-year students, a scripted text is used.
Hastings College offers "Olympics of the Mind, Body and Soul," which is an alternative educational activity geared toward dispelling the myth of the "imaginary peer" who abuses alcohol and is generally irresponsible. The week of social and educational activities includes a carnival-type day and celebrates the joys of chemical-free fun. The Olympics is designed to orient new students to the concept of good times at college without alcohol or drugs. It helps to counteract the image of college as a time to "push risk-taking to the limits." These activities are sponsored by BACCHUS and two other peer education groups.
"Alcohol 101: Drinking at U.P." is part of the University of Portland’s student orientation program. It is aimed at providing accurate information on the norm for alcohol use on the campus and freedom to talk about alcohol use, non-use, values, history and goals. The two-hour evening session presents a videotape, a dramatic sociogram of college student alcohol use, and problems related
to and consequences of use. Small group discussions led by staff include sharing individual alcohol use patterns and thoughts about alcohol use and alternative behavior.
Parent Letter
Contact:
Augsburg College
Enrollment: 2,958
Private, Four Year Institution
Casey McGuire (E-mail)
Health Educator
Lisa Broek, M.A.
Health Education Coordinator
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 330-1337
Objectives:
• To address alcohol use norms prior to new students’ arrival at college
• To promote discussions on alcohol use between parents and their son/daughter
Description:
The Center for Counseling and Health Promotion staff believes that it is important to address the issue of alcohol use prior to the arrival of first-year students at the college. The staff also wants parents and students to know that the campus has a prevention program and hopes that the letter will promote a dialogue about healthy choices between parents and incoming students.
The development of the letter is a collaborative approach among several campus offices. The Admissions staff provides parents’ names and addresses and prints each letter and the Center for Counseling and Health Promotion pays for the postage.
The letter is sent to parents of incoming students who report that they live with their parents. The letter discusses the comprehensive health promotion program and encourages parents to discuss alcohol use and safety issues with their son or daughter. It also encourages parents to examine alcohol use in the context of healthy choices.
The letter sent, under the signature of the health education coordinator, to a parent with a daughter adds: "Please join us as partners in addressing your daughter’s choices during her college career. The decisions she makes as early as her first year can expand or limit future opportunities."
Perception Survey
Contact:
Marshall University
Enrollment: 12,659
Public, Four Year Institution
Carla Lapelle, M.A. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Student Health Education Programs
145 Prichard Hall
Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25755
(304) 696-4800
Objectives:
• To determine students’ perceptions of drinking behavior and compare them with actual drinking behavior
• To educate students about discrepancies between what they believe occurs and what actually occurs
Description:
The Perception Survey is a weekly telephone survey, conducted for six weeks each semester, to determine students’ perceptions of others’ drinking behavior. The Office of Student Health Education Programs polls students about their Thursday night alcohol use and what they think most students do. Students selected for the polling are taken from a list of students’ phone numbers, without student names, from the University Computer Center. One hundred students are contacted weekly for six weeks. Four questions are asked during the survey: "What percent of students do you believe went out to drink last Thursday night?" "What percent of students do you think got drunk last Thursday night?" "Did you drink last Thursday night?" and "Did you get drunk last Thursday night?"
The results are printed in the student newspaper to allow students the opportunity to note discrepancies between what they believe is normal behavior and what normal behavior actually is. The hope is that students will change their own behaviors to fit the actual normal behavior on the campus.
Feedback from students suggests that there is an awareness of the discrepancies noted in the printed results.
Pledge Program
Contacts:
Muhlenberg College
Enrollment: 1,714
Private, Four Year Institution
Corrine E. Lamack (New Contact: Andy Scappatieci) (E-mail)
Counselor (Assistant Director)
Counseling and Development
Muhlenberg College
2400 Chew Street
Allentown, PA 18104
(610)821-3178
Stanly Community College
Enrollment: 1,645
Public, Two Year Institution
Karen Yerby (E-mail)
Director
Orientation and Student Services Support
141 College Drive
Albemarle, NC 28001
(704) 982-0121
University of Portland
Enrollment: 2,600
Private, Four Year Institution
Bill Zuelke, M.S. (New Contact: Dr. Barbara Norcross-Renner) (E-mail)
Coordinator, Prevention Specialist
University Health Center
5000 N. Willamette Boulevard
Portland, OR 07203-5798
(503) 283-7134
Objectives:
• To support responsible users and non-users of alcohol
• To generate conversation about alcohol use on campus
• To increase awareness among students about alcohol abuse
Description:
Implementation of a voluntary pledge campaign is offered as a stand alone activity or as part of an awareness week. At the University of Portland, the "Pledge" emphasizes teaching about responsible use of alcohol and attempts to increase awareness of actual campus norms. Muhlenberg College incorporates a Pledge Program as part of its "Choice Week," and Stanly Community College conducts this before the winter break.
At Muhlenberg College, students, faculty and staff pledge to remain alcohol free for a weekend and demonstrate their support by purchasing a pledge button for two dollars and signing a banner, which reads, "I Made The Choice! Can You?" At the University of Portland, all faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the Pledge through a mailing, and those who accept receive a pledge pin as a thank-you gift. Both institutions list the names of those who make pledges in the campus newspaper.
The University of Portland’s pledge is taken by individuals who agree to be responsible in their use of alcohol, acknowledge non-use as one responsible choice and agree to remain alcohol free if they are operating a motor vehicle, or are pregnant or taking medication. Further, the person signing the pledge acknowledges societal norms as their guideline for responsible alcohol use and agrees not to participate in activities often perceived to be associated with college drinking (drinking games, speed or competitive drinking, drinking solely to get drunk and "pre-function" drinking).
Muhlenberg College sponsors competition among members of different athletic teams to see which team can sign up the most pledges with a prize awarded to the winning team. In Muhlenberg’s program, approximately 10% of the students agreed to remain alcohol free for the weekend.
At the University of Portland, hundreds of individuals signed the pledge and it was considered one of the top four stories of the academic year by the student newspaper.
Party Smart incorporates several segments into its implementation. Students, faculty and staff sign pledges from a pledge tree; these pledges are shaped like Christmas ornaments, which are then hung on the Christmas tree in the cafeteria. A drunk-driving scene is portrayed on the road leading to the college: wrecked cars, a hearse, tombstones, and banners warning about drinking and driving are visible to passersby. Members of the police department conduct sessions on drinking and driving, and alcohol-free beverages, recipes and other information are provided. In addition, faculty members incorporate these messages into their courses.
Posters
Contacts:
The Ohio State University
Enrollment: 49,542
Public, Four Year Institution
Jacque Daley-Perrin, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Director
Student Wellness Center
1875 Millikin Road
Wilce Student Health Center
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-4527
University of San Francisco
Enrollment: 8,407
Private, Four Year Institution
Linda A. Pratt
Coordinator
Substance Abuse Prevention Program
2130 Fulton Street
c/o Counseling Center
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
(415) 666-6886
Objectives:
• To reach a large, diverse student population through realistic media
• To provide visual representations of the effects of alcohol abuse
• To change the accepted norms of behavior by supporting positive behaviors
Description:
Beginning with the creation of a name and logo, the University of San Francisco uses a social marketing approach project to achieve the above-stated goals. The "Progressive Party" publishes a quarter-page ad each week in the student newspaper. This project includes of four different marketing campaigns entitled: the "Mr. Jones," campaign, the "Student Role Model," campaign, the "This is College, Be Yourself," and "USF Core Statistics."
In the Mr. Jones campaign, one of the headings cites Mr. Jones as being "glad he has more than just `drinking heavily’ to list under `extra-curricular activities’ as he types up his resume." Another heading says, "After looking back on a year of mindless drinking and needless hangovers, Mr. Jones looks to the new year to discover a more progressive college social scene, one with less drinking." The Student Role Model campaign publishes names and photographs of and background information on individuals on the campus, area of their academic emphasis, and whether or not they consume alcohol. Incorporated in the ads are statistics from the campus. In an ad on one individual who drinks occasionally, it states that she is "part of the 50% of USF students who practice such low-risk drinking behavior"; this ad concludes by stating that "It’s an easy art to master."
For the "This is College, Be Yourself" campaign, one poster says, "The only way you’re going to make friends when you get to college is to go to parties every night and drink as much as you can. GIVE ME A BREAK! This is college, be yourself." The USF Core Statistics campaign uses artwork to broadcast statistics from the Core Survey administered on the campus.
At The Ohio State University, posters are created to reach as many students as possible. The posters are visually exciting with student-focused messages, and with immediate applications to their lives. These posters use real images to make important points about alcohol abuse in a way that does not further negative stereotypes and misperceptions.
The organizers of this project are the student wellness center and other campus groups. Subgroups within the university are targeted and input is solicited from groups and organizations. These weekly posters feature negative effects of alcohol, alcohol and unsafe sex, and alcohol and misconduct. One has a picture of two students with their heads over toilets and the caption reads, "Is that what you mean by hanging out with your friends"? Another has an individual taking care of someone else who has passed out. Posters are delivered throughout the campus each week and distribution is as widespread as possible, with placement in residence halls, classroom buildings, businesses, and community organizations.
Safe Driving Campaigns
Contacts:
Aims Community College
Enrollment: 6,970
Public, Two Year Institution
Ron Fay, M.A. (E-mail)
Director
Student Life
P.O. Box 69
Greeley, CO 80632
(970) 330-8008
Bryant College
Enrollment: 3,748
Private, Four Year Institution
Doris Helmich, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Health Educator
Health Services
1150 Douglas Pike
Smithfield, RI 02917
(401) 232-6702
Castleton State College
Enrollment: 2,028
Public, Four Year Institution
Julia Burke
Director
Office of AOD Education
Wellness Center
Castleton State College
Castleton, VT 05735
(802) 468-5611
Chowan College
Enrollment: 816
Private, Four Year Institution
Linda Tripp (E-mail)
Director
Counseling and Career Development
Chowan College
P.O. Box 1848
Murfreesboro, NC 27855
(919) 398-4101
Objectives:
• To increase awareness about the hazards of drinking and driving
• To motivate students to prevent problematic negative consequences of drinking during Spring Break and other times of the year
Description:
Safe Driving Campaigns prepare students for the academic recess when they often drive long distances. Bryant College sponsors four days of events before the break. Included are informational tables, with resources about speed limits and DUI laws in each state traversed en route to Florida, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) charts and a contract promising to drive sober. Speakers, mocktails, door prizes and a mock car crash are also part of the campaign.
The mock car crash incorporates the "jaws of life," and is timed to occur while a fire drill is in progress so that all students in class witness the event. Police and fire personnel respond as they would for an actual car crash and observers are handed BAC charts as they return to class.
Aims Community College sponsors a week-long event in the winter term to address the hazards of drinking and driving, alcohol’s involvement with domestic violence, family and friends and the legal consequences of drinking. The effort begins with a reenactment of a drunk-driving collision, in which law enforcement personnel, ambulances, paramedics, the Airlife helicopter, the fire department and rescue personnel participate. Among the other 25 volunteers for this effort are survivors of alcohol-related crashes and representatives from the district attorney’s office, a regional insurance agency and recovery centers.
At Chowan College, the residence hall council of a freshman hall volunteered to assist in setting up a mock car crash. The local fire chief’s assistance was solicited, and he contacted the police department and rescue squad and obtained two junked cars. The residence hall council set up the time, date and place, and scheduled the "accident" to occur around dinnertime to attract the students’ attention as they walked from the cafeteria. Several volunteers dressed in black and painted their faces white to represent crash victims. They wore fake blood and placed themselves in the cars and on the pavement beside the cars.
Castleton State College offers a "Lights On For Life Day" which encourages all motorists to drive with their vehicle headlights on during the day, as a memorial for the victims of impaired driving and a reminder of the dangers of drunk and drugged driving. Using materials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the campus organization SHADE (Safe Healthy Adult Decision Educators) sponsors this event to remind campus members about the importance of respecting standards regarding impaired driving and also that law enforcement is watchful of this type of behavior. Campus and community officials collaborate to prepare joint proclamations to take a stand against impaired driving.
Student Perception Campaigns
Contacts:
California State University, Long Beach
Enrollment: 27,304
Public, Four Year Institution
Shifra Teitelbaumm, M.A. (E-mail)
Director
CSULB Student Health Center
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-0201
(310) 985-4609
University of Iowa
Enrollment: 27,671
Public, Four Year Institution
Pat Ketcham, Ed.M.
Coordinator
Celine Hartwig
Coordinator
Residence Hall Education/Cultural Programming
Currier Hall, 100 Steindler Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1008
(319) 335-3029
Cathy Barnett, M.S. (New Contact: Sara Hansen) (E-mail)
Health Educator
100 Steindler Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1008
(319) 335-3029
Objectives:
• To provide accurate information and correct misperceptions about student alcohol and drug use
• To decrease students’ tolerance of disruptive behavior by heavy drinkers
Description:
In an effort to supplement the campus prevention efforts, California State University, Long Beach, has implemented the Accuracy Campaign which addresses student misperceptions and provides the good news about students and their choices. It is based on research that suggests that students make many of their choices based on what they perceive as valued by other students, and on what is popular and what is not popular. Through a range of creative venues, the Accuracy Campaign challenges students’ assumptions, initiates provocative discussions in a non-judgmental and non-threatening way, and highlights for the campus community the large number of students making healthy choices.
The Accuracy Campaign is an ongoing program; each semester new student interns are recruited to generate and implement new and creative strategies. Centered around diverse events, the campaign incorporates contests in classes and new student orientation, at information tables, and with the campus radio station. In addition, faculty members are enlisted to participate. They are provided with a script for the campaign and are asked to take a few minutes in their classes to have students guess the statistics and to provide a candy reward for those who provide correct answers. Sample statistics include: "71% of CSULB students have never driven under the influence of alcohol" and "52% of students only drink alcohol once a month or less."
The University of Iowa has a media campaign designed to challenge and correct student misperceptions of their peers’ alcohol use. Every two weeks a new series of media strategies is implemented, including ads in the campus newspaper, bulletin board packets, print materials, electronic messages at athletic events, table tents and posters. Other campus programming on drugs and alcohol is monitored carefully to ensure that messages that are contrary to the project (i.e., messages that "everyone is doing it") are not unwittingly sent.
This project involves a carefully controlled research component with the selection of certain residence halls as the target populations and the remaining serving as the control group. A pre-test is implemented in the fall to identify attitudes, behaviors and perceptions regarding student alcohol use and a post-test is completed at the end of the academic year. Data derived from the survey help to determine the ways in which a media campaign aimed at correcting students’ misperceptions regarding their peers’ alcohol use is more effective in the prevention of alcohol abuse than traditional programming efforts. Focus groups and staff reports suggest that the media campaign has been seen by most students and that they feel it is on target and appropriate.
Weekly Advertisements
Contacts:
College of William and Mary
Enrollment: 7,547
Public, Four Year Institution
Mary K. Crozier, Ed.S. (E-mail)
Substance Abuse Educator
Campus Center, Room 153
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
(804) 221-3631
University of Arizona
Enrollment: 35,306
Public, Four Year Institution
Koreen Johannessenn, M.S.W. (E-mail)
Director
Health Promotion and Prevention Services
200 W. Old Main
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
(520) 621-6483
Objectives:
• To address common student misperceptions
• To support healthy student norms through an intensive media campaign
• To promote accurate information on student drinking
• To encourage students to reduce risks surrounding the use of alcohol, and to address other health issues
Description:
The campus Health Promotion and Prevention Services of the University of Arizona uses a variety of approaches to address campus drug and alcohol use. Risk reduction and harm minimization is emphasized through a focus on three domains: individual, peer group and community. One of the main strategies to address these domains is an extensive media campaign.
Common student misperceptions and healthy student norms are presented via two display ads each week in the student newspaper, newspaper inserts, newsletters, flyers distributed to student groups and posters in the residence halls during awareness weeks. Information gathered from the annual Core Survey and a Health Enhancement Survey about students’ perceptions regarding their peers’ use of alcohol guides the media campaigns and the content of presentations. In addition, several focus groups are conducted each month to assess the effectiveness of the media campaign.
The ad series "Myth/Reality: The Difference is Reality" depicts photographic artwork with statements of fact (for example, "65% of U of A students have five or fewer drinks when they party," "U of A students are healthy" and "At a BAC of .05 most people feel relaxed, light-headed and happy. The more and faster you drink, the less you feel the pleasant, stimulating effects and will more rapidly experience the depressant effects").
