Environmental Management Approach to Off Campus Student Drinking Kim Dude Director of the Wellness Resource Center UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI DudeK@missouri.edu

Prevention is important!!!

President’s Leadership Group “ College student binge drinking and the many problems that arise from it are among the most serious threats faced by our nations’ institutions of higher education. Many of the things we worry about—student death and injury, weak academic performance, property damage and vandalism, strained town-gown relations, negative publicity—are linked to student alcohol abuse” US Department of Education’s Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention

Negative Consequences to College Student Drinking Damage to student Academic impairment Blackouts Personal injuries and death Physical illnesses Unintended and unprotected sexual activity Suicide Sexual coercion/rape victimization Impaired driving Legal repercussions Impaired athletic performance

Negative Consequences to College Student Drinking Damages to the University Property damage Student attrition Loss of perceived academic rigor Poor “town-gown” relations Added time demands and emotional strain on staff Legal costs Perkins,2002

Campus and Community Environmental Factors US Department of Education’s Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Access to Alcohol Rite of Passage Normative Belief Campus Culture Academic perspective Social perspective Legal and policy perspective

Components of Successful Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programs--HEC Comprehensive Strong leadership from the top Faculty Involvement Staff involvement Student involvement Community involvement Parental involvement

Assessment Missouri College Health Behavior Survey (MCHBS) Wellness Survey Bystander Survey Focus Groups Programming evaluation data

Other Data Collected Last Drink Question Police data regarding BAC of those receiving MIPs and DWIs Police data on types of arrests Campus Conduct data Residential Life judicial data Greek Life conduct data

Theoretical Approaches Responsible Decision Making Harm Reduction/Health Protection Social Norming Bystander Intervention Environmental management

History of the Off Campus Student Issues Wellness Resource Center began in 1990 Alcohol Summit 1999 Creation of the Access To Alcohol Action Team—campus/community coalition Hot spots Fan behavior at football games Off campus parties Downtown bars Greek students

Off Campus Student Drinking Data on student use Complaints from community Complaints from the police

Where Students Drink mchbs Bars/Restaurants 11% Social Gathering off-campus 50% Fraternity or Sorority House 27% Residence Hall 18% Sporting Events 6% Where I live 13%

How to create WIN-WIN-WIN situations? “What’s in it for me?” What do students want What do the landlords want What does the university want What does the community want What do the students need to know

Educate off campus students How to stay safe off campus Tennant rights Being a good neighbor and responsible citizen What are the laws How to have a safe, responsible party Campus and community services available Get to Know CoMo How to eat healthy off campus Money management

Timeline Off Campus Housing Task Force—October, 2003 Hired a graduate assistant Off Campus Housing Fair began in 2004 Off Campus Housing Guide 2004 Housing Fairs fall semester 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Housing fairs fall and spring semester 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Turning Point Increase in enrollment Increased need to house freshman and transfer students off campus Very concerned parents Many new apartment complexes being built

Off Campus Student Services

Off Campus Student Services Office Success Sense of belonging campus and community Staying safe: being a good neighbor, safe partying, healthy eating, laws Affordable place to live, transportation, landlord accountability, legal rights, roommate matching

Changes Full time professional staff Graduate assistant Office within the Wellness Resource Center IT support to create an app Presentations to senior administrators

Off Campus Student Services Mission: The Off Campus Services Office will enhance the educational experience of off campus students by providing programs, services, and support. The Off Campus Students Services Office will serve as a central point of information and assistance for commuter students.

Services Provided Consultations with students and parents (over 300 from May-December Referral services Communications with landlords M.O.M. Mizzou Off-Campus Mentors Keeping landlords accountable Training of assistants in apartment complexes Communication with law enforcement Enhance neighborhood dialogs Improve transportations options

Off Campus Housing Fair

Housing Guide: Practical Information Columbia’s Housing Options Evaluating Properties The Property Checklist Viewing the Property Terms to be Familiar With Rights & Responsibilities Columbia Transit

Housing Guide: How To’s Plan Your move Rental Insurance Creating a Budget Getting Settled City Ordinances Safety Resources Helpful Contact Information

Housing Guide: Health and Safety Nutrition Tobacco How to Throw a Safe Party Avoid Breaking the Law How to be a good neighbor

offcampus.missouri.edu 23,000 hits on website from May-December

Off Campus Student Services Advisory Board Wellness Resource Center Financial Aid Office of Neighborhood Services Residential Life New Student Programs Parent Relations Student Legal Services Columbia Police Student Activities Leadership/Involvement Student Financial Success Mizzou Off-Campus Mentors

Improving Town/Gown Passed a nuisance party ordinance Walk and talk kits Community welcome event

Our ongoing concerns Some landlords do not treat students well 3 strikes you are out Town/gown relation Potential lack of affordable housing Safety of our students Expectations of parents on our role

Future plans Commuter student needs assessment Yearly Landlord meetings Expand mentorship program Searchable app for finding a place to live Help facilitate improved transportation Provide educational programs at apartments

Improvement in behavior Increase in buses from apartments to and from bars Decrease in the size of off campus parties Decrease in the number of complaints by neighbors Decrease in the number of police calls to apartments

Improvements in behavior from 2008-2013 7% decrease in the number of regular drinkers 6% decrease in 2 hour binge drinking 2% decrease in binge drinking

Improvements in protective behaviors of off campus students from 2008-2013 8% increase in the use of a designated driver 54% increase in alternating non-alcoholic with alcoholic drinks 20% increase in setting a limit on the number of drinks per setting

Questions???