Award Winner Highlights:
1999-2000 NCAAW

Bradley University
Contact: Melissa Sage-Bollenbach
PH (309) 677-3381
FAX (309) 677-2410
Focus on training peer educators to provide information, serve as a referral source, facilitate learning, listen actively, and be a role model. Interactive workshop topics include HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, smoking, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual responsibility, and stress relief/massage. Presentations are given in the new student experience class, residence halls, and Greek houses. Co-sponsorship with other organizations and departments is a key ingredient in success, as well as use of their own web site and e-mail accounts. Alcohol awareness is promoted through NCAAW, Sexual Responsibility Week, Safe Spring Break, and on a smaller scale through serving mocktails at a campus special event, Casino Night. Their off campus support finds them at "Operation Prom Night" and "Operation Snowball," acting as mentors to high school students. Good publicity appeared in the forms of flyers, table tents, ads, articles in the newspaper, and radio spots. Peer educators also make announcements and extend personal invitations at other organizational meetings.

Central Michigan University
Contact: Mark Minelli
PH (577) 774-6992
FAX (517) 774-1098
The philosophy of Central Michigan University is to encourage educated and responsible use of alcohol within the university community, support and individual's choice not to use alcohol if they so desire, work towards reducing alcohol/other drug use and misuse, educate and inform students, faculty, staff, administration, and the community regarding alcohol/other drug use and abuse, encourage research, increase awareness and availability of healthy alternatives, and encourage and support the student health programming group. Program efforts include stress reduction, fitness, proper diet, smoking withdrawal, coping skills, health risk assessment, and alcohol/drug abuse intervention.

State University of New York at Oneonta
Contact: Dale Capristo
PH (607) 436-3540
FAX (607) 436-2074
Alcohol and other drug programming began at orientation with presentations made to students and parents about the consequences of high risk drinking. The Residence Life Transitions program accessed the new campus movie access channel and scheduled recent films related to the alcohol and drug topic. These activities led up to launching a social norms approach campaign on campus. Other activities included a candlelight vigil with area SADD students, stress reduction programming, a safe spring break week, and an "up all night" event. In addition, many classroom presentations were made about the social norms campaign related to alcohol use, marijuana, and other health topics.

The College of William & Mary
Contact: Mary Crozier
PH (757) 221-4386
FAX (757) 221-1245
Believes in a comprehensive programming approach to postpone the onset of alcohol use, examine the role alcohol plays in students lives, encourage responsible low-risk use, reinforce the non-use of other drugs, offer educational sanctions if policies are broken, and provide creative, developmentally appropriate services. They do this by offering comprehensive programming targeted at freshmen, athletes, fraternities, and sororities. One secret to their success has been the student resource center, the FISH Bowl (Free Information on Student Health) and closely working with the student activities coordinator and the campus activities board to offer alcohol-free social events. In addition, the college utilizes a campus task force model that includes students and departments, everything from student health to campus police in planning efforts.

George Mason University
Contact: Nancy Schulte
PH (703) 993-3687
FAX (703) 993-3685
Health and Wellness Services at George Mason is comprised of five offices: Community Health Program, Drug Education Services, Health Education Services, Sexual Assault Services, and Student Health Services. The services provide a continuum of care which includes prevention, education, intervention, and treatment. Activities are delivered through individual contact, networking with student organizations, conducting seminars to targeted groups, running awareness campaigns, creating academic modules for faculty, and placing campus newspaper articles and ads. A video montage and student leader skits on healthy decisions framed orientation. NCAAW featured the theme "Be Wiser" and sponsored events on risk management. In addition programs were presented on marijuana and tobacco, and healthy relationship week offered assertiveness workshops and dating etiquette. The campus was supported by the visibility of the President and Deans speaking out on campus climate and standards.

Regis University
Contact: Sally Spencer-Thomas
PH (303) 458-3507
FAX (303) 964-5493
The CHOICES program's mission is to provide a friendly, informative atmosphere in which critical decision making about healthy lifestyle choices is promoted and fostered. This effort has five components to educate students, challenge their belief system, promote discussion, and provide social alternatives to self-destructive behavior. BACCHUS does awareness weeks and other educational and social programs, REACH is a student athlete group, UNMASKED is a peer theatre group, the UNBAR serves up mocktails, and LISTENING EAR are trained helpers. New issues this year included seatbelt safety, zero tolerance laws, diversity, alcohol's impact on creativity, couples' communication, performance supplements, and herbs for wellness. A new program was the development of an alcohol awareness video for athletes, a drive sober website, and interactive "stress-free" zones.

State University of New York - Oswego
Contact: Kimberly Bowman
PH (315) 341-3378
FAX (315) 341-6329
Oswego operates under a comprehensive peer education model with many student groups that focus on a variety of health issues to promote positive Lifestyle choices. Peer educators are trained to facilitate workshops and programs on alcohol, drugs, sexual health, nutrition, body image, and violence prevention. Their theme of OkSoberfest "Can You Handle the Realities?" promoted responsible choices surrounding alcohol consumption and promote low risk behaviors regarding sexuality, nutrition, and violence. The realities challenged during the week were: health, choices, academic success, caring, lifestyles, limits, abstinence, responsibility, sobriety, reliability and you. Print ads were used to promote each of the realities throughout the week.

State University of New York - Plattsburgh
Contact: Cori Matthews
PH (518) 564-2681
FAX (518) 564-3817
This program's focus is on multidimensional wellness, incorporating personal responsibility, risk reduction, and positive decision making. Increasing attention has been given to highlighting positive social norms as a prevention strategy. This campus targeted orientation, hosted and NCAAW with 19 events and 30 groups working together, had a wellness workshop series, a wellness fair, AIDS awareness week, women's retreat weekend, and NCHWW. They also support substance-free and wellness housing programs. The peer education program is now offered as a three-credit seminar course, and the fitness center allocates wellness promotion grants to organizations.

University of Minnesota, Duluth
The peer education program prides itself in being innovative and creative as well as tweaking popular programs to make them work. Topics covered include: Alcohol and drug abuse prevention, healthy sexuality, smoking, credit card usage, an other health issues. A unique practice is that every event is evaluated and students are eager to participate since there is always a drawing for a prize. NCAAW focused on "Responsibility as Drinker" and targeted family history, stress, lack of sleep, alcohol and women, absorption rate factors, and the dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol.

University of Missouri - Columbia
Contact: Kim Dude
PH (573) 882-4634
FAX (573) 882-1751
This program is a truly comprehensive year-long prevention program that is student driven and highly creative. A major social norming was integrated into an extensive marketing effort with trainings for faculty, orientation leaders, recruiters, high school teachers and parents. "BASEball" (Buildng an Alcohol Safe Environment) was the theme for the annual alcohol responsibility month that focused consequences for using or misusing alcohol. Program highlights included a 24 hour walkathon, a jail-n-bail, alcohol screening, and a wiffleball tournament. Other events observed were: wellness month, Great American Smokeout, safe holiday break, sexual responsibility week, Safe Spring Break, and National Nutrition Week.

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