"Alcohol and the Campus," a newspaper insert, presents charts on alcohol use and academic performance, a 12-item quiz, an Alcohol IQ, a continuum of use, two Blood Alcohol Concentration charts (one for men, one for women), community resources, campus and state laws involving alcohol, and an item on the power to make personal choices.
At the College of William and Mary, weekly flyers are distributed to increase campus awareness and to address many of the myths that surround alcohol issues. The "What do you think now?" series of flyers incorporates quotes from students. A flyer entitled "So you think you can’t refuse a drink?" carries responses such as, "I say, `no I don’t drink beer ‘cause it doesn’t agree with me’" or "I say, `sorry, I’m not really interested.’" "So you think getting drunk is cool?" has responses such as, "When my friend’s boyfriend becomes drunk he always gets real violent" or "A friend of mine drank too much on his birthday and started passing out in the deli. He made it to the bathroom, threw-up, and basically doesn’t remember his birthday." Other poster titles are, "So you think alcohol makes you happy?" "So you think drinking alcohol has no consequences?" "So you think you can’t help your friends who drink too much?" "So you think people learn from their past experiences?" "So you think alcohol will help you meet people?" and "So you think partying won’t hurt your grades?"
Alternatives to Drinking
Contact:
Georgia Southern University
Enrollment: 14,157
Public, Four Year Institution
Sara B. Oswalt, M.P.H.
Health Educator
P.O. Box 8043 - Health Services
Statesboro, GA 30460
(912) 871-1732
Objectives:
• To expand Alcohol Awareness Week programming to include alternatives to drinking
• To counteract the belief that consuming alcohol is part of the college student tradition
• To provide information about alcohol-free activities on campus and in the community
Description:
Alcohol awareness programming is provided during the Alcohol Awareness Week and emphasizes safety issues such as drinking and driving, sexual assault, and unplanned sexual activity. Although responsible alcohol use is an important component for students who consume alcohol, this concept often implies that such use is permissible for underage drinkers and that support for non-drinkers is not present. To counteract the belief that consuming alcohol is always part of campus activities, the Awareness Week has been expanded to emphasize alternatives to drinking, and is titled, "It’s Super Being Sober." While the week is targeted to all students, the focus is on those under the legal drinking age.
There are four specific components to the program: an information fair, a volleyball tournament, a guide to alcohol-free activities, and an alcohol-free party competition.
The information fair promotes student organizations whose activities do not include alcohol. They provide options for students who want to get involved in alcohol-free activities. The information about these organizations complements facts about the risks of alcohol consumption. The "Spike The Ball, Not Your Drink" volleyball tournament provides an opportunity for students to get exercise and enjoy an alcohol-free activity. "The Best of the ‘Boro" is a resource guide to community activities that are not centered around alcohol. The alcohol-free party competition provides an opportunity for groups of students to organize an alcohol-free theme party. Points are awarded for decorations, food, and beverages, and cash prizes are awarded for those with top scores.
Organization for the week of activities comes from a committee of staff, students, and faculty members. Individuals from various parts of the campus are responsible for specific activities. For example, representatives from Campus Recreation and Intramurals coordinate the volleyball tournament, while peer educators assist with judging the alcohol-free party competition. The committee’s marketing strategies include mass distribution of flyers, public service announcements on the campus radio station, an article in the student newspaper, the electronic bulletin board, and a letter to faculty about upcoming events.
The traditional Alcohol Awareness Week events are well received, as are the new activities which focus on alternatives to drinking. In one recent week, 200 students took part in traditional activities such as the breath analyzer demonstration, and 300 students attended the Student Organization Management Seminar. Over 500 students entered the alcohol-free party competition, and 15 teams played in the volleyball tournament.
Bathroom Stall Flyers
Contacts:
Caldwell College
Enrollment: 1,705
Private, Four Year Institution
Sandy Rock, M.A. (E-mail)
Director
Substance Awareness Counseling
9 Ryerson Avenue
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-4424 ext. 277
College of Eastern Utah
Enrollment: 3,000
Public, Two Year Institution
Terry Holbrook
Director
Student Health & Wellness Center
451 East 400 North
Price, UT 84501
(801) 637-2120 ext. 5377
Objectives:
• To get substance abuse information widely disseminated to students
• To assist in the process of changing campus norms about substance use
• To provide information in a non-threatening and entertaining way
Description:
Information on alcohol and related issues is distributed widely across campus by placing flyers in bathroom stalls. Because of the strategic placement, these flyers receive attention from virtually everyone on campus.
At the College of Eastern Utah, a 9" x 12" plexiglass holder is installed in each stall and above each urinal in every bathroom on campus. This series, known as the "Buzz Clip," is changed every Monday morning. Caldwell College has resident assistants put up "Stall Stories" in the residences on a weekly basis; student employees place them in other campus restrooms.
On both campuses, attention is given to providing a variety of information. Information on alcohol issues, adapted from national publications such as the BACCHUS Beat, as well as general health and wellness information is included in the flyers. At the College of Eastern Utah, wellness themes are chosen from nationally recognized theme months, weeks, and days. At Caldwell College, the flyers contain information on alcohol, as well as study tips and health issues.
At the College of Eastern Utah, topics suggested by students are often incorporated into the flyers in an effort to make the contents relevant, and artwork is created by students or staff members. A graphic arts student creates the weekly series in an advertising format, and additional coverage is achieved by having an ad series that addresses issues similar to those covered in the Buzz Clip run in the school newspaper.
Evaluation results from the College of Eastern Utah show that more students are receiving information, and the perception of alcohol and drug use is changing in a positive direction.
Bile Them Cabbage Down
Contact:
Bethel College
Enrollment: 2,150
Private, Four Year Institution
Chad Hoyt (E-mail)
Resident Director
3900 Bethel Drive
St. Paul, MN 55112
(612) 638-6490
Objectives:
• To promote open dialogue about drinking and its effects
• To encourage students to honestly evaluate their alcohol consumption
Description:
The Residence Life staff created a Web site containing information related to alcohol consumption. This site offers perspectives from prominent staff and faculty leaders and provides links to other sites that address facts about alcohol and personal assessment of alcohol use.
The target audience is campus students who drink regularly. The planners of this web site hope to promote honest dialogue about drinking and its effects, and the ramifications that are unique to the college’s community. A primary focus of this effort is on the interactive discussion groups linked to the page.
Not only is the program designed to provide information about alcohol, it also provides an honest evaluation of drinking as a personal lifestyle choice.
The style and language of the web sites are intended to be relevant to students, thereby inviting dialogue between students engaged in heavier alcohol use. The page offers links to numerous alcohol-related resources (such as Alcoholics Anonymous). It also includes a brief health test assessment tool from the University of Iowa. To advertise the web site a graphic designer from the college’s Public Relations Department created door hangers that display the web page’s title and web address. These door hangers are placed on residence hall doors.
Four questions serve as the primary link of the web site: How has alcohol affected your life? How do you think drinking and a Christian lifestyle go together? Is drinking while a student at Bethel an issue of personal integrity? Does one student’s drinking affect the rest of the Bethel community?
Students are encouraged to respond to any of these questions; and the responses are posted to a news group that is confined to the college community. In addition, users of the college web site are able to see others’ responses to the questions. Users of the system are made aware that their responses may not be anonymous because of the computer-dependent nature of posted "from" addresses.
Additional sections of the web site are "Listen Up" (statements about what others on campus have decided about alcohol) and "Take a Hike" (fact sheets, as well as links to other web sites). The web site can be reached at http://www.bethel.edu/Student_Development/Alcohol_Awareness.htm.
Conference on Drinking and Driving
Contact:
University of Illinois at Springfield
Enrollment: 4,702
Public, Four Year Institution
Judy Shipp, Ph.D. (E-mail)
Clinical Counselor
Counseling Center
University of Illinois at Springfield
Springfield, IL 62794
(217) 206-7122
Objectives:
• To increase awareness about alcohol impairment and the consequences of drinking and driving
• To identify healthy alternatives to alcohol consumption and to promote responsible alcohol consumption
Description:
A conference on drinking and driving is offered on campus, targeting the university community of students, staff and faculty. To increase student interest and attendance, the event is held in conjunction with the campus’ Springfest activities. Springfest teams whose members attend and participate in the conference are awarded bonus points for the team competition.
The day-long event begins with an ice breaker which helps participants address misperceptions about peer alcohol use. Speakers address various aspects of drinking and driving: legal aspects and consequences, closed-head injuries, DUI, education and counseling, ramifications of incarceration, marketing influences on drinking behavior, healthy alternatives toward drinking, and partying responsibly. In addition, the campus police perform skits to demonstrate what happens when an individual is stopped for drinking and driving, taken to jail, and to court. To promote additional interest, the skits include a well-known university staff member featured as the "DUI offender."
The conference includes a free luncheon and ends with a mocktail reception, during which students sample and learn how to make Equally Attractive Non-Alcoholic Beverages (EANABs). The mocktail reception is an experiential learning activity that incorporates information presented during the conference and demonstrates principles of responsible behavior. Whenever participants order a drink, they receive a star to place on their name tag. Half-way through the reception, the campus police distribute colored pieces of paper corresponding to the number of stars on the name tags. Participants are asked to go to specific locations in the room in accordance with the color they are given. Participants then create a scenario describing potential consequences of having had the number of drinks they consumed (had the drinks contained alcohol). The scenarios are read aloud with the consequences becoming more severe as the number of drinks consumed increases. Participants are asked to use a Blood Alcohol Content Estimator to read their potential blood alcohol content based on the number of stars on their name tag.
The theme of the conference is "All I Want To Do Is Have Some Fun," which represents a common attitude among college students. The focus of many of the conference sessions is on how to have fun safely. The titles of the conference sessions are based on popular music; for example, the DUI enactment skits are titled "Gimme 3 Steps," "I Can’t Drive 55," and "The Heat is On." A music trivia contest is held with a prize awarded to the participant who correctly identifies the most musical performers whose songs are listed on the conference program.
The evaluation design includes the use of a pre-test and post-test instrument. Questions include knowledge of the law, consequences of alcohol use, perceptions of drunk driving, consequences of drinking and driving, how to drink responsibly, and marketing strategies used by the alcohol industry.
Drink Think – Alcohol Conference
Contact:
Wake Forest University
Enrollment: 5,892
Private, Four Year Institution
Natascha Romeo, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Health Educator
332 Benson Center
Box 7454
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
(910) 758-5937
Objectives:
• To strengthen campus-wide awareness of problems related to alcohol
• To develop community resolve to deal with alcohol-related issues
• To create tangible programming ideas to deal with symptoms and root causes of students’ heavy drinking
• To enhance existing formal and informal communication and support networks for students
Description:
After studying results of campus-wide drug and alcohol surveys, staff members were concerned about addressing the heavy consumption of alcohol on campus. Student leaders decided to create an event where members of the campus community could talk openly about the alcohol problem on the campus. The University’s president provided leadership to implement a campus event where small working groups would concentrate on three areas: tell personal stories regarding alcohol, identify root causes of alcohol abuse among students, and create solutions.
To obtain student support for the conference, fraternity and sorority student leaders were approached to support the "Drink Think" conference. The fraternity and sorority organizations agreed to become conference co-sponsors and developed the theme of "Drink Think." Invitations to attend the conference were issued to students who were not in a fraternity and sorority by randomly selecting names from the university telephone directory.
The "Drink Think" campus-wide alcohol conference was attended by approximately 140 students, faculty, staff and guests. Representatives from most of the Atlantic Coast Conference institutions were also present. Two national speakers made large-group presentations; and small-group sessions, facilitated by trained students and professionals, were also offered.
During the small-group sessions, students told their own stories related to alcohol. In addition, participants defined the problem of alcohol abuse on campus and created causal maps for finding the root of the problem; these maps were later shared in a large-group session. Following the conference, the small groups met again to create solutions and make recommendations. Resolutions made by the task forces address a variety of topics, including the importance of the freshman year as a critical intervention period, the gap between perception and reality, the lack of organized activities late at night, the responsibility for campus social life, the potential for substance-free housing, the importance of teaching social skills, gender differences, and the need to develop a more caring campus community.
Attendees at the conference rated the event very highly; students were clear about what they had learned and said that this knowledge had had an impact on their behavior. The participants suggested that in future such events should last for a longer period of time.
Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program
Contact:
CHI Institute RETS Campus
Enrollment: 450
Private, Two Year Institution
Jim Lincke
Director
Career Development
2641 West Chester Pike and Malin Road
Broomall, PA 19008
(610) 353-7630
Objectives:
• To inform students, faculty, and staff of the effects of drug and alcohol abuse on their career path
• To educate the campus community about policy enforcement and available resources
Description:
Leadership is provided by the Career Development Department for this program that is designed to demonstrate how involvement with substances can affect a student’s career path. Because the campus goal is to prepare every student for employment in his/her chosen career field, and because many employers emphasize that their employees must be substance-free, campus leaders stress the potential consequences of drug/alcohol misuse.
To help get students and staff more involved, a monthly program is in effect. In September, the school’s newsletter runs a "Write to the Editor" campaign, encouraging students, staff, and faculty to submit an article on alcohol issues. October is Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Month, and December emphasizes MADD’S "Tie One On for Safety Month." Also included during the year is a "video viewing month," when each faculty member is asked to show at least one alcohol/drug awareness video to his/her class. Another month is a "Drug and Alcohol Bulletin Board Month." Other months emphasize the "I’m free for the weekend" campaign and nonalcoholic drink month.
Since the program has no funding, information is gleaned from campus and community sources. Staff and faculty donate books, articles, and features, and many community organizations offer articles and materials.
Funnel of Obsession
Contacts:
East Carolina University
Enrollment: 17,445
Public, Four Year Institution
Donna J. Walsh, Ph.D. (E-mail)
Director of Health Promotion
Greenville, NC 27858
(919) 328-6793
Carolyn "Waz" Miller, M.S.
Associate Director for Residence Life
Greenville, NC 27858
(919) 328-4910
Objectives:
• To increase awareness of how alcohol misuse affects individual lives
• To promote positive alcohol-free activities.
Description:
A multi-disciplinary team developed this experiential seven stage funnel program to increase awareness about alcohol issues. Each stage lasts about 20 minutes.
Beginning with "The Wall," students read and add to statements about how alcohol misuse has affected their lives. Next, groups of 10-15 view a video that incorporates clips from movies that are related to alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and other negative effects of substance abuse. The third group experience is a "party" where student life staff members role play a 21st birthday party. Situations relate to alcohol and relationship violence, date rape, and alcohol-related death. Next, a brief court scene is shown where a student is found guilty of killing someone while driving under the influence of alcohol. The fifth room highlights facts and figures related to alcohol use, alcohol advertising, and local incidents, and presents positive social and entertainment alternatives offered by the campus community. The next setting is a group processing of the experience with a counseling professional. The final experience offers mocktails and provides pamphlets and brochures on campus resources and alcohol information.
The favorable feedback showed a strong emotional and intellectual experience.
Living With a Buzz
Contact:
Millersville University
Enrollment: 7,510
Public, Four Year Institution
Sara Lindsley, M.S. (E-mail)
Director
Wellness and Community Service
Montour House
Millersville University
Millersville, PA 17551
(717) 872-3841
Objectives:
• To create awareness about alcohol and related issues, including physical and emotional perspectives
• To discuss issues, attitudes, and social pressures that contribute to students’ choices about substances
• To identify dynamics associated with being a group member or an individual
Description:
Developed by students in the Peer Health Education Program, this program is designed to be used with any member of the student population. The strategy, which has five distinct parts, begins with an explanation of the purpose of the program, which is to discuss issues concerning attitudes, and social pressures. The ground rules for the 60-minute program are also explained. These include the right to pass, the value of all questions, the non-allowance of put-downs, the use of correct terminology, and the importance of keeping the discussion confidential.
The second part is an ice breaker entitled "Human Continuum" with signs reading "agree" or "disagree" placed at opposite ends of a wall. Different statements written on index cards are passed out to the students. One at a time, each student reads the statement and then stands along the continuum to reflect the degree of his/her agreement with the statement. Discussion is facilitated by questions, such as "Why did you choose that position?"
The third part of the activity is the "social pressure" exercise, in which two volunteers have a "chugging race." An already opened bottle of soda is poured into two glasses; the winner is the first one to finish the drink, with the overall winner winning the best out of three races. The winner then challenges another member of the group to the race; this can continue for four rounds. Throughout the process no one is told what they are drinking and no explanation is given before the exercise is over.
