What You Can Do
Faculty Members
- Know the types of behavior changes that may indicate a student is having alcohol-related problems.
- Know your campus resources. You are on the front line and have an on-going relationship with your students.
- Call the Counseling Center with a student; follow up.
- Be available to talk, ask questions of the AOD Committee. Be confident enough to make a referral.
- Read for hints on how to approach students who might be experiencing AOD issues. Visit the counseling center website for tips at www.oneonta.edu/development/counseling.
- Be aware of assumptions about student alcohol use.
- Hold classes on Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, and Fridays.
- Reinforce Social Norms
- Use Don't Cancel That Class.
- Give credit to students who attend an appropriate class-related campus prevention event.
- Support existing programming
Become An AOD Member !!!
Students
What you as a student can do to make your college experience worth it:
- Know the truth about your surroundings. Do not make assumptions about the rate of alcohol and drug use.
- Challenge your self without overworking yourself! A healthy balance of academic coursework and extra-curricular activities is key in becoming a well-rounded student.
- Get involved! It is a great way to meet people. SUNY Oneonta offers numerous activities and volunteer organizations to give you a memorable experience and the opportunity to help others.
- Communicate with your roommates to establish guidelines and consideration for one another.
- Finding healthy methods of stress relief will help with the transition to college.
- Ask for help if things get a little too out of hand.
Family Members
What family members can do to assist their students:
- Set clear and realistic expectations regarding your student’s academic performance
- Have an ongoing conversation about alcohol and drugs and ask them to read and discuss the student section below.
- Prepare your student for the actual versus assumed college “norms”.
- Encourage students to stand up for their rights to a safe academic environment
- Encourage your student to take responsibility for their actions.
- Encourage your student to find healthy ways to deal with change and stress at college.
- Check on how they are spending their time on key high risk dates such as birthdays and holidays.
- Encourage involvement with college activities and volunteer opportunities.
- Speak with the student giving specific examples of the behavior if you do have a concern about drinking or drugging.
- Be aware of the counseling services available at the Counseling Center (607 436-3368).
Social Norms Marketing Campaign
Studies show that most OSC students make healthy and responsible choices. Unfortunately, misperceptions about what is “normal” or typical behavior can have an influence on someone’s choices. SUNY Oneonta has been conducting a social norms marketing campaign to challenge these misperceptions and educate students about the actual drinking and drug use habits of their peers. By providing accurate information about student AOD use, these campaigns aim to reinforce healthy norms for behavior.
Faculty, Staff and students are encouraged to engage in dialogue regarding the data to reinforce the campaign. Students often have questions and comments when they are informed of the accurate social norms. Some students may comment that the information sounds about right to them, that they are aware that many of their peers are low to moderate users of alcohol. Other students may doubt the information and insist that it is inaccurate, that students must have lied on the survey, etc. Keep in mind, however, that if all the students believed the posters and media immediately (and thus accurately perceived the social norms), there wouldn't be a misperception to correct!
Environmental Prevention
The prevention philosophy of environmental management hinges on a broader focus of combined institutional, community, and public policy factors. The underlying premise of this approach is that college students do not make decisions about alcohol consumption in isolation, but in an environmental context that encourages or discourages high risk consumption.