LEGACIES OF LIFE: Creating Proactive Norms through

Healthy Transitions to College

Presented By:

David S. Anderson, Ph.D.Associate Professor

Jennifer MaltbyProgram Coordinator

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITYGraduate School of Education

Department of Health, Fitness and Recreation ResourcesCenter for the Advancement of Public Health

In Loving Memory Of:

Sally G. ColemanJuly 5, 1941 – October 21, 1999

We are all treasures, enduring survivors, bright, beautiful, and full of goodness……..We are more than we imagine. We

are connected through our love and tears to one another. We are all equal, and worthy of love, freedom and fellowship.

We are beautiful at this moment, exactly as we are today.

From Sally’s book Seasons of the Spirit

. . . alcohol contributes to damage and crime on college campuses.

We know . . .

54

55

60

60

0 20 40 60 80 100

Campus Policy Violation

Campus Property Damage

Violent Behavior

Residence Hall Damage

Mean Percentages

We know . . .

Alcohol's Involvement With Campus Problems

College Alcohol Survey: 2000

23

36

40

64

70

0 20 40 60 80 100

Health Center Contacts

Emotional Difficulty

Physical Injury

Unsafe Sexual Practices

Acquaintance Rape

Mean Percentages

We know . . .

Alcohol's Involvement In Personal Behaviors

College Alcohol Survey: 2000

. . . alcohol use negatively impacts academic performance.

We know . . .

Average Number Of Drinks Per Week By Grade Point Average

3.3

4.8

6.1

9.0

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

"A" Students "B" Students "C" Students "D" or "F" Students

National Core Survey: 1996

We know . . .

30

36

0 20 40 60 80 100

StudentAttrition

Lack ofAcademicSuccess

Mean Percentages

We know . . .

Alcohol's Involvement In Academic Issues

College Alcohol Survey: 2000

. . . students overestimate the level of alcohol and other drug use by their peers.

We know . . .

0102030405060708090

100

Perc

en

t

Alcohol Marijuana Designer Drugs

Year

Perception

Actual

Actual and Perceived Annual Alcohol Use:Virginia Colleges/Universities

We know . . .

Virginia Core Survey: 2000

We know . . .

. . . comprehensive and planful approaches are stressed and widely used.

Task Force PlannerGroups

• Campus Leadership

• Coordinator

• Health and Counseling

• Student Life

• Police and Security

• Faculty

• Residence Life

• Student Government

• Student Groups

• Community

We Know….

• Policies & Implementation

• Curriculum

• Awareness & Information

• Support & Intervention

• Enforcement

• Assessment & Evaluation

• Training

• Staffing & Resources

ComponentsTask Force Planner

We Know….

www.promprac.gmu.edu

We Know….

We know . . .

. . . heavier alcohol use is relatively resistant to change.

College Student Drinking Patterns

0

20

40

60

80

100

79 82 85 88 91 94 97 01Year

Per

cent

of S

tude

nt U

se

Heavier Drinking Use in Last 30 Days

We know . . .

Monitoring the Future

Campus Effort and Heavier Use Patterns

We know . . .

Monitoring the Future

0

20

40

60

80

100

79 82 85 88 91 94 97 00Year

Per

cen

t o

f S

tud

ent

Use

Heavier Drinking Campus Effort

Le

ve

l of E

ffort

We know . . .

. . . a national conference was held in 1995 to identify new strategies to better address drug and alcohol abuse.

We know . . .

The Challenge 2000 conference, convened at the University of Notre Dame, engaged 200 professionals in an intensive process. Vision groups of 8-10 members identified meaningful approaches for healthier campuses. Emerging from this conference were seven life health principles.

OPTIMISM

VALUES

SELF-CARE

RELATIONSHIPS

COMMUNITY

NATURE

SERVICE

We know…

“For every problem, there is one solution which is simple, neat and wrong.”

Henry Louis Mencken

Healthy Expectations

The overall purpose of Healthy Expectations is to alter the campus environment through extensive attention to first year students prior to and during their first year in college.

Healthy Expectations

Healthy Expectations focuses on the quality of the campus environment through a wide range of strategies and philosophies.

Healthy Expectations

This innovative initiative is organized around six frameworks or constructs:

Healthy Expectations

• Audience• Means• Modes• Focus• Sponsorship• Theoretical Foundations

Audience

• Students during their first year at GMU

• GMU first year students, prior to their matriculation to campus

• Local high school seniors

Means

Modes

• TechnologyEmailWebsiteOptionFinder

• Traditional

Focus

• Fall Freshmen Survey

• Parent Survey at Orientation

• Spring Campus Survey

Sponsorship

• Student Affairs

• Academic Life

Theoretical Foundation I

Correct Misperceptions of Peer Alcohol and Other Drug Use

Theoretical Foundation I

Theoretical Foundation II

Address the Underlying Needs of Students

We believe that human beings are basically good

and that, despite setbacks, our history is on a path of

progress and promise.