Discussion following this exercise focuses on whether the contestants are aware of what they are drinking and whether they ask what it is. The discussion makes the point that sometimes alcohol is added to soft drinks without people knowing it. Discussion focuses on issues of trusting others and being inquisitive in party situations. Pressures the contestants feel from the group cheering, personal pride in winning the race, and the reasons why contestants continue to participate are discussed.
The fourth aspect of the program emphasizes social pressures on a more personal level. Each participant writes down a situation concerning drugs or alcohol in which he/she felt social pressures to do something. Each is asked to record what he/she did and why he/she chose that action. The written responses are collected, mixed up, and redistributed. Each person reads the situation aloud and gives his/her opinion as to why the person did the thing he/she did, and the social pressures that were applied, suggests another way of dealing with the pressure, and offers an alternative behavior. The purpose of the exercise is to look at social pressure, why it occurs, and alternative ways of dealing with those pressures.
An evaluation documents the value of this program. Students overall rate the program high and find it both fun and informative.
Lollanobooza
Contacts:
College of St. Benedict
Enrollment: 1,897
Private, Four Year Institution
Lu Ann Reif, R.N., M.P.H.
Health Educator
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
(320) 363-5653
University of Illinois at Chicago
Enrollment: 25,559
Public, Four Year Institution
Julie Koenigsberger
Director of the Wellness Center
750 South Halsted Street
Suite 503, M/C 894
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 413-2120
Objectives:
• To promote healthy lifestyle choices among students
• To promote awareness of healthy alternatives to drinking
• To raise the awareness of students about the use of drugs and alcohol
Description:
The Lollanobooza Program is a college-wide program that attempts to modify a campus culture that promotes alcohol. The event offers a variety of fun alcohol-free activities held over several days. Its name, Lollanobooza, is based on the annual alternative concert tour, Lollapalooza.
At the University of Illinois at Chicago, week-long programming is offered and marketed to students campus-wide. The positive educational and fun events include a question/answer booth stationed next to a crashed car, and the Take-a-Shot Program where students compete against players from the university’s basketball team. Also offered is the Alternacarnival which provides music, entertainment, prizes, and activities such as a Velcro Obstacle Course, a human sling shot bungee race, an aerobic exercise demonstration, and a giant twister game. Educational programs, with discussions led by trained peer educators, include "The Reality of Date Rape" and "How to Cure a Hangover and Other True Brew Facts."
At the College of St. Benedict, the program is designed to expose first-year students to social life without alcohol before they become introduced to campus events with heavy alcohol consumption. The Lollanobooza events are held over several days during the early part of the fall academic term. Activities include presentations to faculty and staff, discussions with first-year students, a professional juggling team, a country-western event, karaoke, a professional cultural event, a sand volley ball tournament, a barbecue, a scavenger hunt, and a walk/run/roll.
Planning for each of these Lollanobooza events is conducted by committees comprising staff, faculty, and students. At the College of St. Benedict, primary leadership comes from the health advocate. At the University of Illinois at Chicago, student committee members are recruited from the summer orientation program.
To market the event, the University of Illinois at Chicago uses banners in the student unions, newspaper ads, leaflet flyers, e-mail reminders, electronic sign messages, and vocal promotion. The university also has a logo that displays a cartoon character throughout its advertising. In addition, temporary tattoos displaying the cartoon mascot character are handed out at events and promotional booths. Marketing at the College of St. Benedict includes flyers, table tents, newspaper promotions, closed-circuit television ads, and posters.
The evaluation of the events is very positive. Administrative support is high at the College of St. Benedict where a change in campus activities resulted from Lollanobooza, which replaced a disturbing annual fall event. The program at the University of Illinois at Chicago has high attendance with active student interest in the event. Over the past several years, increases have been observed in attendance at programs and participation by student organizations.
Natural Highs Day
Contact:
Dickinson College
Enrollment: 1,840
Private, Four Year Institution
Mary Spellman
Director
HUB and Student Activities
Student Activities Office, Box 1773
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 245-1671
Objectives:
• To increase name recognition of the campus’ BACCHUS chapter
• To promote responsible decision making regarding the use of substances in social life
Description:
The Natural Highs Day event sponsored by the BACCHUS chapter targets the entire campus community. While the main participants are students, many faculty and staff bring their families to show support and participate. The purpose of the day is to promote positive lifestyle choices and provide information regarding the wealth of fun and exciting substance free options. The co-sponsorship of the Springfest committee and the Greek Councils has increased participation and awareness in the student body.
Natural Highs Day is a free, carnival event with human challenge games as well as traditional carnival activities. It is held on one of the main residential quads, an area through which most students walk on their way to the academic buildings, the union, the cafeteria, and the sports complex. Advertising consists of posters, table tents, t-shirts, campus radio spots, and newspaper ads. Food and alcohol-free beverages are provided. There is no formal "educational session" during the event but information and flyers and educational displays are provided.
Natural Highs
Contact:
Carroll Community College
Enrollment: 2,501
Public, Two Year Institution
Sherry Glass, M.S.
Director
Student Support Services
1601 Washington Road
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 876-9600
Objectives:
• To reward students for their creativity, ingenuity, and success in organizing a college-wide activity
• To broaden membership in alcohol-awareness activities
• To provide students with information about how to have fun safely
Description:
In a college course entitled Achieving Academic Success, students are given several options for an outside project. One option is to work on planning for the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Week. Students who chose this option decided upon the "Natural Highs" theme and devised activities to remind their classmates how to reach this natural state. The students purchased approximately $80 worth of games they remembered playing as children: Lego, Silly Putty, Scrabble, Candy Land, Checkers, and others. Seventy-five pumpkins were also donated for a pumpkin-decorating contest. Further, the students arranged for information tables and solicited support from the local hospital, a mental health center, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the college Wellness Center. Vince and Larry, the "crash dummies," also made an appearance.
The activity was held in the center of the campus and had excellent visibility. Health and physical education instructors were invited to bring their classes to the program. At the event, the game tables were always busy. Faculty members challenged students to play some of the games. The students received positive reinforcement from their peers, and the instructors were pleased with their completed project. Faculty members continue to offer this as a permanent option for future classes.
New Drug Awareness Seminars
Contact:
Casper College
Enrollment: 3,767
Public, Two Year Institution
Don Benson, D. Psy.
Director of Counseling
125 College Drive
Casper, WY 82601
(307) 268-2458
Objectives:
• To provide information about how people’s lives are affected by alcohol and drugs
• To help students make informed choices about their own substance use
• To provide resources for identifying an alcohol/drug problem and referral resources to deal with these problems
Description:
The Drug Awareness Seminars are a series of presentations on various problems associated with alcohol and drugs in society. Recognizing that alcohol and drugs have an impact on the lives of many people, experts and helping professionals from numerous specialties contribute to the seminars. Topics include resilience of survivors of alcoholic families; women and addiction; addictions and war veterans; strategies for building resiliency in children; Alcoholics Anonymous; and drugs, alcohol and pregnancy.
An annual spring event offered throughout the day and evening for three consecutive days, these 90-minute presentations provide in-depth information on a wide variety of topics. Attendees are students, faculty, and staff of the college. The event is also open to the surrounding community at no cost. Faculty members encourage students to attend by providing class credit for papers on selected topics. Further, continuing education credits are offered by the state to teachers and mental health professionals.
Seminars are promoted through press releases and articles in the newspapers. Public service announcements and interviews are carried on local radio and television. The seminars are well received, according to evaluations, the number of attendees, and the number of professionals volunteering their time.
New Opportunities for Role Models
Contact:
Wesleyan University
Enrollment: 2,905
Private, Four Year Institution
Lynn DeRobertis (E-mail)
Program Coordinator
Butterfield A213
Middletown, CT 06459-0515
(860) 685-2467
Objectives:
• To correct misperceptions about student drinking behaviors
• To acquaint students with role models, staff, location of campus services and alcohol-free social activities
• To present the campus health education program as a positive proactive program
Description:
The NORM (New Opportunities for Role Models) targets first-year students on the campus. It is designed to make students aware of the difference between what they perceive the university’s social life to be and what it actually is. During orientation week, first-year students arrive and settle into their living areas. The audience is divided into teams based on living areas.
The program is a game called Wes Squares, which is an adaptation of the Hollywood Squares game. The theater department prepares a three-tier stand to accommodate the "nine squares" on stage. These "squares" are upperclass students chosen as positive role models. Positive statistics from the campus drug/alcohol survey are used as the basis for questions about drugs and alcohol on campus. Also included are questions about the location of offices, student services, and related resources. Prizes for correct answers are donated by local merchants and include gift certificates, t-shirts, writing pads, and round trip airline tickets. The winning team receives a pizza party with donated pizzas.
This popular event has students striving to get the right answer, more because of the spirit of competition than because of the prizes. Returning students want to become one of the "Wes Squares," as it is an honor to serve in this role. In addition, campus departments ask to have questions about their offices included in the program.
Social Marketing Campaign
Contact:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Enrollment: 25,492
Public, Four Year Institution
Carolyn Penn, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Director
Office of Health Education
Student Health Services
123 Henderson Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0140
(540) 231-5289
Objectives:
• To involve students, faculty and staff in a "caring" orientation
• To promote healthy alcohol decision making by students
• To reduce the risks of negative consequences from alcohol misuse
Description:
The alcohol awareness effort is promoted through the campus’ Social Marketing Campaign. The theme of this campaign —"Catch the Wave . . . of Friends Helping Friends"— serves as the basis for disseminating prevention messages through advertisements, newsletters, posters, and other marketing material. Each aspect of the campaign is a component of the overall campus alcohol education and prevention effort. Target audiences include residence hall students, staff, and faculty. The Social Marketing Campaign was selected as a new approach to campus alcohol education and prevention because traditional programs were poorly attended and viewed negatively by students.
Created by staff members of the Office of Health Education of University Student Health Services, the campaign underwent design, development, pretesting, and revision. Other campus departments, such as the Dean of Students Office, Residential and Dining Programs, University Counseling Center, and the Women’s Center, were helpful in providing data and ideas for implementing various components of the campaign. This team approach of brainstorming and planning helped departments on campus to network and coordinate.
The initial portion of the six-part campaign is a pamphlet distributed to all faculty. "Students in Crisis—Guide for Faculty Response" provides suggestions about how to include alcohol education in courses and tips to help prevent alcohol misuse and abuse.
Second, incoming freshmen students receive an orientation booklet from the Dean of Students Office. This booklet contains a one-page advertisement which encourages students to "Catch the Wave . . . of VA Tech Students Who Choose Not to Drink." This advertisement supports and encourages abstinence from drinking among first-year students, which is consistent with the state law on underage drinking.
Third, all residence hall students receive an alcohol emergencies door hanger. This explains how to recognize and respond to alcohol emergencies and instructs students what to do in such cases. Students are encouraged to intervene when friends are at risk to reduce serious negative consequences. A door hanger contest encourages students to post this resource on their door for a chance of winning a $25 gift certificate from a local department store. Several times each semester, staff members and peer educators identify doors that have the door hanger posted. The room occupants are then entered into a drawing for prizes with one gift certificate awarded to each roommate.
The "Catch the Wave . . . of Friends Helping Friends" contest—the campaign’s fourth component—encourages students to pledge with a friend to help one another prevent and avoid troublesome situations. Students submit a pledge entry form and complete a questionnaire. Students who fulfill the contest requirements are placed in a drawing for portable CD players.
A three-part banner series, displayed during the Alcohol Awareness Week, is the fifth aspect of this campaign. To question students’ assumptions about heavy drinking, a new banner is displayed outside the student union each week for three weeks. The banners read, in order: "What would you say to a friend who downed six cans of green beans in one night?" "What would you say to a friend who downed six cans of tuna fish in one night?" "Why would you let a friend down six cans of beer in one night?"
A two-part poster series incorporates data from recent national studies. The first poster addresses the issue of alcohol and grades and utilizes results from the Core study. It challenges students to think about how their grades are affected by the amount of alcohol they consume. The second poster thanks students who have ever had to "babysit" a drunk friend and challenges students to consider how their drinking behaviors impact upon their friends.
"Drinking at Virginia Tech," a colorful pamphlet designed with life protecting information, is the final component. The pamphlet describes stages of drinking, a drinking-on-campus assessment, and prevention tips.
Spring Party Challenge
Contact:
The University of Maryland in College Park
Enrollment: 31,500
Public, Four Year Institution
Jody Gan, M.P.H. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programs
University Health Center
The University of Maryland in College Park
College Park, MD 20742
(301) 314-8123
Objectives:
• To promote alcohol-free events for students
• To increase students’ skills in planning parties
• To demonstrate to students that they can have a good time without alcohol
Description:
Each year the University Health Center sponsors the "Spring Party Challenge" for the best alcohol-free party held on campus or off campus. The contest is open to any group of registered students—-including campus organizations, resident hall floors, fraternities and sororities, clubs, sports teams, or groups of friends. Each group identifies a "party planner" who registers the party and attends a required party-planning workshop. The party-planning workshop is run by peer educators who explain the rules of the competition. The workshop content also includes tips for having a successful party and information about problems associated with alcohol use on campus.
Marketing for the event includes sending flyers to all campus resident assistants and resident directors, all students who live in substance-free housing, and representatives of each of the 300 student organizations. Advertisements are also placed in the campus newspaper.
An information packet is made available at the party-planning workshop. It contains an entry form, party ideas, a party-planning checklist, sources of obtaining decorations and party favors, locations of on-campus and off-campus party facilities, sources of food, recipes for non-alcoholic drinks, and related information. Items on the party-planning checklist are a calendar, facility/location, budget, staffing/safety, food/beverage, entertainment/setting, marketing/promotion, transportation, and clean-up/aftermath.
Parties are evaluated based on standardized scoring criteria, which include attendance, theme, entertainment and activities, refreshments, and guests’ level of enjoyment. The party with the highest score wins a cash prize of $300. Honorable mentions of $100 are also awarded. All groups who register are sent a letter commending their participation.
This activity is well received on campus, with many student groups indicating their continued support for the contest. The evaluations of the party-planning workshop are quite positive.
Student to Student Guide
Contact:
Boston College
Enrollment: 14,695
Private, Four Year Institution
Kimberly Timpf, M.Ed.
Assistant Dean
Alcohol and Drug Education
Office of the Dean for Student Development
O’Connell House 109
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA 02167
(617) 552-8639
Objectives:
• To provide information about alcohol-free activities in the community surrounding the campus
• To address questions students have regarding campus policies and procedures
Description:
Students in the Alcohol and Drug Issues Council of the Undergraduate Government of the College developed a publication entitled "Student to Student: A Guide to Good Times at Boston College." The purpose of the council is to create alternatives to alcohol-focused socializing, challenge existing perceived norms of drinking by student leaders, and provide resources for students on university policies and procedures regarding alcohol abuse. The council’s resource publication, designed to assist new students, was created in response to requests by students and to information gathered from the survey of incoming students, which indicated that a large number of students were non-drinkers and that many did not focus their socializing around alcohol.
To prepare the booklet, five members of the council researched information by category. Information on an activity provides a description, location, telephone number, hours of operation, directions by public transportation, and approximate price range where applicable. Major topic areas in the booklet are: Desserts and Coffee Houses, Other Fun Places to Eat, Movies and Dinner, Music and Dancing, Comedy/Theater, Ongoing Performances, Day Trips, Museums, On-Campus Activities, Outdoor Adventures, Sports, Shopping/Malls, Points of Interest, Performance Centers, and Historical Landmarks/Sightseeing.
In addition, council members responded to questions frequently asked by students regarding the campus alcohol policy. Council members determined the answers by interviewing members of the university community, including university police, judicial affairs officers, and university housing officials. Once the information was compiled, the students and an advisor to the council met with marketing personnel to design the booklet. Funding for production of the booklet was provided by the student government.
Copies of the booklet are distributed to every freshman within the first three weeks of classes. The council members go from room to room in each freshman residence hall and personally explain the philosophy and purpose of the council and the reasons for publication of the resource.
Response to the publication has been very positive. Students have become familiar with the council’s activities, resulting in applications for positions on the council. Popularity of the programs and events sponsored by the council has also increased.
Additional Awareness and Information Programs
Alcohol and Drug Awareness Committee
Great Basin College
Enrollment: 3,000
Public, Two Year Institution
Bernadette Longo, R.N.
