While the current trend of "social norms" anti-drinking campaigns is drawing criticism for its purported ineffectiveness, the University boasts high success rates for a more old-fashioned approach to alcohol prevention: Classroom-based education.
"Choices," the class offered through the University's Center for Alcohol and Substance Education, showed positive results for the 2002-2003 academic year, Dean of Students Penny Rue said.
"Choices" consists of two, 2 1/2-hour courses offered once a month during which participants are instructed through lectures, power point presentations and videos, CASE Director Susan Bruce said.
All the information presented through "Choices" is based on current research.
"We believe our instruction goes beyond the level of alcohol education most people have received by the time they graduate from high school," Bruce said.
The program emphasizes lifelong alcohol issues and is not limited to alcohol in a college setting, she added.
"We really focus on the negative consequences of drinking," Bruce said. "If nobody had any problems resulting from alcohol, we wouldn't have these programs."
Although any University student can attend "Choices," most of the participants are students who have been sanctioned by the University Judiciary Committee or are otherwise encouraged to attend for alcohol-related problems. About 140 students participate in the program each year, she said.
Results of "Choices" were measured based on pre-program and post-program tests, as well as a four-week follow-up survey. Participants outlined their own low-risk guidelines for using alcohol, and the survey measures whether students have committed to them, Rue said.
In the surveys completed four weeks after attending the program, many participating students indicated they were both drinking less and experiencing fewer negative drinking-related consequences, Bruce said.
A total of 75 percent of participants said they planned to reduce how much they drink in the future, while 85 percent indicated they had spoken to a friend about something they learned, Rue said.
"Choices" class instructors include staff members from CASE, the office of the dean of students, residence life, student life, the office of fraternity and sorority life and the student health center.
In order to receive certification, potential instructors must complete a three-day training course, Bruce said.
The program is modeled off a similar national program called "Prime for Life," Rue said.
Some smaller colleges and universities mandate every freshman to complete a "Prime for Life" course. Certain states also mandate completion of the program for those convicted of alcohol-related driving offenses, Bruce said.
CASE decided to name its program "Choices" because students have control over certain risk factors, such as tolerance for alcohol and how often one drinks.
"There's a lot to personalize, like knowing if you have a family risk," Bruce said. "We look at students' personal short and long term risks of developing alcoholism."
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