We believe that values are at the core of self and community and are essential to any meaningful change.

OPTIMISM

We believe that an ethic of balanced self-care is

fundamental to flourishing as a human

being in the world community.

OPTIMISM

VALUES

We believe that learning how to be in working relationships

is an essential developmental task

for young adults.

OPTIMISM

SELF-CARE

VALUES

We believe that creating a culture of community through

rituals, symbols, traditions, and heroes is needed to

insure quality educational experiences.

OPTIMISM

VALUES

SELF-CARE

RELATIONSHIPS

We believe that the connection of the biological, natural being to the larger

planetary system is essential and insures the health of the

planet and our well-being, including our ultimate

spiritual survival.

OPTIMISM

VALUES

SELF-CARE

RELATIONSHIPS

COMMUNITY

OPTIMISM

VALUES

SELF-CARE

RELATIONSHIPS

COMMUNITY

NATURE

We believe that service is indispensable in engaging

people in authentic and meaningful learning

experiences and in creating positive social change.

OPTIMISM

VALUES

SELF-CARE

RELATIONSHIPS

COMMUNITY

NATURE

SERVICE

Theoretical Foundation II

Existing Campus-based Approaches

• Residence Life• Orientation• University 100• Data collection

Residence Life

•RA Training and Fair•Discussion Series•Bulletin Boards•Honors Banquet

The Issue or Concern Our Response Resident Advisor’s Role

 A range of problems or areas of concern result from alcohol abuse. These can detract from the quality of life faced by students, and include violent behavior, vandalism, detractions from academics, and other consequences.

  The strategies undertaken by the Healthy Expectations project are designed to complement existing services, programs, policies and related efforts. These build upon and often go in different directions from typical efforts.

You have a vital role to play in the lives of new students, as well as their parents. Each of your residents will seek your guidance and opinions regarding life at George Mason University. This is particularly true of first year students who are trying to learn to fit in at George Mason. New students will watch your behaviors, sense your attitudes, and listen carefully to your words

Students typically overestimate the level of drug and alcohol use by their peers; they think “everyone is doing it.” This tends to result in higher use patterns to keep up with the “imaginary peer.”

We incorporate social normsmarketing strategies to educatethe campus community about theReality of students’ alcohol use. Posters, bulletin boards, mediacampaigns, and emailmessages help provide accurateand current facts. Informationcomes from GMU data collection,updated annually, as well as from state and national sources.

•Be accurate with alcohol messages•Emphasize that “NOT everyone is doing it”•Correct misinformation as you hear it•Promote the wide range of activities available at GMU and in the surrounding community•When in doubt, say so and then try to obtain the information

Most traditional drug/alcohol prevention programs nationally deal with the symptoms and behavioral consequences associated with substance use.

Our approach addresses factors that underlie substance abuse, which, if addressed, will reduce the demand for alcohol and other drugs. These seven life health themes, emerging from a national conference, offer positive ways to have vibrant health and a more meaningful life.

 Be positive and upbeat about life at GMU •Promote the various cultural, social, recreational, academic, personal support, and other activities and services available•Talk about the quality experiences and good relationships you have had here

Describe ways in which you have maintained a healthy balance of life during your first year and later

OPTIMISMIdentify at least 5 people that you consider to be role models. These may be people you know (friends or family) or people you don’t know (celebrities, politicians). What characteristics of each person’s attitude do you want to include in your life? Be specific.

Please rate each person’s optimism on a 5-point scale (5 being very optimistic).

Person Characteristics Optimism Rating

Sample Discussion Series Handout

Honors Banquet

istening

nergy

rowth

ction

ompassion

es!

Some of the most important decisions in life are made by

default because people do not realize their options. Instead of directing life they often passively allow life to happen to them by not planning and acting. They

may not learn to consider alternatives and to look ahead to see where their current behavior may lead them. Later in life, they may find themselves shipwrecked or becalmed in stagnant waters

and look back with regret, “If only I had known…” Hindsight is often

very clear, but it is always an afterthought. Take time now to

engage in this important planning and visioning. Think about how to live a healthy and fulfilling life, how to recognize options, make

confident decisions, and overcome obstacles.

From Charting Your Course: A Lifelong Guide to Health and Compassion

Sally Coleman and David AndersonUniversity of Notre Dame Press, 1998

www.caph.gmu.edu

Center for the Advancement of Public HealthDepartment of Health, Fitness &

Recreation ResourcesGraduate School of Education

Orientation

•Orientation Leader Training

•Parent Orientation

The Issue or Concern Our Response Orientation Leader' Role

 A range of problems or areas of concern result from alcohol abuse. These can detract from the quality of life faced by students, and include violent behavior, vandalism, detractions from academics, and other consequences.

