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LONG BEACH - California State
University's Board of Trustees heard Tuesday, July 10, the third
biennial report on the CSU's continuing efforts to educate and reduce
alcohol-related problems throughout its 23-campus system. The report by
Fresno State President John D. Welty and CSU Assistant Vice Chancellor
Allison G. Jones outlined the implementation efforts, progress and
success of the trustees' Alcohol Policies and Prevention Programs
adopted in 2001.
The report showcased CSU campus reports on progress in implementing
campus policies, enforcement, and education in addition to developing,
implementing, and assessing alcohol prevention, training, intervention,
and treatment programs. Highlights of the progress report include a
documented trend toward less alcohol use among students, fewer
alcohol-related incidents, and increased education programs.
"The CSU's alcohol policy is visionary and ambitious, and it has been
called one of the most comprehensive in the country," said CSU
Chancellor Charles B. Reed. "For it to continue being a success,
collaboration and cooperation among staff at the campus level, our
public agency partners, and CSU students must continue and grow."
Welty, who chairs the Alcohol Policies and Prevention Programs
committee, said, “The CSU has made excellent progress in addressing the
complex issue of alcohol abuse. The educational programs offered on our
campuses are among some of the most effective programs in the country.”
Alcohol education and prevention programs currently being developed and
implemented by CSU campuses are designed based on "guiding principles"
and key recommendations adopted by the trustees. (The principles and
recommendations may be found on p.16-17 of the Educational Policy
Committee's report at
www.calstate.edu/BOT/agendas/Jul07/EdPol.pdf).
The programs address six areas: policies; enforcement and legal issues;
education and prevention programs; training, intervention and treatment;
assessment; and resources. These focus areas were also aligned with
mission statements developed by each of the 23 CSU campuses to reduce
alcohol abuse.
CSU's alcohol policy focuses on education and prevention, which includes
partnering with law enforcement, alcohol avoidance organizations, and
other public entities. In the first compact of its kind in California, a
"memorandum of understanding" was signed in February 2002 partnering the
CSU with six state agencies. These partners are: the Business,
Transportation, and Housing Agency; Alcoholic Beverage Control; Alcohol
and Drug Programs; the California Highway Patrol; the Department of
Motor Vehicles, and the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).
Working with the CSU, the OTS has funded at total of 16 CSU campuses
with two grants of $750,000 each -- the first in October 2002 running
through December 2004 and the second in February 2005 running through
December 2006 -- to reduce alcohol abuse and drunk driving, strengthen
peer education programs, and offer responsible beverage service
training. (The results of the CSU Alcohol and Traffic Safety Project may
be found in the Educational Policy Committee's report at
www.calstate.edu/BOT/agendas/Jul07/EdPol.pdf
on page 21 and following). An additional grant of $725,000 was just
awarded to the CSU by the OTS to continue the program. This grant will
support the remaining seven CSU campuses that have not received OTS
funding.
Many CSU campuses have also expanded their policies on alcohol and other
drugs to include the use of tobacco.
The California State University is the largest system of senior higher
education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 417,000
students and 46,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in
1961, it has awarded nearly 2.5 million degrees, about 86,000 annually.
The CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the
job-ready graduates it produces. Its mission is to provide high-quality,
affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of
California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation,
the CSU is the university system that is working for California. See
www.calstate.edu
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