Chairperson, Nursing Instructor, Student Development Specialist
Great Basin College
1500 College Parkway
Elko, NV 89801
(702) 777-1810
Objectives:
• To help individuals make more educated choices
• To create awareness about and provide information on various aspects of substance use, misuse, and abuse
Description:
The focus on campus is on awareness as the starting point in influencing the culture of the campus. Understanding substance abuse and promoting a healthy climate are stressed, as is information on support systems and treatment. Activities include an awareness week, support groups, displays, presentations, library resources, and red ribbons. The unique partnership with the college rodeo club is designed to promote health and drug free rodeos.
All-U-Day Tailgate Party
Penn State - Worthington Scranton Campus
Enrollment: 1,325
Public, Four Year Institution
Mary H. Brown, R.N.C. (E-mail)
College Health Nurse
120 Ridge View Drive
Dunmore, PA 18512
(717) 963-2681
Objectives:
• To encourage awareness of responsible driving to and from a football game
• To sponsor an alcohol-free tailgate party prior to a football game
Description:
The All-U-Day Tailgate Party targets the entire campus community of students, staff, and faculty. Its aim is to encourage participants to enjoy themselves without drinking. Activities include serving pizza, hoagies, and soda from the tailgate of a truck. Various games are offered with prizes given to the winners; for example, throwing a hula-hoop around the "Nittany Lion," Alcohol Trivia Contest, and guessing the total of the numbers on the jerseys of the Nittany Lion football team.
Students define goals, design the games and shop for prizes for the winners. This annual event, sponsored by the Health Club and Student Union Board, receives positive feedback.
Halloween Mini-Drama Project
Mountain Empire Community College
Enrollment: 2,834
Public, Two Year Institution
Janet Lester, M.A. (New Contact: Todd Milam) (E-mail)
Associate Professor/Counselor
Mountain Empire Community College
P.O. Box Drawer 700
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
(540) 523-2400
Objectives:
• To provide an opportunity for collaboration between college and community leaders
• To communicate to youth the potentially tragic results of drug and alcohol abuse
Description:
Rather than displaying the usual ghosts and goblins during Halloween week, the haunted house, held in the local National Guard Armory and co-sponsored by college and community, features an admission free mini-drama entitled "Terror on 13th Street" that illustrates the tragic consequences that can result when young people experiment with substances. As the "grim reaper" leads groups of 15-20 through the 10 scenes, the story of the tragic death of a teenager unfolds.
Scenes incorporated include street scenes, a court room, a jail with criminals, family confrontation, mixture of alcohol and pills, an emergency room, a morgue, a funeral scene, an alley, and a graveyard scene. As students exit the drama, they are asked to sign substance-free contracts.
Community involvement is essential to the success of this project. Campus personnel, students, civic clubs, the county school system, leaders from the community and volunteers all collaborate on and support this annual substance abuse prevention project.
Additional Awareness and Information Programs
Health Tips
McHenry County College
Enrollment: 4,933
Public, Two Year Institution
Linda Brogan, R.N. (E-mail)
Health Promotions Specialist
8900 U.S. Highway 14
Crystal Lake, IL 60012-2796
(815) 455-8581
Objective:
• To provide health tips to students in creative ways
Description:
Using the Health Observances Calendar as a guide, a DOS program provides health tips for computers. Whenever these computers are turned on, a health tip automatically appears. These brief tips give information, highlight campus programs, and address specific health issues unique to the campus. The message on the mainframe is changed every week and is installed on approximately 80% of the student-use computers. As the computers are updated constantly, information can be changed readily. The messages are brief and include a contact name for additional information. One example is "April is National Awareness Month. In Illinois last year there were 1,566 fatal automobile accidents, 681 of these fatalities were alcohol related. Operating on a grant from the State of Illinois, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department has dedicated over 140 hours per month to extra DUI patrols."
Promise Tree
Indian River Community College
Enrollment: 22,068
Public, Two Year Institution
Patricia Corey, R.N. (E-mail)
Health and Wellness Coordinator
Indian River Community College
3209 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
(561) 462-4738
Objective:
• To promote responsible choices regarding alcohol
Description:
Sponsored by BACCHUS and incorporated within the campus BACTOBERFEST, this activity involves the construction of a "Promise Tree." Students and employees sign their name to a "leaf" representing their promise to make responsible choices regarding alcohol. Approximately 250 "promises" from a diverse campus population are attached to the "Promise Tree." Created in the fall, the tree is transformed into a winter scene prior to the winter holiday break. The transformation from fall to winter represents each individual’s commitment to keep his or her promise throughout the season.
RADAR
Rosemont College
Enrollment: 758
Private, Four Year Institution
Virginia LaRossa, Ph.D.
Director of Counseling
1400 Montgomery Avenue
Rosemont, PA 19010-1699
(610) 527-0200 ext. 2416/2975
Objective:
• To provide opportunities for students to discuss drug and alcohol issues
Description:
This program is held weekly in the freshman residence hall and is attended mostly by first-year students. Students gather to watch the popular television show "Friends"; RADAR (Rosemont Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resources) peers remain after the show and provide information about alcohol and drugs. They also discuss any drug and alcohol issues touched on by the television program. Refreshments are served during the event.
Additional Awareness and Information Programs
Safe Break Kits
Saint Mary College
Enrollment: 592
Private, Four Year Institution
Nancy Longhibler, M.Ed.
Counselor
Saint Mary College
4100 South 4th Street
Leavenworth, KS 66048
(913) 758-6143
Objective:
• To promote personal responsibility for one’s own choices
Description:
For the campus’ Safe Spring Break Week, BACCHUS members distribute "Safe Break Kits" provided by health services, etc. The kits include a pamphlet on first aid, bandaids, antiseptic wipes, aspirin, and ibuprofen. BACCHUS adds a card describing alcohol poisoning and how it should be handled.
Series of Campaigns
University of Redlands
Enrollment: 3,723
Private, Four Year Institution
Doug Everhart, M.A. (E-mail)
Director
Leadership and Recreation
P.O. Box 3080
Redlands, CA 92373-0999
(909) 335-5103
Objective:
• To focus attention on specific issues such as alcohol
Description:
The campus PRIDE (Promoting Responsible and Informed Decisions through Education) Substance Abuse Prevention Program believes that a series of programs over a period of time works more effectively than a program that is offered only once. During the academic year, PRIDE is directly responsible for seven awareness week or month campaigns, when attention is focused on a specific issue or topic. During these periods, various educational and social programs, speakers, contests, and informational and promotional items are offered. Examples of these focused weeks are Alcohol Awareness Week, Red Ribbon Week, Drunk and Drug Driving (3D) Prevention Month, Alcohol Awareness Month, and Safe Spring Break.
Student Club Poster Contest
Walters State Community College
Enrollment: 5,824
Public, Two Year Institution
Millicent Prince, R.N. (E-mail)
College Nurse
500 South Davy Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN 37813
(423) 585-6820
Objectives:
• To reach more students by adding an academic facet to the campus program
• To help students make intelligent decisions about alcohol and drugs
Description:
The Student Club Poster Contest, as part of the overall campus effort, involves many students. Memos are sent to all clubs and advisors inviting them to participate in the contest. The poster messages must support the goals and objectives of alcohol/drug awareness and prevention. After the posters have been judged, they are displayed throughout the campus, with first, second, and third place winners identified. Each club that participates receives $25. The first place winner receives $100, and the second and third place winners receive $75 and $50, respectively.
Additional Awareness and Information Programs
Summer Previews
Northern Arizona University
Enrollment: 20,131
Public, Four Year Institution
Virgil Pedro, M.S.W.
Counselor
Counseling and Testing Center
P.O. Box 6045
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
(520) 523-2261
Objective:
• To provide new students and their parents with information on alcohol, drugs and related issues
Description:
During the summer orientation program, one evening of vignettes is offered for students and their parents. The Summer Previews counselors act out a series of vignettes on alcohol abuse, date rape, drinking and driving, eating disorders, and related issues. Students are divided into small groups where they discuss their reaction to the vignettes. Counseling and Testing Center staff help facilitate the discussion and assist students who might experience a serious reaction to the vignettes.
Super Bowl SunDRY
Hillsborough Community College
Enrollment: 782
Public, Two Year Institution
Claire Jordan
Student Activities Advisor
1206 North Park Road
Plant City, FL 33566-2799
(813) 757-2107
Objectives:
• To influence students’ decisions regarding drinking and driving
• To incorporate a peer-to-peer approach
• To promote responsible choices regarding alcohol use
Description:
Since the majority of students are of legal drinking age and are primarily commuters, strategies offered to address alcohol abuse build on existing social events. The Peer Education Programming Committee of the Student Government Association works with interested students to develop a theme and assign responsibilities designed to combine elements of interest to students and bring information to them in a non-threatening manner.
The Super Bowl SunDRY Program targets students who are on campus on the Friday before Super Bowl Sunday and offers alcohol-free beverages and food, and distributes materials on responsible choices. Some of the materials include brochures from national alcohol brewers on designated driver programs and consumption choices.
To advertise the program, flyers and posters are distributed around campus, information is distributed to faculty members, and notices are placed in the campus newsletter.
Sourcebook
Promising Practices:
Campus Alcohol Strategies
ENVIRONMENTAL AND TARGETED APPROACHES
Directory of Environmental and Targeted Approaches
The goal of environmental and targeted efforts is to change the behavioral and attitudinal norms of a college/university by focusing either on the campus as a whole or on specific groups. The campus can be divided into appropriate and manageable segments to facilitate working with specific audiences with unique needs. Messages and strategies are then shaped to each group’s particular needs. Typical groups for targeted efforts include athletes, first-year students, fraternity and sorority members, judicial offenders and students in recovery. A broad definition of diversity on the campus is encouraged by campus leaders.
To provide more accurate information about student behavior and attitudes and campus services, environmental and targeted efforts use survey data, media strategies, theater, public information campaigns, and other programming (Northern Illinois University). Another major element of this component are messages that demonstrate the wide diversity of students’ needs on a campus (Indiana State University and University of Colorado at Boulder). Specialty topics include peer education on sexual assault (Brown University).
Some institutions provide activities on campus as alternatives to students frequenting neighborhood bars. Several examples of alternative activities are cited in this section. Community involvement is encouraged (e.g., housing students work in areas around a campus). Bartender training is another option (Wheeling Jesuit College). Wellness floors or substance-free residence halls and other residential approaches may form part of the housing facilities for students (Bucknell University, Washington University, Saint Michael’s College, Yakima Valley Community College and University of Wisconsin, Madison). Passive programming techniques (University of Alaska at Anchorage) may also be included. Professionals state that active student involvement and accountability are very helpful to the success of the initiative.
Another environmental/targeted approach is to form a presidential commission or council to provide vision and leadership for, and oversight and review of, the campus effort. These task forces can be short-lived, periodic or long-term (College of Saint Rose).
Professionals have noted that the implementation of environmental and targeted efforts must be based on a need. They emphasize the importance of knowing the campus culture and the specific audience to be addressed and they further believe that feedback, which provides evaluations and insights about what works, must be provided. For these approaches to be successful, not only are administrative support and campus collaboration essential, but also a positive perspective on the part of all those involved in the implementation of the process is extremely important.
The following are additional noteworthy programs for Environmental and Targeted Approaches reported elsewhere in this Sourcebook.
Alfred University
Judicial Community Service Contracts
Boston College
Normative Assessment Survey of Incoming Students
Indiana State University
Residence Hall Intervention Programs
Iowa State University
Filling the Media Gap
Luther College
Student Life Resource Room
Northeastern University
Comprehensive Process for Policy Enforcement
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Wellness Center
University of Rhode Island
Citations, Fines and Follow-up
University of Scranton
The D.I.C.E. Office
University of Virginia
Campus-wide Initiatives
Western Washington University
Project WE CAN
DIRECTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND TARGETED APPROACHES
Alcohol-Free Housing: Saint Michael's College, Washington University
Alternate Spring Break: Maryville University of St. Louis
Alternative Activities: Charles County Community College, Syracuse University, University of Missouri - Columbia
Athlete and Greek Alcohol Course: Keene State College
CALVIN & HOBBES: Bucknell University
Drinking and Driving Initiatives: Duke University
First Year Student Strategies: Miami University
Focused Athlete Sessions: Buffalo State College
Fraternity/Sorority Initiatives: Indiana State University, University of Colorado at Boulder
Friday Midnight Movies: State University of New York College at Brockport
Healthy Lifestyles Program: North Adams State College (Now known as Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)
Learning Community Experience: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Living/Learning Contract: Yakima Valley Community College
Media Campaign: Bridgewater State College
Midnight Madness: Baldwin-Wallace College
Natural High Club: Southwest Missouri State University
Newspaper Media Campaign: State University of New York College at Cortland
Norms Correction Efforts: Washington State University
Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Services: The College of Saint Rose
Orientation Sessions: Concordia University, Dean College, Longwood College
Orientation Videotape: Colorado State University
Passive Programming Techniques: University of Alaska Anchorage
P.E.P. Choices: Northern Kentucky University
Pledge Workshop: University of Pennsylvania
Presentations on Alcohol Advertising: San Francisco State University
Prevention Perspectives Newsletter: Indiana University - Bloomington
Project SAVE the TIGERS: Clemson University
Promoting Student Success: North Adams State College (now known as Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)
Protocol for Students Abusing Alcohol: Saint Michael's College
Safe and Responsible Bartender Training: Wheeling Jesuit University
Screening for Alcohol Abuse: Stephens College
Sexual Assault Peer Education Program: Brown University
Social Influence Campaign: Northern Illinois University
Student Health Education Volunteer Project: Marshall University
Talk Show for New Students: State University of New York College at Geneseo
Targeting Sub-Populations: Oakland University
Underage Drinking Task Force: Saint Louis University
Weekend Social Activities: Middlesex Community College
Wellness Program: Southeast Community College - Lincoln Campus
Alcohol-Free Housing
Contacts:
Saint Michael’s College
Enrollment: 2,628
Private, Four Year Institution
Michael Samara, M.Ed.
Vice President
Megan Powers, M.S. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Alcohol Education and Programs
Student Life Office, Saint Michael’s College
Winooski Park, Box 267
Colchester, VT 05439
(802) 654-2566
Washington University
Enrollment: 11,655
Private, Four Year Institution
Daniel R. Herbst, M.S.
Director
Health Awareness Program
One Brookings Drive
Campus Box 1136
Washington University
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 935-4062
Objectives:
• To provide an alcohol-free residence environment
• To provide support for those who do not wish to have alcohol present in their living environments
Description:
An alcohol-free residence hall is an environmental strategy that is available on some campuses. Substance-free housing was offered as a specialty housing option at Washington University several years ago. Prepared by the Center for Chemical Abuse Prevention Education (CAPE) and Residential Life, this option is offered to all residential students who wish to live in university housing where alcohol, tobacco products and other non-prescription drugs are prohibited. Developed in response to students’ requests, this type of residence hall reflects a growing concern for personal health and wellness.
At St. Michael’s College, GREAT (Growing Recognition of the Effects of Alcohol on Thinking) Housing was established in response to recommendations from the campus’ alcohol task force. This housing option is undertaken with the hopes of empowering the population of students who choose not to use and/or abuse alcohol. Based on a principle of peer support it is designed to offset and combat peer pressure. Campus officials hope that, with nurture and organization, these students will "find their voice on campus" and in turn work with other offices, departments and students to begin and maintain the process of changing the campus culture surrounding alcohol abuse.
Students living in GREAT Housing collaborate with many offices and departments on campus. Through the Admissions Office, they provide tours of this living environment to prospective students. Better marketing strategies have been utilized in promoting GREAT Housing (e.g., a pamphlet and a view book in the Admissions office). Through student activities, the weekly publication, "Let’s Go Out", which lists on-campus and local weekend activities, is distributed and a "Van To Nowhere" program provides students with transportation to events. During the Spring and Fall Orientations, students from GREAT Housing are members of a panel to relay their experiences of living in an alcohol-free environment. In addition, these students have created a means by which to build and maintain connections among members living in different alcohol-free areas of campus as well as with other departments on campus. Under the Office of Alcohol Education and Programs, they have created an Alcohol Advisory Committee (comprised of representatives from each area) whose primary responsibilities include sponsoring alcohol drug free activities on weekend nights and developing stronger connections with other departments on campus. In addition, they have created a Mentor/Mentee program to facilitate the development of community among new and returning students to GREAT Housing. Finally, they have all agreed to sign and live by a Community Living Agreement; thus members share responsibility for holding each other accountable for inappropriate behaviors.
Results from this process demonstrate interest; students are involved in ongoing discussions about how to further improve both the alcohol-free housing as well as the environment on the campus. At Washington University, requests for spaces in substance-free housing has increased five-fold in a three year time span.