  The strategies undertaken by the Healthy Expectations project are designed to complement existing services, programs, policies and related efforts. These build upon and often go in different directions from typical efforts.

You have a vital role to play in the lives of new students, as well as their parents. Each of your residents will seek your guidance and opinions regarding life at George Mason University. This is particularly true of first year students who are trying to learn to fit in at George Mason. New students will watch your behaviors, sense your attitudes, and listen carefully to your words

Students typically overestimate the level of drug and alcohol use by their peers; they think “everyone is doing it.” This tends to result in higher use patterns to keep up with the “imaginary peer.”

We incorporate social normsmarketing strategies to educatethe campus community about theReality of students’ alcohol use. Posters, bulletin boards, mediacampaigns, and emailmessages help provide accurateand current facts. Informationcomes from GMU data collection,updated annually, as well as from state and national sources.

•Be accurate with alcohol messages•Emphasize that “NOT everyone is doing it”•Correct misinformation as you hear it•Promote the wide range of activities available at GMU and in the surrounding community•When in doubt, say so and then try to obtain the information

Most traditional drug/alcohol prevention programs nationally deal with the symptoms and behavioral consequences associated with substance use.

Our approach addresses factors that underlie substance abuse, which, if addressed, will reduce the demand for alcohol and other drugs. These seven life health themes, emerging from a national conference, offer positive ways to have vibrant health and a more meaningful life.

 Be positive and upbeat about life at GMU •Promote the various cultural, social, recreational, academic, personal support, and other activities and services available•Talk about the quality experiences and good relationships you have had here

Describe ways in which you have maintained a healthy balance of life during your first year and later

Students typically overestimate the level of drug and alcohol use by their peers; they think “everyone is doing it.” This tends to result in higher use patterns to keep up with the “imaginary peer.”

The Issue or Concern

We incorporate social norms marketing strategies to educatethe campus communityabout the reality of students’ alcohol use. Posters, bulletin boards, mediacampaigns, and emailmessages help provideaccurate and current facts. Informationcomes from GMU datacollection, updated annually, as well as from state and nationalsources.

Our Response

•Be accurate with alcohol messages

•Emphasize that “NOT everyone is doing it”

•Correct misinformation as you hear it

•Promote the wide range of activities available at GMU and in the surrounding community

•When in doubt, say so and then try to obtain the information

Orientation Leader’s Role

Helping Your Student Make A Healthy College Transition

 

As you prepare for your student to attend George Mason University, we know that YOU are probably going through some transitions and adjustments yourself. With that in mind, we share the following suggestions to help make your student’s adjustment smooth and healthy.

 1.     Listen: Allow your student to share his/her feelings and expectations about all of the new experiences college will bring. Encourage your student to share both concerns and excitement openly with you by reserving judgment and simply allowing him or her to talk.

 2.     Inquire: Your student may be hesitant to share with you pre-college fears or certain experiences during the first year at college. It is important to ask your student about those subjects that may be uncomfortable to discuss. You may easily ask about academics, but don’t be afraid to ask about other aspects of college life. Inquire about the relationships your student is developing at college, including friends, roommates and romantic relationships. Ask your student about activities on the weekend and the choices she or he is making about alcohol and other drugs. Your student may not share everything with you, but it will help to know that you are willing to discuss these and other topics if the need arises.

 3.     Support: Although they may not always say it, first year students need parental support. Let your student know that you have confidence in their abilities. Knowing that you believe he or she will be both academically and socially successful in college will greatly enhance your student’s self-confidence. E-mail, cards, phone calls and care packages are great ways to stay connected.

University 100

•Freshman year experience class

•Presentations

Data Collection

•Freshmen only survey

•Parent Survey

•Campus wide, electronic survey

New Initiatives

• Emails• High Schools• Peer Theater• GMU TV• Quizzes

Emails

•Getting addresses

•Format of email

•Responses to email

•Change in frequency

High Schools

• Access and overload concerns

• Parent/Student nights

• Assembly

Peer Theater• Originated in the high schools

• Theater Department

• Health Educator

Script includes the following themes:• Drunk Driving• Sexual Assault• Not everyone drinks• Peer pressure• Drug use• Transition issues• Advice from upper-class students

GMU-TV

• Interviews with a diverse group of students about their transition

• Use in high schools

• Challenges in adhering to timelines

Common questions:• What did you expect when you came to college?• How did you manage your transition to college?• What advice would you give to incoming students?• Describe alcohol and other drug use in your high school. • How do you perceive alcohol use on campus?

On-line Quizzes

HEALTHY EXPECTATIONS

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Healthy Expectations

4400 University Dr., MS 1F5Fairfax, VA 22030-4444Phone: 703-993-3697

www.caph.gmu.eduwww.healthyexpectations.gmu.edu

End

Presentation