UVA Prevention Plan
Alcohol Abuse Prevention, Education & Intervention Programs
Universal Prevention
Targeted Intervention
Indicated Prevention
Outreach to Prevention Partners
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On college campuses across the country, high risk drinking and the negative consequences associated with it have become a national concern. The University of Virginia takes seriously the problem of irresponsible and dangerous drinking among students. Although most U.Va. students do not experience serious alcohol-related problems, alcohol use is prevalent among, and accepted by, many students and contributes to a variety of negative outcomes. Ensuring the health and safety of students is a University-wide priority.
U.Va. prevention programs are based on the belief that effective programs are science-based, comprehensive, and coordinated across the University. The culture of student self-governance at U.Va. ensures that students are significantly engaged in the decision-making process.
The University continually assesses student attitudes toward, and the use of, alcohol and other drugs. U.Va. participates in the National College Health Assessment biannually, and conducts annually the Health Behaviors Survey and the Health Promotion Survey. The University also collects confidential data through the Incident Report Information System, the University Police Department and the U.Va. Emergency Department.
The University employs the prevention model developed by the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine to affect the three prevention populations: universal (all students); targeted (students who are members of high-risk groups); and indicated (individuals who have demonstrated high-risk behaviors). Examples of activities in each prevention area are listed below:
Universal Prevention: for all U.Va. students
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT):
Members promote awareness, provide educational presentations, and serve as accessible resources for fellow students. Students are trained through a three-credit class taught by staff at the Center for Alcohol and Substance Education (CASE). ADAPT coordinates a 21st birthday card program as well as Substance Abuse Awareness Week (SAAW). SAAW occurs the week before the last home football game and consists of fun and educational programs geared toward raising the awareness of normative healthy behaviors as well as dangerous drinking practices.
Peer Health Educators (PHEs):
Student Health’s Office of Health Promotion recruits and trains a select group of students interested in a variety of health-related topics. Members take a three-credit training course and present educational programs on numerous health issues including alcohol and illicit drugs. The PHEs coordinate the Fourth-Year 5K race that provides a fun way for students to celebrate the last home football game in a healthy manner.
Hoo Knew:
This University-wide campaign uses flyers, table tents, and ads to celebrate the healthy choices U.Va. students are making with regard to alcohol consumption. The campaign focuses on upperclass students and can be found around Grounds, on the Corner and in the weekly Connections e-mail newsletter.
Hoo Fest:
This annual outdoor event promotes alcohol awareness and understanding of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). Free BAC cards and information on alcohol use are available as well as snacks, mocktails and performances by U.Va. a cappella groups.
Advisory Committee on Alcohol and Substance Abuse:
This University–wide committee considers effective ways to promote short- and long-term programs that minimize drinking and substance abuse among underage students and tackles abuse among students of legal age. The committee is proactive in identifying key issues that should be of institutional priority.
Hoos Sober Listserve:
The ADAPT peer educators coordinate this weekly e-mail that details activities that are not alcohol-based and that are open to the public so that the more than 1,500 subscribers stay informed about the “dry” functions that may be of interest to them. To subscribe, send an e-mail to hoos-sober@virginia.edu and put “subscribe” in the subject line.
Alcohol Risk Management Education:
This on-line education program provides information on U.Va. policies and Virginia state law concerning alcohol service and basic principles of risk management. If alcohol is served on University property, the University requires that personnel trained in this program be present to supervise the legal distribution of alcohol.
U.Va. Police Department:
Officers in the Crime Prevention Unit speak with student groups upon request and coordinate safety fairs.
Yellow Cab Program:
U.Va. students who find themselves in situations with no reliable or safe means of transportation and no money for cab fare can call Yellow Cab at 295-4131, charge the ride to U.Va., and be billed later. No questions asked.
Designated Driver Program:
Restaurants on the Corner provide free non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers. The ADAPT peer educators provide restaurants with coasters that promote this program, advertise the high percentage of U.Va. students who do not drink and drive (85%) and raise awareness of the Yellow Cab Program.
SafeRide:
The U.Va. Police Department and Student Council operate a free van service that provides safe rides for students. Call 242-1122 between midnight and 6 a.m. from Sunday night through Friday morning (3 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays). Late-night UTS buses run every 15 minutes from 12 to 3 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday when school is in session.
Late-night weekend events:
Programs include a coffee house in the first-year residential area, a café in Alderman library, and web and e-mail based calendars to inform students of activities.
Mass communication:
Via mass e-mail to all students, the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer sends periodic messages about safety, including reminders about the safe and legal use of alcohol. On occasion, President Casteen also sends e-mail messages. Each year prior to the last home football game, he publishes a letter to students about alcohol issues in the Cavalier Daily.
Targeted Intervention: for students in high risk groups
First-Year Students
Alcohol-Wise:
All first-year students are expected to complete this confidential, online alcohol education program within their first two weeks on Grounds. The program provides personalized feedback on drinking patterns, tips on avoiding hazardous drinking and how to deal with others who are disruptive or in danger. Ninety-one percent of first-years completed the class in 2008.