Alternative Activities
Contacts:
Charles County Community College
Enrollment: 5,925
Public, Two Year Institution
Linda Smith, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Project Manager
SMART Center
Charles County Community College
8730 Mitchell Road
P.O. Box 910
Laplata, MD 20646-0910
(301) 870-2309
Syracuse University
Enrollment: 18,973
Private, Four Year Institution
Michael Elmore, M.A., M.Ed. (E-mail)
Director
Student Activities
231 Schine Student Center
Syracuse, NY 13244
(315) 443-2718
University of Missouri - Columbia
Enrollment: 22,136
Public, Four Year Institution
Kim Dude, M.Ed.
Assistant Director of Student Life
Wellness Resource Center and ADAPT
205 Brady Commons
University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-4634
Objectives:
• To offer alcohol-free activities for students
• To increase student awareness of and access to a variety of alcohol-free events
Description:
The availability of alcohol-free programs on the campus, and student awareness of their availability, is a central environmental strategy offered in a variety of formats.
At Charles Community College, a fashion show depicting healthy lifestyle alternatives is offered. Part of the National Collegiate Health and Wellness Week (NCHWW) activities and the Safe Break Campaign, this event promotes ways of staying healthy and safe during the Spring Break and throughout the year. The fashion show depicts sports activities that individuals could become involved in during the Spring Break or at any time of the year. In the script of the show, messages address underage drinking, drinking and driving, helmet safety and other safety issues to remind students to choose healthy lifestyles. This campaign effort is planned by the Southern Maryland Alcohol/Drug Resource (SMART) Center. Students from BACCHUS, Peer Educators, and staff members from the SMART and Wellness Centers participate as models. Student volunteers demonstrate bicycle racing and roller skating. Local merchants loan necessary clothing and equipment to display active wear such as skiing, bicycling, roller blading, basketball, aerobics, weight lifting, jogging and motor cross racing. The script incorporates the model’s personal plans, dreams and goals.
The Arts Adventure Program at Syracuse University is designed to influence the student culture by encouraging students to experience the local offerings of theater, music and visual arts. The program is designed to increase student awareness of and access to artistic and intellectual expression in the out-of-classroom setting. The program charges first-year and transfer students a $25 per semester fee and establishes an Arts Adventure account, which provides them with easy access to an array of more than 150 events in the surrounding community. An agreement reached with most arts presenters in the region has them provide tickets at half price for all Arts Adventure participants. In addition, a van paid for by the program fees transports participants to off-campus locations free of charge.
At the University of Missouri - Columbia, the Alcohol Awareness Month includes several alcohol-free events. The "Non-Alcoholic Happy Hour" is typically the most popular event of the year. Alcohol-free drinks, pizzas, juices, submarines, cheese trays and other foods are donated by local vendors. In an effort to make the "Happy Hour" more educational, notice boards are prepared, with a variety of messages such as the correlation between alcohol abuse and academic problems. Also, special napkins are printed with the "zero-one-two-three" message. An alcohol-free coffee house is offered at which free coffee mugs printed with the message "CHEERS to the Designated Driver" are distributed.
For all of the activities offered during Alcohol Awareness Month at the University of Missouri - Columbia, an incentive system is established to increase the critical mass of students involved. Names and addresses are taken at each of the events (except the Happy Hour) and points are given at each event with some events receiving more points than others. At the end of the month, monetary awards are given to the residence hall floor and the residence hall, as well as the fraternity/sorority pledge class and fraternity/sorority house, that accumulate the highest percentage of members in attendance throughout the month.
CALVIN & HOBBES
Contact:
Bucknell University
Enrollment: 3,698
Private, Four Year Institution
Robert Thomas, M.A. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Alcohol and Other Drug Programs
Student Health Service
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA 17837
(717) 524-1159
Objectives:
• To provide members and the rest of the university community with desirable opportunities relative to current campus norms
• To sponsor numerous on and off campus alcohol-free activities
Description:
The name CALVIN & HOBBES stands for Creating A Lively Valuable Ingenious New Habit Of Being (at) Bucknell (and) Enjoying Sobriety. As the organization’s constitution states, this student group "was set up with the goal of providing its members and the rest of the Bucknell community with active and desirable choices to the current ‘norms’ of the Bucknell social community." The effort was conceived, planned, and implemented by students with the assistance of the coordinator of Alcohol and Other Drug Programs, the Office of the Dean of Students, and a faculty member. The members express to their fellow classmates that they no longer use drugs or alcohol to enjoy themselves.
This student group has become officially recognized by the university, sponsors numerous activities on and off the campus, such as bowling, ice skating, hiking, bands and movies. Some of these events are scheduled to begin in the evening after university sponsored activities have ended.
Involvement in CALVIN & HOBBES gives members opportunities to improve confidence, self-esteem and leadership abilities. The group is promoted as a social option and is open to anyone who wants to have fun. Advertising for membership builds upon individual motivation and the desire to be a role model. It attempts to attract a person who "wants to be accepted on weekends by others for who you are not what you drink."
Membership in the group expanded dramatically during the first year, with interest expressed or participation by over 400 students. While 60% of the members are first-year students, the group encompasses all classes as well as fraternity/sorority members. The group recently moved into a former fraternity house, which provides attractive social space for group functions.
The group has been recognized for innovative programming by Trend (Turning Recreational Excitement in New Directions), a division of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, for innovative programming.
Fraternity/Sorority Initiatives
Contacts:
Indiana State University
Enrollment: 11,641
Public, Four Year Institution
Julie Miller, M.S.
Assistant Director
Student Health Promotion
567 N. 5th Street
Terre Haute, IN 47809
(812) 237-3933
University of Colorado at Boulder
Enrollment: 24,548
Public, Four Year Institution
Amber Tetlow, M.A. (E-mail)
Greek Liaison
University Memorial Center
Campus Box 207
University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, CO 80309
(303) 492-5425
Objectives:
• To address the social environment in fraternities and sororities
• To promote healthy settings for fraternity and sorority members
• To educate fraternity/sorority members about health issues that have an impact on the quality of their life
Description:
Because of the involvement of fraternity and sorority members in alcohol-related incidents, campus officials often implement targeted approaches for members of these organizations. Indiana State University incorporates the Greek Peer Advocate Program and the University of Colorado at Boulder utilizes a TEAM Campus Weekend.
Each of these efforts is designed to change the culture of the fraternities and sororities.
The aim of the Greek Peer Advocate Program is to provide more systematic prevention and health information for fraternities and sororities. A peer education model was selected to affect the norms within the fraternity/sorority system. The Greek Peer Advocate Program trains students to serve as health resources for their respective fraternity and sorority chapter. Greek Peer Advocates (GPAs) complete a series of "Greek Shops" on core health issues, such as alcohol and drugs, stress management, fitness and healthy relationships. Following training, GPAs attend bi-weekly meetings, complete one-on-one sessions with a staff member, and provide one health education program each month for their chapter. They also participate in campus-wide health education events, such as health fairs and awareness campaigns.
The University of Colorado at Boulder’s TEAM Campus Weekend focuses on leadership in the fraternity and sorority environment. Several speakers address issues including responsible behavior and changing culture as well as alcohol-free social functions. Based on previous negative publicity, student leaders decided to take action to reverse the trends with alcohol-related incidents, and the corresponding negative publicity. They wanted to raise awareness within the fraternity/sorority community, educate peers on responsible behavior and the consequences of not employing it, and facilitate changes in behavior by enforcing stricter policies.
Further, they wanted to offer alcohol-free alternatives to activities that have involved excessive alcohol consumption in the past.
The TEAM Campus Weekend is sponsored by GAMMA (Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol). Further support is provided by the campus Greek Liaison Office, the alumni advisors, and student leaders. Implementation of the Greek Peer Advocate Program is conducted collaboratively by students from Greek Affairs and Student Health Promotion. Graduate field work students, graduate assistants and undergraduate interns are also incorporated from an academic program and undergraduate interns from the Social Department assist in the program.
The number of participating chapters increases with each successive training series of the Greek Peer Advocate Program. Currently, two-thirds of the campus chapters have named a GPA with some chapters naming several GPAs. Evaluation includes a needs assessment, a pre/post survey to measure mastery of training topics, and a pre/post test using the Wellness Inventory administered to randomly selected chapter members. At the University of Colorado, the number of alcohol-related problems associated with Greek events has dropped. Fraternity and sorority members are reported to be more involved in guiding their own actions and in identifying responsible ways to develop and implement institutional policies through participation in campus committees.
Learning Community Experience
Contact:
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Enrollment: 40,305
Public, Four Year Institution
Aaron Brower, Ph.D. (E-mail)
Professor
School of Social Work
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 263-4813
Objectives:
• To create an environment that promotes healthy choices and behaviors
• To motivate academic learning
• To help students create a first-year experience that integrates their academic and social life
Description:
The program staff of the Bradley Learning Community (BLC), a freshman residence hall, developed a structured community in which residents feel well connected and integrated into the various components of student life. The Bradley Learning Community has three main features that are not shared programmatically by students living in other university housing arrangements. These are the integration of academic and social activities, involvement of faculty in students’ lives outside of the classroom, and a focus on community development within the residence hall.
Students have frequent and varied contact with faculty teaching in the program. Ten "Faculty Fellows" teach sections of popular courses in the residence hall, lead discussions with groups of students, help supervise the student’s community service and interest cluster involvement, and serve as advisors and mentors to students in their academic and social decisions.
Some students participate in structured community service activities within the community surrounding the campus. The settings for these community service experiences are closely matched to the interests and strengths of each individual student.
Students also participate in "Reflective Journal Groups" which thematically integrate their social and academic activities during the year. These journal groups include discussions and reflections on broad topics, such as environmental concerns, the arts or technology. Student activities throughout the year are related to their journal groups.
During the first phase of this project, patterns of student culture and behavior at critical points throughout the academic year are documented. Results gathered are used to refine the focus and implement the ongoing longitudinal study of how healthy and thoughtful student choices and behaviors are best shaped by structured living/learning communities. Comparisons are made between the BLC students and others living in university residence halls to document the living/learning experience and its impact on the residents. A matched comparison group is identified on issues such as goals, expectations and aspirations. Individual academic and social behavior is also documented with noted changes on items such as grade point average and learning skills, academic progress, integration into the university community, drinking behavior, drunk-driving citations, alcohol-related health problems and/or injuries, and other health issues.
Living/Learning Contract
Contact:
Yakima Valley Community College
Enrollment: 6,051
Public, Two Year Institution
Wendy Wallace
Coordinator
Student Resident Center
1113 South 14th Avenue
Yakima, WA 98902
(509) 574-4887
Objectives:
• To provide a healthy residence hall setting
• To involve students in the process of implementing standards for their own living environment
Description:
The Student Resident Center provides an on campus, multi-cultural, living and learning experience for students. The Center has adopted a living/learning contract that addresses, among other things, the issue of alcohol. The contract is a part of the living agreement between the college and the student resident.
At the beginning of the academic year, all student residents attend an orientation session. One of the activities of this session is to review the policies in the student handbook. As documented in the handbook, the college believes that students "should have the opportunity to set expectations for one another in their own community." At the same time it is acknowledged that established guidelines should reflect local, state and federal laws, as well as policies and procedures of the college. Included in the policies is the alcohol policy, which prohibits the possession, consumption, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages in the Student Resident Center and its adjoining grounds. At the end of the session, students sign a living/learning contract, acknowledging that they have been informed of the college’s policies and procedures.
When a policy violation occurs, a clear procedure is enacted and a judicial review committee is convened. This committee, comprised of other residents, resident advisors and staff of the college, reviews the incident and makes a recommendation regarding appropriate disciplinary action.
College officials cite that, after instituting the living/learning contract, the annual damage to the residence hall was reduced to 20% of its prior amount. Further, reports of rape and other violent crimes decreased dramatically. As a result, the Student Resident Center has been recognized as a safer place to live, which has an increase in the number of residents and thus an increase in revenue.
Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Services
Contact:
The College of Saint Rose
Enrollment: 3,879
Private, Four Year Institution
John R. Ellis, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Director
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Services
The College of Saint Rose
432 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 454-5166
Objectives:
• To implement a coordinated, comprehensive drug and alcohol prevention program
• To incorporate multiple strategies to affect the overall campus climate
Description:
A major component of this campus-wide program is the implementation of the Campus Climate Council (CCC). A group which meets monthly to assess the overall climate of the campus, CCC recommends and/or offers appropriate programs and activities that foster a happy, safe and educational environment for all campus constituencies. Consisting of student, faculty, administration and staff representatives, the group focuses on drug and alcohol prevention initiatives. When the CCC was formed, it was charged with three tasks:
(1) to assess the attitudes and issues regarding alcohol and drug use and abuse on campus; (2) to study the impact of the attitudes and behaviors on the campus and the surrounding community; and (3) to recommend modifications and/or changes in policies, sanctions and programming in the area of alcohol and drug prevention.
Outcomes anticipated by the college were a campus community that was more aware of the dangers of alcohol and drug use and abuse, a drop in the consumption of alcohol by the student population, and a decrease in academic and judicial problems related to drug and alcohol use.
The CCC further attempts to integrate, coordinate and expand prevention programming for the college by working with various offices and groups that provide programming. Co-sponsoring or offering additional complementary programs is another strategy. Many of these programs are presented in residence halls or at special events. Programs have been provided at New Student Orientation, administrative meetings, Student Leadership Development retreats, and meetings of the Board of Trustees.
The prevention program’s major goal is to expose all college constituencies to the physical, mental and social implications of the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. One strategy is a massive multi-media campaign offered throughout the academic year, utilizing posters, handouts, brochures, newspaper articles, advertisements, balloons, videotapes, computer software programs and audiotaped public service announcements. Often the media campaign is designed to take advantage of regular holidays and events such as Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break and the Super Bowl. Examples of campaign materials are a card labeled "Wear a green ribbon on St. Patrick’s day to support low-risk drinking choices" (10 specific strategies are also on the card) and the "Study hard and party smart" evaluation card which provides facts about alcohol consumption (the card can be reformatted and used as a bookmark).
During National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, the campus bookstore offers 20% off the purchase price of glassware for a specified period of time. The advertisement states "Just because it’s a beer mug doesn’t mean that you have to drink beer out of it!" The flyer suggests that the glassware could be put to good use as pencil holders, candy cups, paperclip holders, flower vases and non-alcoholic beverage glasses. A flyer called "The 10 Commandments of Low-Risk Drinking" includes items such as "Thou shalt not drink alcoholic beverages, if thou art under age 21", "Thou may switch to alcohol-free beverages to prevent inebriation" and "Thou shalt not drink and drive nor drive and drink."
An additional environmental approach uses computer mousepads, which state that "Getting Drunk is like a Computer Virus" and adds lines such as "Your system might crash and cause serious damage," "You may lose something important such as a project or a relationship" and "Your system might suddenly and unexpectantly purge itself."
The Core Survey is used to document success. Reductions in the number of alcohol-related violations and vandalism are also measures of the program’s effectiveness. In addition, increasing numbers of requests for alcohol-free social activities have been made. Further, faculty members are requesting more prevention information and programming in their classrooms.
Passive Programming Techniques
Contact:
University of Alaska Anchorage
Enrollment: 17,808
Public, Four Year Institution
Bruce Schultz, M.A. (E-mail)
Assistant Dean of Students
3211 Providence Drive, CC233
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 786-1214
Objectives:
• To target a broad range of students in various campus environments
• To provide students with information, tools, skills, and resources to make educated choices
Description:
Based on outcome assessments from prior campus efforts addressing alcohol education, the campus leadership determined that passive programming efforts would be more effective in getting messages across to a largely commuter campus population. Thus, the Campus Alcohol Team emphasizes passive programming techniques during their year-long activity. The team approach targets a broad range of students in various campus environments. All programs and events are linked to the goal of providing students with honest and accurate information, tools, skills and resources, so that they are able to make educated choices regarding the use of alcohol.
In the "90 Proof Tales" initiative, university police officers are invited into the residence halls to tell tales involving the sometimes deadly mixture of students and alcohol. High student turnout for these events is based in part on addressing real life alcohol situations on campus in the relaxed atmosphere of the residence hall.
The "80 Proof Passion" or "Sex Under the Influence?" uses professional staff members from the Counseling Center to discuss, in a conversation group format, the impact that alcohol has on one’s decision-making abilities. The local television station has filmed the session for news broadcasts.
