Many colleges and universities are inviting parents to help them prevent high-risk drinking among college students. 2011 research argues for parents continued influence on the behaviors and attitudes of students well into their teenage years, especially during the transition from high school to college. Parental involvement was shown to have a significant impact on the drinking behaviors of students attending colleges and universities.
Accordingly, we have created more opportunities for parental involvement in reducing high-risk drinking among our students.
Some of our new initiatives are:
- Letter to Parents: In early August, the parents of this year's incoming class received a letter from the university encouraging them to have candid conversations with their students about alcohol use. The letter also describes the resources the university provides about the dangers associated with high-risk drinking.
- Provost’s Address: During last year's New Student Orientation, Provost Etchemendy spoke about the University's focus on high-risk drinking. He encouraged parents to take a proactive role in engaging their students around alcohol use and gave them concrete topics to discuss. The Provost will address the parents of this year's incoming class with similar messages and additional opportunities for involvement.
- President's Letter: In September 2012, President Hennessy discussed Stanford's alcohol initiatives and programs in his annual letter to parents. He reiterated the fact that parents are vital parnters in our efforts and he encouraged them to have frank and honest conversations with their student about alcohol.
- Parent Alcohol Advisory Board: Co-chaired by Ralph Castro, director of Stanford’s Office of Alcohol Policy and Education, and Sally Lannin, a parent of three Stanford students. The Board serves as a conduit between the university and the parent community on alcohol issues.
Each of the aforementioned focus on three key points:
- Drinking hard liquor in the form of shots is dangerous and can lead to alcohol poisoning and death.
- Excessive drinking can—and does—result in arrest. Stanford students are not immune from prosecution and are commonly cited for a) being a minor in possession of alcohol, b) being intoxicated in public (which involves being arrested and transported to jail) and c) possession of false identification.
- Incidents involving regretted sexual encounters, sexual misconduct, sexual assault and violations of campus community standards often involve excessive alcohol use.
*Information provided by The Alcohol Prevention Coalition's January 2011 Research Summary, Enlisting Today's Parents in Alcohol Prevention: Challenges and Opportunities for Leveraging Parental Influence.
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