Stall Seat Journal:
This campaign uses bathroom posters to convey accurate information on student drinking at U.Va.. The project promotes the healthy choices that a majority of students are making and corrects the misperception that heavy drinking is pervasive among the student body. The Stall Seat Journal poster campaign focuses on first-year students through a series of monthly posters in the bathrooms of first-year residence halls.
Grounds for Discussion:
All first-year students attend this peer theater production that addresses a variety of college life issues, including alcohol use. Small discussion groups are held after the production.
Resident Staff and Orientation Leader Training:
These student leaders are trained in multiple alcohol education issues, including how to care for an intoxicated person, intervention techniques, social norms theory, and the reality of drinking at U.Va.
Fraternity and Sorority Members
Social Norms Project:
CASE is working with student leaders to implement a $675,600 grant from the National Institutes of Health to reduce negative consequences of drinking among fraternity and sorority members. The project focuses on individual and chapter-wide programs to correct misperceptions of peers’ drinking levels and protective behaviors.
Fraternal Organization Agreement requirements:
Every fraternity and sorority chapter is required to have at least one hour of alcohol education each year with at least 70% attendance.
Student Athletes
Student Athlete Mentors (SAMs):
CASE and the Department of Athletics recruit and train members of each athletic team to serve as SAMs. These students coordinate alcohol education programs for their teams and serve as internal resources on University services.
Small Group Social Norms Program:
CASE works with student-athletes to coordinate peer-facilitated presentations on alcohol norms and perceptions including perceptions of team expectations. To date, ten athletic teams have been trained in this model.
Programs Targeting Participants in Events with Hazardous Drinking Patterns
Fourth-Years Acting Responsibility:
Members of the Fourth Year Class Trustees coordinate a pledge drive against abusive drinking at the last home football game.
Fourth-Year 5K:
The Office of Health Promotion and Peer Health Educators present the Annual Fourth-Year 5K, a race that provides a healthy alternative to high-risk drinking on the day of the last home football game. Proceeds from this event are donated to the Leslie Baltz Scholarship Foundation and a local chapter of Students Against Destructive Decision (SADD).
Foxfield Races Program:
The ADAPT peer educators and Student Council promote a designated driver program and provide free food and water to students attending the spring races.
Indicated Prevention: for students with demonstrated high-risk behaviors
Choices:
This on-line alcohol education course is the recommended educational sanction for students who have violated the University’s alcohol policy, but it is also available for all students who wish to make more informed decisions about drinking.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
A substance use clinician (Rick Heisterman – frh9b@virginia.edu) is available to counsel students on any alcohol concern or issue and provide substance abuse and addiction screening. A brief therapy program is available for students who struggle with substance abuse. Students with substance dependence are referred to local treatment programs.
Hoos in Recovery:
A support network of recovering students, faculty, and alumni and those considering recovery from substance abuse meets semi-monthly. Contact HoosInRecovery@virginia.edu
The Friends of Bill W.:
This open Alcoholics Anonymous group meets every Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Alderman Road. The meeting is primarily attended by graduate and undergraduate students.
Online Alcohol Screening:
CASE and CAPS provide links to several anonymous online alcohol screening programs that offer personalized feedback.
Dean on Call:
The Office of the Dean of Students provides 24-hour on-call crisis response services to University students who are in need of support or referrals.
University Judiciary Committee:
This student-run committee adjudicates alleged violations of the student Standards of Conduct, including those involving alcohol use. The committee may sanction students to the Choices alcohol education class and/or assign community service or other sanctions relevant to the policy violation.
Brief Motivational Intervention, Screening, and Referral:
Student Health developed clinical guidelines for all students presenting for treatment of any alcohol-related condition either in Student Health or the Hospital Emergency Department.
Outreach to Prevention Partners
Faculty:
All new faculty and teaching assistants receive information on how to help a student in distress as part of their University orientation. Materials on curriculum infusion are available on the CASE Web site. Courses that explore substance abuse issues include Concepts in Peer Health Education, Substance Abuse in Society, Contemporary Health Issues, Peer Alcohol Education, and Personal Development.
Parents:
The Center for Alcohol and Substance Education offers the session ‘U.Va. Students: Is Everybody Drinking?’during summer orientation for parents and students. The program provides information on healthy student behaviors, U.Va. resources and ways parents can support University efforts to promote health-enhancing choices. A section on “Communication Strategies for Parents of First Year Students” is included in the U.Va. Handbook for Parents.
Other communications with parents that incorporate information on students’ alcohol use include a letter from President Casteen each summer to parents of new students; comments from the President to parents on Move-In day and during Family Weekend; the Handbook for Parents, which is given to all new parents and is posted on the Web; and the quarterly e-newsletter, “Parents as Partners.”
Resources
U.Va. alcohol policy
https://etg07.itc.virginia.edu/policy/policydisplay?id=STU-001
Center for Alcohol and Substance Education (ADAPT, SAM, Choices) 434-924-5276 http://www.virginia.edu/case/
Office of Health Promotion (PHE, Social Norms Marketing) 434-924-1509
http://www.virginia.edu/studenthealth/healthpro.html
Counseling and Psychological Services 434-924-5556 http://www.virginia.edu/studenthealth/caps.html
Police Department Crime Prevention Unit 434-924-8845
http://www.virginia.edu/uvapolice/
Updated 09/08