Students dressed as Vince and Larry, the crash dummies, travel the campus from end to end revealing the consequences of drinking and driving to students. Students report being able to connect with the visual reminders regarding drinking and driving. In addition, several faculty members request that Vince and Larry bring their message to their classes.
Other approaches during National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week include resource displays (decorated tables match the week’s theme), videotapes (played continually for students to watch during class breaks), and mocktails (served in a bar-like atmosphere in a high traffic area of the campus center). A program entitled "Thinking About Having Sex?" involves an interactive presentation highlighting the role of alcohol in sexual decision-making. Another workshop ("Alcohol-Making Choices!") discusses how alcohol may affect one’s ability to make responsible choices. Scenarios such as driving under the influence, unsafe sex, and the university’s judicial consequences are part of the workshop.
Safe and Responsible Bartender Training
Contact:
Wheeling Jesuit University
Enrollment: 1,482
Private, Four Year Institution
Daniel Caron, M.S. (E-mail)
Director
Wellness and Drug Education
Wellness and Counseling Center
316 Washington Avenue
Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 243-2451
Objectives:
• To address underage drinking and problem drinking
• To reduce alcohol-related problems and their relationship to student grades, mental health and campus life
Description:
Safe and Responsible Bartender Training program addresses unsafe, underage drinking issues from both a "patron safety" and "business responsibility" perspective. This program was initiated to address the negative effects of heavy alcohol consumption by both underage and of-age students that was being felt on campus when students returned from bars. Typical policing efforts by law enforcement officials are limited because bars are recognized and treated as "private clubs." Student patrons consumed large quantities of alcohol, with resulting problems affecting many areas of college life such as student grades, physical and mental health, and campus community relations.
A campus-based committee brainstormed solutions to this problem and a meeting with the local neighborhood association followed to determine appropriate strategies. Local officials cited problems from students including vandalism and excessive noise in their neighborhoods. The strategy chosen was a state-sponsored bartender training program, which the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Commission agreed to provide. The Safe and Responsible Bartender Training features a mental health professional, an enforcement officer from the state Alcohol Beverage Control Commission and the County Prosector.
Letters of invitation to attend the training program were initially sent to each of the nine area bars. Since this did not generate enthusiastic support from the bar owner/managers, letters of invitation were again distributed to each bar, with copies of the invitation sent to the invited guest speakers, including the enforcement officer from the commission. This "convincing" letter of invitation resulted in a 100% response rate. Additional participants included college students, concerned neighborhood association members and the media.
Following the training program, it appeared that the "silence was broken" concerning the issues of underage drinking and patron intoxication. Community support to address these issues was generated. Specifically, one troublesome establishment was cited for various violations after this program, and was eventually closed.
Sexual Assault Peer Education Program
Contact:
Brown University
Enrollment: 7,174
Private, Four Year Institution
Toby Simon, M.Ed. (New Contact: Jean Joyce-Brady, Dean)(E-mail)
Associate Dean of Student Life
Box P
Providence, RI 02912
(401) 863-3145
Objectives:
• To promote an understanding of alcohol’s relationship to dating, violence and sexual assault
• To enhance communication skills and sexual interactions
Description:
The university implemented the Sexual Assault Peer Education (SAPE) program in response to the need to implement strategies to address alcohol and violence in relationships. The SAPE program addresses issues such as dating abuse, sexual violence and miscommunication. The goal of the program is to help students to enhance communication skills and sexual interactions.
The SAPE program began by training 90 female and male university students selected to become Sexual Assault Peer Educators. These students participate in an extensive 25-hour training program in the spring where they learn about and discuss the many aspects of sexual assault and dating violence. In addition, they learn group facilitation and basic counseling skills. They also evaluate themselves and decide whether they feel ready to address such an emotionally charged and sometimes difficult issue. The training also includes alcohol’s role as a social and sexual lubricant, the linkage of alcohol use with the possibilities of reckless behavior, the reduction of capacities for good judgment and the impairment of communication abilities.
The Peer Educators conduct a mandatory session on sexual assault for all first-year students where the relationship between alcohol and dating violence and sexual assault is discussed. The Peer Educators also provide leadership for the first-year orientation meeting on "Sex Without Consent," which is a theater piece and traveling road show. Peer Educators who want to be involved must attend rehearsals and an additional training program, which is approximately 40 hours in length.
Evaluation includes Consumer Satisfaction Surveys following the program. First year students are randomly selected and encouraged to respond to a telephone survey soliciting their reactions to the program. Written surveys are also distributed to counselors based in the residence halls.
Social Influence Campaign
Contact:
Northern Illinois University
Enrollment: 23,181
Public, Four Year Institution
Michael P. Haines, M.S. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Health Enhancement Services
University Health Services
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 753-9745
Objectives:
• To incorporate an environmental intervention through campus-wide programmatic efforts
• To change the perception of heavy alcohol use among students
• To reduce the heavy use of alcohol and its related negative consequences among students
Description:
The social influence model is primarily a media intervention model; interpersonal support is also integrated into the approach. To influence the behaviors of students, the principal media source used is the campus newspaper, because it is read by more than 60% of the student body daily. A secondary media approach used is the distribution of handout materials at public information events and the placement of them in campus literature boxes.
The content of the initiative is based on facts gathered from campus-wide surveys; these facts are presented in a positive manner. To correct the misperception about campus drinking norms, one advertisement called "The Facts about Drinking at NIU" states "Most NIU students (84%) did not cause physical harm to self or others as a consequence of drinking." Similarly "Nearly all NIU students (97%) disapprove of drunkenness which interferes with responsibilities." Another poster is titled "Did You Ever Wonder How You Compare To A Typical NIU Student?" This poster’s "good news" presents the results of the campus survey showing that most college students are healthy people. Examples of this fact include the statements that exercise is popular and that heavy drinking has decreased.
Another campaign is called "Students Speak..." which reports good news such as, "two-thirds of NIU students drink five or fewer drinks when they `party’."
One final example is called "Alcohol Myths" which presents facts to counteract two myths. The first is "A Near Myth" which is, "I’m a better driver when I’ve been drinking, I drive slow so it’s safer," and the second is an "Achilles Myth" which is, "Mixing different types of alcohol will make me drunk and give me a hangover."
Pilot testing of the campaign materials is conducted using small groups, focus groups and "mall intercept" interviews. These pre-tests develop the messages and judge which are appropriate and effective. Post-testing determines the scope and depth of the intervention.
Interpersonal support is provided through a concentrated effort to reinforce social influence messages in all interpersonal contacts. Informational presentations are made in academic classes and student groups, such as "Social and Individual Patterns of Alcohol Use," INFOPAX (a do-it-yourself educational kit that assists students to make presentations), and the educational series entitled SUDDS (Students Understanding Drinking, Drugs and Self).
The Social Influence Campaign component is evaluated through an annual survey to determine student drinking behaviors, assess behavior and perceptions, and identify alcohol-related negative consequences. Program planners cite a significant reduction in the perception of heavy drinking along with a parallel reduction in actual heavy drinking. After one year there was a 16% reduction in drinking. As the project continued through 1995, there was a 35% reduction in drinking and a 34% reduction in alcohol-related injuries.
Drinking and Driving Initiatives
Contacts:
Duke University
Enrollment: 11,511
Private, Four Year Institution
Jeanine Atkinson, M.S.
Substance Abuse Specialist
Duke University Medical Center
Box 3886
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-5771
John Dailey, M.P.A.
Community Police Officer
Duke University Police Department
Box 90425
502 Oregon Street
Durham, NC 27709
(919) 681-4371
Objectives:
• To raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse and alcohol’s correlation with many campus problems
• To educate students concerning state alcohol laws including driving while impaired
• To improve student-police relations
Description:
Working collaboratively, the Duke University Police and the University Substance Abuse Specialist offer an alcohol laws/alcohol impairment demonstration to students. The presentation contributes to the awareness and educational elements of a comprehensive alcohol program involving policy, enforcement, environmental factors, and intervention.
The presentation consists of an interactive lecture and an alcohol impairment demonstration. Information concerning alcohol related incidents involving Duke students is illustrated through past police reports and newspaper articles.
State alcohol laws are demonstrated. For example, a student in the audience under 21 years of age is given a beer to hold. The alcohol possession law is thus demonstrated and explained, as are the penalties for offenders. Other alcohol laws are similarly demonstrated. The examples generally provoke questions which clarify students’ understanding of alcohol laws.
The popular part of the program is the demonstration of alcohol impairment by two students. Prior to the program, these over 21 volunteers have several 12 ounce beers while supervised by a campus police officer or the substance abuse specialist. The goal is to show impairment, not being drunk. The volunteers are briefed about the rules and goals of the demonstration and sign waivers beforehand. Generally, the students are able to stand and talk to the officer in front of the group: when they attempt the divided attention roadside sobriety tests they perform poorly. Their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is then measured with an Alco-Sensor. The volunteers’ failure on the sobriety tests gets the audience’s attention and drives home the point that people can appear to be "fine" to drive but are actually impaired. Even those who do well on the roadside tests usually have a BAC between .08 and .10, meeting the legal requirement for impairment in the state.
The presentation also discusses the difference in alcohol effects for males and females, the potential for alcohol related injury and sexual assault, the consequences of arrest or citations, and the availability of campus resources for further information or help. Handouts include the costs of a conviction for driving while impaired (including lawyer fees and insurance fee increases), a BAC chart specific to gender, and a flowchart describing the recommended medical intervention for several alcohol related emergencies.
Evaluation shows that students demonstrate increased understanding of the effects of alcohol, increased awareness of state alcohol laws, and improved perceptions of campus police.
Focused Athlete Sessions
Contact:
Buffalo State College
Enrollment: 11,350
Public, Four Year Institution
Alice Sullivan, M.S., R.N. (E-mail)
Buffalo State College
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222-1095
(716) 878-6711
Objectives:
• To provide accurate research-based information to student athletes
• To reduce risks associated with the abuse of drugs and alcohol
• To promote low-risk choices among athletes
Description:
The mandatory Alcohol and Drug Education Program for Student Athletes encompasses two 60-minute sessions; each session is offered twice to reduce scheduling conflicts for the athletes. Students must complete the program before their sport begins or in the early part of the season. The presentations are also videotaped and shown to athletes who are unable to attend because of illness, work, or academic responsibilities. Topics include risks associated with abuse of alcohol and drugs, issues related to abuse and addiction, and risk reduction information. A combination of lecture, visual aids, and questions and answers, stimulates the group input. Handouts, which are kept to a minimum, focus on risk reduction, community resources, and assisting others. To promote a comfortable learning environment, coaches are not allowed at the presentations.
Friday Midnight Movies
Contact:
State University of
New York College at Brockport
Enrollment: 9,047
Public, Four Year Institution
Susan C. Hawkes, M.S. (E-mail)
Director
Student Activities and the College Union
SUNY College at Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, NY 14420-2949
(716) 395-5646
Objectives:
• To provide appealing alcohol-free activities for students, primarily freshmen
• To provide transportation to alcohol-free activities to minimize problems of access to the events
Description:
To compete with parties where alcohol is served, to minimize underage drinking and the use of fake IDs, and to minimize effects on residents and property, the Student Government sponsors Friday Midnight Movies at the local town movie theater. These provide an appealing activity for students, primarily freshmen. On a bi-weekly basis, the entire theater, complete with popular films on three screens, is rented for the students. By showing their college ID at the Student Government box office in the college union building, students get a ticket for the movie of their choice.
The Student Government’s operating budget absorbs the cost of staffing and operating the box office, tickets, promotion, publicity, advertisements, and other incidental expenses. Advertisements are published weekly in the student newspaper, and information is promoted through the Student Government’s web site and the campus’ closed-circuit cable TV. A minimum of four student volunteers are at the theater to collect tickets and monitor the sellout crowds.
Realizing that some of the films end after the town’s "no parking" ordinance goes into effect at 2 a.m., the Student Government negotiated with the Chief of Police and the Mayor to ensure that students attending the movie do not get parking tickets. In addition, the Student Government established a late night shuttle bus for the Friday movies.
Healthy Lifestyles Program
Contact:
North Adams State College (Now known as: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)
Enrollment: 1,729
Public, Four Year Institution
Kevin T. Clark (E-mail)
First Year Experience Coordinator
Office of Student Affairs
North Adams State College
North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 662-5500
Objective:
• To promote alcohol-free activities for first-year students on traditional "party nights"
Description:
The Healthy Lifestyles Program begins by mailing all first-year residential students a Healthy Lifestyle Choice form to determine their interest in being housed on a Healthy Lifestyles residence hall floor. A follow-up call is placed to students who select this option to determine the nature of their commitment. At the beginning of the semester, information meetings are held with students who live on the Healthy Lifestyles residence hall floors to create activities for traditional "party nights." These students plan and participate in a series of activities, including bowling, movies, games, skating, skiing, mall trips, and attending various on-campus events. Students who do not live on the Healthy Lifestyles floors, upperclass students from other residence areas, and those who typically choose to engage in "party behavior" are welcome to attend.
One outgrowth of this initiative is the development of a coffeehouse series which takes place on Saturday nights.
Media Campaign
Contact:
Bridgewater State College
Enrollment: 8,393
Public, Four Year Institution
Ann Doyle (E-mail)
Outreach Coordinator
Alcohol/Drug Education Health Services
Bridgewater State College
Bridgewater, MA 02325
(508) 697-1252
Objectives:
• To change students’ attitudes towards and patterns of use of alcohol and drugs
• To train peer educators to lead students through an alcohol/drug education program
Description:
McADOC (Media Campaign Addressing Drugs on Campus) is a peer-based alcohol and drug education and prevention program. Students selected to serve as McADOC peer educators become a member of either the production team or the promotion team after they receive training. The student peer educators conduct a media campaign and offer a range of programs on campus.
The promotion team offers educational programs, campus-wide events, and social marketing campaigns designed to change students’ attitudes about drugs and alcohol and their use of these substances. The team creates ten 30-second video public service announcements (PSAs) each year; these PSAs are shown on campus and on the local cable station.
The production team is responsible for the production of the video public service announcements which requires the use of campus media services. The peers borrow video equipment to shoot the PSAs and then edit the public service announcements in the studio.
The promotion team conducts an ongoing awareness and educational campaign. Marketing is conducted through newspaper advertisements, flyers, information tables, and promotional items. McADOC peers also offer alcohol-free events on campus, including encouraging community members to perform during the "Open Microphone Night."
Midnight Madness
Contact:
Baldwin-Wallace College
Enrollment: 4,789
Private, Four Year Institution
Janie Ehrman, M.Ed. (New Contact: Jamie Gray, Coordinator)(E-mail)
Director
Health Center
Baldwin-Wallace College
275 Eastland Road
Berea, OH 44017
(216) 826-2178
Objective:
• To provide alcohol-free activities for students on a weekly basis
Description:
Midnight Madness was developed and implemented by students who represent Greek Life, Athletics, and other student organizations to provide an alternative to the traditional Wednesday bar night on campus. The College Recreation Center and the college Health Center sponsor activities that are offfered from 11:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. each Wednesday. These activities include volleyball, floor hockey, indoor soccer, basketball, water sports, card games, board games, country line dancing, and self-defense. In addition, special activities such as "Velcro Olympics," "Sumo Wrestling," and "Bouncy Boxing" are offered. Free food, t-shirts, music, and prizes are provided each week.
Program assistance is provided by a graduate student from Student Life and the Director of the Campus Health Center. Funding is provided by a grant from the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. In addition, local businesses provide free food, t-shirts, water bottles, game tickets, gift certificates, and other in-kind services.
The program appears to be popular, with an average attendance of 2,200 students each week. Students appreciate the wide variety of activities, particularly the free food, and say they would have been partying at bars if the activities had not existed.
Natural High Club
Contact:
Southwest Missouri State University
Enrollment: 16,349
Public, Four Year Institution
Terri Oehm, M.A. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Wellness Education
Taylor Health & Wellness Center
Southwest Missouri State University
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65804
(417) 836-4045
Objectives:
• To encourage students to make a conscious commitment to healthier living by participating in outdoor recreational activities
• To use positive peer pressure to influence students to choose alcohol-free social activities
Description:
Starting as a collaborative effort between professional staff in the Taylor Health and Wellness Center and the Recreation and Intramural Sports Office, the university’s Natural High Club is a peer-led program. Students are the primary decision makers regarding club activities and goals. Natural High activities include social and educational meetings, co-sponsorship of outdoor adventure trips, community service, and participation in various campus events. Freshmen are the primary targets; however, support for the programs is welcome from all areas of the campus population. Upperclass students serve as role models for freshmen, changing the perception that all college activities involve alcohol.
Marketing initiative includes collaborative efforts with the campus news services department. Press releases are issued to the local media, flyers are distributed on campus, announcements are placed in the campus newspaper, and meetings are held in the residence halls and on campus. The Spring Break Giveaway is another strategy. This white-water rafting trip for two is the prize in a drawing. In order to enter, students must document that they attended the campus Health and Wellness Fair and visited a minimum of six exhibits or screenings.
Success of the Natural High Club is attributed to the strong support provided by the upper-level administration, the community, as well as the planning designed to meet the needs of students on campus.
Norms Correction Efforts
Contacts:
Washington State University
Enrollment: 19,571
Public, Four Year Institution
Jeanne Far, M.A., M.Ed. (E-mail)
Research Director
John Miller (E-mail)
Program Coordinator
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Washington State University
301 Administration Annex
Pullman, WA 99164-4134
(509) 335-6379
(509) 332-6062
Objectives:
• To correct misperceptions about campus alcohol norms held by the campus’ highest-risk group
• To document the program’s effectiveness in correcting student misperceptions about alcohol practices and beliefs
Description:
Building on efforts to address misperceptions held by high-risk groups about campus alcohol norms, the norm correction program targets the Greek system and freshmen residence halls. Earlier programming documents that, when students’ too-liberal misperceptions about beliefs and behaviors are changed, the amount of alcohol the students consume is reduced. The campus-wide program begins with responses to a questionnaire mailed to a random sample of students. Information regarding both estimated and actual beliefs and behaviors of students throughout the campus is summarized. Subsequently, the same questionnaire is distributed to members who live in a fraternity or sorority house. During the scheduled in-house program, members are presented with their own house’s findings, which are compared to those for the entire Greek system and the campus as a whole. The discussion that follows this presentation is lively and engaging.
Responses to attitude questions, such as "drinking is never a good thing to do," to "a frequent ‘drunk’ is okay if that’s what the individual wants to do," are also tallied. Participants indicate whether they think other students drink more or less than they do, and compare their estimates about other students with what these students report. Specific topics include alcohol consumption at a party, consequences of drinking, frequency of consuming alcohol, and overall quantity of alcohol consumed. The presentation discusses how often students are encouraged to drink more than they would like to, how often someone else’s drinking interferes with what they want to do, and related questions.
While formal findings are not yet available, a general decrease in heavy drinking on the campus is noted.
Newspaper Media Campaign
Contact:
State University of
New York College at Cortland
Enrollment: 6,588
Public, Four Year Institution
Catherine Layton, M.S.W. (New Contact: Robyn Forester)
Coordinator
Substance Education/Prevention
SUNY Cortland
B-40 Van Hoesen Hall
P.O. Box 2000
Cortland, NY 13045
(607) 753-2066
Objectives:
• To encourage students to critically examine their own heavy alcohol use behaviors
• To present humorous, eye-catching ads that will appeal to all groups on campus
Description:
"The Adventures of Dick" media campaign is an alcohol/drug awareness program that consists of a series of display ads published in the student newspaper. Targeted to all students, especially the drug and alcohol users, the ad series depicts the antics of a fictitious college student, named Dick, and his heavy use of drugs and alcohol. This humorous, yet poignant, story of Dick’s experiences with drinking and drug use provides a means through which college students can examine their own behaviors in a non-threatening manner. A female character, Dickette, is a recent addition to the series.
Each of the ads features multiple cartoon figures together with prevention messages. For example, one shows Dick forgetting his evening class and another ad shows him looking "un-cool" as the result of negative consequences associated with substance use.
The ads are created in cooperation with a student editor, who is responsible for graphics, layout, and publishing of the campus newspaper. Ideas for "The Adventures of Dick" are generated through informal discussions in classes, with individual students, and with student groups. The humorous nature of both the Dick cartoon character and the text of the ads contributes to the broad appeal of this campaign. Because the circumstances in which Dick finds himself are not uncommon to college students, all students, whether users or non-users, can relate to him.
Anecdotal evaluation findings range from student-initiated discussions about Dick in classes and residence halls to students cutting out the ads and posting them in their rooms and apartments. Students look for the new ad each week.
Orientation Sessions
Contacts:
Concordia University
Enrollment: 976
Private, Four Year Institution
Joy Alexander (E-mail)
Director
Student Services
Concordia University
1530 Concordia West
Irvine, CA 92612
(714) 854-8002 ext. 433
Dean College
Enrollment: 650
Private, Two Year Institution
Jennifer A. Drake-Deese, M.A.
Coordinator
Counseling Services
Dean College
99 Main Street
Franklin, MA 02038-1994
(508) 541-1602
Longwood College
Enrollment: 3,404
Public, Four Year Institution
Valerie Jordan, M.Ed. (E-mail)
Director
New Student Programs
Longwood College
New Student Center
201 High Street
Farmville, VA 23909
(804) 395-2414
Objectives:
• To provide new students with information about the negative consequences associated with alcohol abuse
• To promote heightened awareness concerning appropriate behaviors on campus
• To help students become more adept at predicting and intervening in potentially problematic situations
Description:
New student activities emphasize specific prevention messages and are particularly helpful in disseminating information about specific behaviors of concern on campus.
At Longwood College, theater majors and orientation leaders act out an evening of drinking at a party. Designed to show the direct correlation between the quantity and frequency of drinking and negative consequences, these skits give students the opportunity to discuss alternative actions for significant points in the story. Following the input from the students, the actors perform the skit again, incorporating better choices about alcohol throughout the skit.
At Dean College, the date rape segment is taken from the movie "Higher Learning" and pieced together to form a powerful vignette on the excessive use of alcohol and date rape. Since the reality of the college scene is something the students can relate to, students are actively engaged in the session. Available for discussion at the session are professionals from Counseling Services, Public Safety, and Residence Life Coordinators. The involvement of these individuals from different locations on campus helps to heighten students’ awareness. Focused questions (such as, "What exactly is considered rape?") and an emphasis on transitions, decision making, rape prevention, and the law help to make the program a success.
A mock rape trial is presented during orientation week at Concordia University. Entitled "The Line: When a Date Becomes a Crime," this realistic presentation encourages discussion of the individual characters in the story and emphasizes new perspectives on the word "no." Jury members are chosen randomly from the audience. During the time that the "jury is in deliberation," a question and answer session for students is led by a certified rape counselor and a local police officer. A local superior court judge officiates at the trial and lawyers represent the plaintiff and the defendant.
Orientation Videotape
Contact:
Colorado State University
Enrollment: 21,914
Public, Four Year Institution
Jim Weber, M.S.W. (New Contact: Thomas Barr) (E-mail)
Director
Center for Drug and Alcohol Education
Hartshorn Health Service
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
(970) 491-1702
Objectives:
• To correct students’ misinformation about alcohol use on campus
• To reduce alcohol use and the negative consequences of alcohol misuse by first-year students
Description:
"To Drink or Not to Drink" is a 10-minute videotape designed for first-year students. Produced through the collaboration of the Center for Drug and Alcohol Education, Residence Life, the Preview Orientation Program, Campus TV, and the Technical Journalism Department, the video features the 30 percent of on-campus students who choose not to drink alcohol. Students are asked on film to explain why they choose not to use alcohol and to comment on the challenges that have arisen due to their decision, what they do instead of drinking alcohol, and ways that they have been rewarded for not using alcohol. Some of the footage shows students speaking in their peer groups, which accept and support them.
The diversity of the university’s community is acknowledged by featuring a representative sample of students. In addition, student diversity is highlighted in the many reasons cited for not drinking alcohol.
P.E.P. Choices
Contacts:
Northern Kentucky University
Enrollment: 11,637
Public, Four Year Institution
Melissa Eversole, M.Ed.
Student Wellness Coordinator
Northern Kentucky University
UC 300, Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099
(606) 572-6374
Objective:
• To create, through peer leadership, a campus environment that values responsible and low-risk choices concerning alcohol use
Description:
The Peers Educating Peers (P.E.P.) Choices Program is designed to educate students about alcohol and to motivate them to make informed choices concerning alcohol use. During the fall semester, the P.E.P. Choices Program targets incoming freshmen by presenting alcohol problem prevention education classes. In addition, the peer educators work with students in the community’s middle and high schools. Peer educators receive a small stipend and academic credit through the Service Learning Program.
This program bridges the gap between area high schools and the campus. Virtually all students commute, and most live in the surrounding communities and have attended the area’s high schools. The hope is that attention to the high school students will ultimately promote prevention for the university when these students matriculate to the campus.
Pledge Workshop
Contacts:
University of Pennsylvania
Enrollment: 22,148
Private, Four Year Institution
Kurt Conklin, M.A.
Health Educator
Kate Ward-Gaus, M.S. Ed. (E-mail)
Health Educator
Student Health Services
PO Box 745, HUP
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
(215) 573-3525
Objectives:
• To help newly accepted Greek pledges to understand the risks associated with alcohol abuse
• To reduce incidents of alcohol-related sexual violence and assault
Description:
The "Alcohol Abuse and Sexual Violence" workshop was designed for newly accepted pledges to the Inter-Fraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and Bicultural Inter-Greek Council. Three coed teams of peer educators are trained, with each team member specializing in either alcohol abuse issues or sexual violence and sexual assault. The workshop is presented to 700 students each year, and fraternity and sorority pledges are assigned to a group and attend a session hosted in a chapter house.
The workshops’ content includes "party expectations (hopes and realities)," values clarification, real-life scenarios, and discussions on how to create a healthy campus. They are facilitated by D.A.R.T. (Drug and Alcohol Resource Team) and S.T.A.A.R. (Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape)—two peer education programs coordinated by the Office of Health Education.
Evaluation of the workshop indicates that the majority of students believe the workshops have increased their understanding of the topic. One of the most encouraging areas of impact is with the leadership of the Greek system: an increased level of involvement and accountability appears to have resulted in the leaders having a greater awareness of the importance of their roles and in their willingness to serve as role models of responsible behaviors and choices.
Presentations on Alcohol Advertising
Contact:
San Francisco State University
Enrollment: 28,000
Public, Four Year Institution
Michael Ritter, M.S.
Coordinator
Prevention Education, Counseling & Psychological Services
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 338-7339
Objectives:
• To assist students in developing critical-thinking skills
• To help students understand strategies used in advertising alcohol products
Description:
The peer education organization C.E.A.S.E. (Creating Empowerment through Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education), designs slide programs and presents them to the students.
A slide presentation with accompanying script, "African Americans and Latinos as Targets of the Alcohol Advertising Industry," was developed by the C.E.A.S.E. peer educators and presented in Critical Thinking classes. This slide show has become part of the curriculum and is presented in other courses in Counseling, Ethnic Studies, and Human Sexuality.
Another slide presentation prepared by the C.E.A.S.E. peer educators is "Sexploitation of Women by the Alcohol Advertising Industry." Ads presented here include those with messages about women and men, power and relationships, sexuality, domestic violence, and risky sexual behavior that may occur while under the influence of alcohol.
The slide presentations are frequently shown in residence halls and at campus awareness events, and they are often presented in cooperation with other student groups and peer programs.
In the classroom and residence hall discussions that follow the presentations, students are encouraged to identify promotional strategies. The non-threatening and non-preaching style promotes enjoyment.
Project SAVE the TIGERS
Contact:
Clemson University
Enrollment: 16,318
Public, Four Year Institution
Parvin Lewis, M.A. (E-mail)
Director of Health Education
Clemson University
Redfern Health Center, Health Education
Clemson, SC 29634-4054
(864) 656-0141
Objectives:
• To change the campus culture regarding substance use
• To empower non-using or occasional using by providing resources and social alternatives
• To enhance existing peer programs that supplement the overall mission
Description:
While prior initiatives focused on the problem of alcohol and drug use and abuse, Project SAVE the TIGERS (Student Alcohol [drugs] and Violence Education the Tigers Initiate to Gain Empowerment Regarding Substances) emphasizes those who choose not to use or abuse alcohol, do not condone illegal drug use, and do not tolerate nor participate in violent acts. The ultimate goal is to develop a collaborative staff effort to further institutionalize these education and prevention initiatives. Overall, the design is a thoughtful array of culture and life-style reinforcing alternative programs with alcohol-free events, retreats for identified student populations, and expanding electives of courses, programs, and educational efforts.
Central to the effort are the peer health educators, who assist with peer training in health-related concerns. To expand this role, an entertainment/student alcohol-free program committee helps develop and implement activities that focus on arts and talents, self-assertiveness workshops, drama and theatrical activity, and physical improvement. In addition, there is a network of student groups that believe in healthy lifestyles, including Blue Key (an honorary fraternity), Clemson Cares (a women’s service group), and Students for Social Concerns (promoting awareness of social problems).
By establishing mainstream social opportunities and activities under the theme of "Naturally High," major campus alcohol-free social events are offered to compete directly with events that promote alcohol use. Activities include midnight olympics, outdoor movies, and concerts at the amphitheater, and co-sponsoring the "Campus Sweep Community Service Activity." Other sponsored activities include a network of alcohol-free tailgaters for football games and convening student leaders to apprise them of campus substance use data.
The educational program is enhanced by expanding the University’s On-Campus Talking About Alcohol (OCTAA) Course to a pilot group of first-year students. Course curriculum includes infusion of the educational program into courses such as freshman English Composition. In addition, a newsletter that contains information about alcohol-free events and activities is offered.
Evaluation includes comparisons with benchmark data of use and abuse provided by the Core Survey. In addition, each program is evaluated by attendees. Finally, focus groups gather on an annual basis to discuss students’ thoughts, reflections, and expectations. These focus groups complement the "Continuous Improvement Initiative Employed Elsewhere in Student Affairs."
Protocol for Students Abusing Alcohol
Contacts:
Saint Michael’s College
Enrollment: 2,665
Private, Four Year Institution
Michael Samara, M.Ed.
Vice President of Student Affairs
Megan Powers, M.S.
Coordinator
Alcohol Education and Programs
Winooski Park, Box 267
Colchester, VT 05439
(802) 654-2566
Objectives:
• To provide standardized procedures for students who abuse alcohol
• To keep the campus free from conditions that increase the risk of harm from alcohol
Description:
For students who choose to use/abuse alcohol, an extensive protocol is followed. This process allows students to take responsibility for inappropriate behaviors that accompany drunkenness. Further, a sincere effort is made to work with students so that they make more appropriate decisions.
Initially a decision is made by Student Life and Campus Security staff members regarding whether or not the intoxicated student should be transported to a protective care facility off-campus, i.e. ACT I (Alcohol Crisis Team). A comprehensive follow-up process includes meetings with one or several departments on campus based on individual needs. These include Health Services, Campus Ministry, Student Life, New Student Programs, Sophomore Development, International Studies, and the Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts. These offices provide opportunities for positive connections and mentor relationships. Likewise, a framework exists within which the student may accept responsibility, as well as explore the reasons, for his/her use of substances.
Students are also referred to the Office of Alcohol Education and Programs and participate in an assessment interview. The required alcohol education class incorporates information about substances, policies, resources, and personal values and attitudes.
Screening For Alcohol Abuse
Contact:
Stephens College
Enrollment: 889
Private, Four Year Institution
Cherie DuPuis, M.S.N. (E-mail)
Director
Student Health Services
Stephens College
P.O. Box 2045
Columbia, MO 65215
(573) 876-7157
Objective:
• To help students make healthy lifestyle choices
Description:
Because resources for addressing alcohol abuse have been reduced, current efforts focus on promoting individual students’ success. In the Student Health Service, students are screened for alcohol problems during physical exams as part of the professional workup for sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy, stress symptomatology, and after accidents.
A health survey is conducted with all incoming students during orientation; collecting information from students on alcohol issues is a significant goal of the survey. Questions include self-reported experience with driving after drinking, using alcohol while participating in water sports, consuming five or more drinks on at least three days in the prior month, and using alcohol before the most recent sexual exposure.
Through the personal nature of the relationship between staff and students, students are given the message that excessive drinking is an obstacle to academic success. Staff discussions are conducted to help remove the obstacles to a healthy lifestyle, and Student Life professionals meet weekly to identify at-risk students and initiate plans for helping them.
Student Health Education Volunteer Project
Contact:
Marshall University
Enrollment: 12,461
Public, Four Year Institution
Carla Lapelle, M.A. (E-mail)
Coordinator
Student Health Education Programs
Marshall University
145 Prichard Hall
Huntington, WV 25755
(304) 696-4800
Objectives:
• To encourage students to participate in community service activities
• To offer alternatives to alcohol and drug use
Description:
This initiative promotes environmental change as a means of reducing high-risk behavior among students. Involving a wide variety of students and offering opportunities for developing community within groups (such as residence hall floors and academic classes), this volunteer project encourages formal and informal groups to participate in community service activities. Examples include building a playground for a day care center, painting a residential facility for youth, and helping in organizations’ fundraising. Through this process, students have the opportunity to form a community in which they can learn life skills and develop attitudes consistent with the non-use of drugs or alcohol. In addition, these community-based activities promote non-violent, non-substance-using alternatives and the values of caring and the building of community. An incentive is offered to encourage groups to participate in community service: groups may receive $1 per person per hour, half of which goes to a charity of their choice. This incentive is provided as an initial motivation to volunteer; however, it is hoped that, once the students feel a part of the community, they will continue to volunteer for the intrinsic rewards.
Two graduate assistants (GAs) determine community service projects in the area surrounding the campus and match campus groups to these activities. Groups may be organizations, classes, or residence hall floors. To promote interest, GAs contact residence hall staff, organization officers, and class instructors; in addition, they post flyers on campus and place ads in the campus newspaper to solicit volunteers for projects.
To prepare groups for their activities, GAs meet with each group at least three times. Initial discussions include clarifying expectations, establishing group goals, and planning work activities. During the implementation of the service activities, GAs transport group members in university vehicles, as needed. They also oversee activities to ensure that safety concerns are heeded and that the community host is satisfied with the work being done. GAs participate in the activity with the group and follow-up with a discussion of individual observations, comparisons with other experiences, challenges, and personal learning.
Public recognition is provided to make volunteerism more visible and to promote participants’ pride in their accomplishments. A plaque hung in the student center lobby expresses appreciation for service projects and individually lists students and the community organization for which they volunteered.
Evaluation is conducted through implementation of a health risk behavior survey. Trends regarding substance use and violence are tracked, and correlation of results is monitored. The fact that virtually every individual who has volunteered has asked to be included in future projects is encouraging.
Talk Show for New Students
Contact:
State University of New York College at Geneseo
Enrollment: 5,719
Public, Four Year Institution
Julie White, M.S. (E-mail)
Health Educator
Lauderdale Health Center
SUNY at Geneseo
1 College Circle
Geneseo, NY 14454
(716) 245-5747
Objectives:
• To promote low-risk drinking behaviors among students
• To provide an opportunity for incoming students to discuss beliefs and behaviors related to alcohol and sexuality
• To provide students with non-drinking and moderate-drinking role models
• To correct misperceptions about college alcohol norms
Description:
A new student orientation program, "College in the Raw: Students Speak Out," emphasizes the potential negative consequences of alcohol consumption. Using a talk show format, students sit on a panel and discuss their beliefs and behaviors related to alcohol and sexuality. A five-hour training session regarding the power of social norms to influence individual behaviors is held prior to the presentation for students who serve on the panel and for Orientation Advisors. The panel comprises six students who demonstrate various drinking patterns and experiences—two non-drinkers, two moderate drinkers, and two heavy drinkers, with a male and female in each of the classifications. One of the non-drinkers is an adult child of an alcoholic, while one of the moderate drinkers has experienced a sexual assault while drinking. Each of the heavy drinkers has experienced negative consequences, including poor grades, relationship problems, and unsafe sex. While the audience is not informed of this until after the presentation, some of the students are playing roles while others are using their real-life experiences.
Following the presentation, the audience asks questions and challenges many of the statements made. This is followed by a brief slide show that examines social messages about alcohol in popular advertisements and highlights statistics from the Campus Core Survey that illustrate that most students on campus do not have unhealthy drinking attitudes and moderate their consumption of alcohol. The presentation ends with an inspirational video called "Celebrate Living," which challenges students to make a difference in their community. Following this large-group presentation, the smaller groups engage in discussions led by Orientation Advisors. Students talk about the issues raised and more personal questions are addressed.
Training prior to the presentation includes five hours for students who serve on the panel and instruction of Orientation Advisors in the power of social norms to influence individual behaviors.
The program is consistently rated as one of the top two presentations provided at orientation.
Targeting Sub-Populations
Contact:
Oakland University
Enrollment: 13,600
Private, Four Year Institution
Barbara E. Talbot, Ph.D. (New Contact: Brenda Hartman)
Coordinator
Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Counseling Center
Graham Health Center
Rochester, MI 48309-4401
(248) 370-3465
Objective:
• To address the unique needs of sub-groups of students considered to be at risk of abusing alcohol
Description:
The Counseling Center provides leadership and expertise to address the specific needs of sub-groups of students who are identified by needs assessment activities and other research methods as being "at risk." First-time violators of the university’s alcohol policy attend an alcohol education program and must demonstrate a specified level of awareness following completion. Individuals who are depressed are identified through publicity efforts. Support services are available for single/divorced mothers and gay/lesbian students.
The most widely recognized "at risk" student sub-group, Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs), is also served by a support group. Students interested in attending this therapist-facilitated group are first interviewed by the group’s co-facilitators, and students suspected of having their own substance abuse problems are referred for substance evaluation and/or counseling.
Underage Drinking Task Force
Contact:
Saint Louis University
Enrollment: 11,243
Private, Four Year Institution
Julie Saker, M.S. (New Contact: Carol Lunning)(E-mail)
Associate Vice President for
Student Development Programs
20 North Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 977-2828
Objective:
• To identify cooperative strategies to reduce heavy drinking
Description:
In recent years, university staff and students have noticed a significant reduction in underage alcohol use on campus; this reduction is accompanied by a concern that underage drinking in neighborhood establishments may have increased. University representatives participate in the city’s Underage Drinking Task Force, which consists of local bar owners and city and state liquor control officials, and conducts discussions regarding student drinking. The university emphasizes strict enforcement of the valid identification card requirement, as well as the elimination of bar "specials" that encourage students to drink heavily.
Several outcomes have emerged from these discussions. Heavy drinking games have been eliminated by the bar owners, and training programs for alcohol servers have been enhanced to better identify false identification cards.
The university’s Study of Alcohol Incidents shows a 45 percent decrease in the number of violations over the past two years. Anecdotal feedback from students indicates that there is a reduction in students’ ability to use false identification cards at local alcohol beverage establishments.
Weekend Social Activities
Contact:
Middlesex Community College
Enrollment: 6,021
Public, Two Year Institution
Judith Ramirez, R.N., M.S.W. (E-mail)
Director
Alcohol, Other Drug & Violence Prevention Program
Middlesex Community College
Lowell Campus
33 Kearney Square
Lowell, MA 01852-1987
(508) 656-3237
Objectives:
• To provide opportunities for student-planned programming
• To positively influence students’ perceptions of alcohol-free social activities
Description:
In its implementation of alcohol awareness initiatives, the College has traditionally emphasized weekday activities since all students are commuters. These weekday activities have been well attended. In extending the program to weekends, the challenge is to influence student attitudes and behaviors through approaches that attract students and relate to their life experiences.
Weekend events are planned by a special student advisory committee which includes student representatives chosen because they represent a cross-section of the college population. Members are students from the Activity Board, International Club, Criminal Justice Club, and the Association for Wellness and Related Education.
The kickoff weekend event, "Joey and Maria’s Wedding," was held on campus on a Saturday and was sold out. The campus cafeteria was transformed into a wedding reception hall complete with a disk jockey, wedding cake, centerpieces, and a buffet catered by the campus food service.
Other events included a formal dance, an art auction with objets d’art brought in from New York, a psychic fair, and a hypnotist. To reach the maximum number of students, the events alternate between the college’s two campuses.
Wellness Program
Contact:
Southeast Community College - Lincoln Campus
Enrollment: 6,240
Public, Two Year Institution
Jara Carlson (New Contact: Marcy Jameson) (E-mail)
Wellness Coordinator
Southeast Community College - Lincoln Campus
8800 "O" Street
Lincoln, NE 68520
(402) 437-2634
Objectives:
• To address the unique needs of vocational and academic transfer students
• To promote numerous wellness activities
Description:
To accommodate scheduling difficulties, many activities are planned during lunch hour and class breaks. These wellness initiatives provide a variety of opportunities for students and staff to enhance their well-being. One approach is to have brown bag lunches with speakers in the cafeteria, another is to hold classroom presentations. In yet another approach, the fitness center provides fitness evaluations, instructions, classes, and incentive programs. The Campus Wellness Committee collaborates with the wellness coordinator, who provides leadership and services. A credit class is offered on alcohol awareness, disease prevention, nutrition, stress management, and fitness. A web page is available to share ideas of wellness programming. Linked to many health entities on the internet, the web page also promotes campus activities.
Attendance at the Wellness Center has increased more than four-fold during the four years of the program’s existence.
Additional Environmental and Targeted Approaches
Alternate Spring Break
Maryville University of St. Louis
Enrollment: 2,273
Private, Four Year Institution
Pam Culliton, R.N.
Director of Health Center
Maryville University of St. Louis
13550 Conway Road
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 529-9520
Objective:
• To offer students the opportunity for an alcohol-free Spring Break that is service-oriented
Description:
Initiated with a federal grant, this strategy promotes an alcohol-free effort where students can "build friendships as they help build a community." The initiative is designed to provide students with a safe Spring Break at an affordable cost, while they are engaging in meaningful and fun activities without the use of alcohol or other substances. This program was initiated in 1994; and, over each of the four years of the project, services have been offered to "Habitat for Humanity." Interested students participate in an interview and a selection process, followed by a group meeting which promotes team building. Because of staffing constraints, work groups are limited to approximately 10-20 people. A contribution of $50 per person is requested to help cover the cost of materials.
Athlete and Greek Alcohol Course
Keene State College
Enrollment: 4,736
Public, Four Year Institution
Jim Matthews
Special Assistant to the Vice President
Keene State College
Joslin House #107
Keene, NH 03435-2903
(603) 358-2866
Objective:
• To promote healthy choices among high-risk groups
Description:
All new athletes and new affiliates of the campus fraternity and sorority system are required to attend a one-credit course entitled "Alcohol and Personal Health," which is based on the On-Campus Talking About Alcohol Program. The Athletic Department is responsible for selecting the dates, and coaches strongly encourage new players to participate. The presidents of the fraternities and sororities have a self-imposed requirement that all new members must attend the course. Offered one weekend each semester, students receive academic credit through the Human Services Department.
First Year Student Strategies
Miami University
Enrollment: 15,601
Public, Four Year Institution
Susan Vaughn (E-mail)
Director
Office of Judicial Affairs
Miami University
229 Warfield Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
(513) 529-1417
Objectives:
• To reduce risk for problems among first-year students
• To facilitate conflict resolution and reduce acts of violence
Description:
This multi-faceted approach for first-year students incorporates a needs assessment, a prevention curriculum, training of prevention facilitators and peer mediators, and awareness and information. The training and awareness help students reduce their risk for alcohol problems by following a systematic process. Students are encouraged to make whatever changes they find most helpful to them. Peer educators and peer mediators work closely with university staff to model, teach, and facilitate appropriate and healthful behaviors and attitudes.
Additional Environmental and Targeted Approaches
Prevention Perspectives Newsletter
Indiana University - Bloomington
Enrollment: 35,063
Public, Four Year Institution
Nancy Riggert (E-mail)
Director
Alcohol/Drug Information Center
Indiana University - Bloomington
705 East 7th Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
(812) 855-5414
Objective:
• To heighten the university community’s awareness of the Alcohol/Drug Information Center’s resources
Description:
The Prevention Perspectives Newsletter is published three times a year by the Alcohol/Drug Information Center. The newsletter promotes the center’s programs and services and is distributed to nearly 1,000 individuals. It is targeted toward an audience of Residence Life staff, student leaders, academic deans, and unit directors. Since staff from the Alcohol/Drug Information Center present formal programs only upon request, the center’s success is related to publicizing the availability of its resources.
Promoting Student Success
North Adams State College (Now known as: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)
Enrollment: 1,729
Public, Four Year Institution
Charlotte F. Degen, M.Ed.
Associate Dean of Students
North Adams State College
Amsler Campus Center
Room 305
North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 662-5231
Objective:
• To focus campus attention on successful students
Description:
Most of the students attending the institution are the first in their families to attend college. A program was designed to help them understand the college experience and to promote clear messages about being successful at the institution. Strategies focus on depicting desirable images of students’ lives: posters placed throughout the Campus Center illustrate students in class, exploring new opportunities, and having fun. These images are selected for their value in expressing the productive aspects of college life. Also in the Campus Center is a Student Achievement Lounge, where a list of current student achievers is displayed twice each academic term.
Sourcebook
Promising Practices:
Campus Alcohol Strategies
CURRICULUM
Directory of Curriculum Programs
The academic curriculum is a rapidly emerging component of campus programs; courses dealing with alcohol-related issues, curriculum infusion, lesson plans, lectures and other course-based endeavors are a part of this approach. Two-year and community colleges are especially well served by this approach, as are institutions with a large commuter population.
Alcohol-related issues can be incorporated in numerous courses: health, substance abuse, addiction, chemical dependency, counseling, nutrition, women’s issues, neuropharmacology, cultural history, and education. Courses in media, debate, physiology, religion, management, nursing, communications, and history are also excellent areas for curriculum infusion (Northeastern Illinois University, Eastern Michigan University, Shenandoah University and Illinois State University).
Academic courses can be part of an overall programmatic emphasis, such as a program for dentists and hygienists (Baylor College of Dentistry) or total emphasis of a degree program (The Union Institute). The goals of the campus alcohol abuse prevention effort are best served when information included in academic courses is related to the students’ lives, is integrated into their academic discipline, and emphasizes lifestyle and choices. Professionals observe that it is helpful to emphasize that alcohol abuse is not simply a health problem.
Relevant course content may be offered in a full course, such as the Substance Abuse/Addictions courses at several universities, or through course modules. Special projects (Iowa State University and University of California at Santa Barbara), papers or areas of analysis involving alcohol can be used to meet class requirements (Plymouth State College).
Unique ideas include "floating lectures" in which trained personnel provide presentations in designated classes. Using a substitute trained in alcohol-related issues to replace a faculty member who must miss a class is another strategy (University of Missouri - Columbia and University of Portland).
Alcohol-related topics may be offered as part of academic courses during an awareness week (Augsburg College and Eastern Illinois University). Courses may also be offered during orientation and include issues specifically for first-year students (Parks College of Saint Louis University and University of Oregon). Courses for special populations (Northern Illinois University) and the integration of alcohol abuse issues within a wellness course (Gettysburg College and the University of Northern Iowa) are additional approaches.
Another option is to use peers in these areas. Peer educators or counselors and student members of alcohol abuse prevention committees may enroll in special courses and receive academic credit (Marshall University and St. Louis College of Pharmacy).
Professionals with projects in this section state that, for curriculum involvement to be successful, it must be made fun and simple for both the faculty and the students. Training of faculty members is a very helpful aspect of this process.
It is important to emphasize that involvement in the academic setting takes a long time to develop, and therefore patience and continued enthusiasm on behalf of the campus program personnel is essential. To build faculty support, it is necessary to maintain communication with participants, and with those faculty members who are not yet participating. Incentives, such as thank you letters or periodic luncheons, encourage support.
The following are additional noteworthy programs for Curriculum reported elsewhere in this Sourcebook.
Central Michigan University
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Intervention and Prevention Program
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
The Center of Alternatives for Human Development and Prevention
University of Connecticut
The HEART Program
University of Texas at Austin
Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center (CADEP)
Walla Walla Community College
Student Wellness Education Action Team
DIRECTORY OF CURRICULUM PROGRAMS
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Education: Baylor College of Dentistry, The Union Institute
Alcohol Unit Within Wellness Course: Gettysburg College, University of Northern Iowa
Alcohol Use and Abuse: Bloomsburg University
Concentration in Substance Abuse/Addictions: Troy State University at Montgomery
Consortia Curriculum Infusion Project: Rowan University
Course Module Development Grants: College of Charleston
Courses for Special Populations: Northern Illinois University
Curriculum Infusion Project: Illinois State University
Curriculum Infusion Program: Eastern Michigan University
Curriculum Infusion Strategies: Illinois State University, Shenandoah University
Filling the Media Gap: Iowa State University
Freshman Seminar: Parks College of Saint Louis University, University of Oregon
OPTIONS Program: Richard Stockton College
Peer Leadership Classes: Marshall University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Prevention Across The Curriculum: North