The College Drinking Series: The Campus Visit… Kicking The Tires Before They Enroll

If so, how much?

– Can students have parties in their rooms?

– What are the penalties for violating the policy?

– Are there wellness-oriented residence halls?

– What are the rules in these halls? 

– How are students selected for wellness halls? 

Athletics 

– What is the drinking policy for athletes? 

– Are athletes allowed to drink during the season? During the off-season? 

– What are the consequences if an athlete breaks a team alcohol policy? 

– Is the Athletic Department supported by the alcohol industry? 

– Is there a Champs Life Skills Program for athletes? 

Greek Life 

Are there fraternities and sororities? 

– Are they local organizations or chapters from a national organization? 

– Is there a full-time Greek Life Coordinator? 

Social Norms Program 

– Is there a social norms program? 

– What are the true campus drinking norms? 

– How does the program highlight the true campus norms? 

– What is the theme(s) of the program?

Counseling Services 

Is there a Counseling Department? 

– What counseling services are available? 

– Is there a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor? 

– How dependable is the follow-up on students who exhibit alcohol abuse and other problem behaviors? 

– Are there any support group meetings conducted on campus or in the nearby community? 

– Are counseling services part of the sanctions for violating campus policy? 

Other Considerations As you tour the campus both with and without a tour guide, consider: 

= When possible, visit on a Thursday or Friday. 

– Schedule extra time to walk around the campus and the surrounding neighborhood. ? Walk around the campus late at night. ? Be sure to request and read a copy of the Biennial Review (see Below) 

– What types of posters hang in the residence halls: alcohol advertisements or educational messages? 

– Are bars in close proximity? Do they offer drink specials? 

– Are loads of empty beer cans and twelve-pack wrappers piled near the trash? 

– Read a number of issues of the campus newspaper, if possible. You can often view both current and previous issues online. Are there ads in the newspaper for the local bars and liquor stores? 

– Are there any alcohol or other drug-related stories in the local newspaper? 

Athletic Department If your teen will be participating in a college sport, visit the athletic department. Meet with the Athletic Director and/or coach to discuss sports-related issues and the team policy regarding alcohol. Talk with players and casually include a question about drinking. If your student will be visiting the campus on his or her own as a guest of the athletic department, inquire: 

– How long do the student athletes stay at the campus? 

– What do the student athletes do during the visit? Do they visit classes? 

– Where will the visiting student athletes sleep? With whom? 

– Who will chaperone the visiting student athletes? 

– What will happen to any host athletes who might supply alcohol to a visiting student athlete?

Biennial Review 

Regulations found in the US Department of Education Drug Free Schools and Communities Act require every college and university to conduct a biennial review of campus alcohol and other drug education and abuse prevention efforts. Request copies of the last two Biennial Reviews from the Admissions representative. These reports can give you a sense of the alcohol and other drug climate and the efforts being made to address problematic areas. If the Admissions representative does not know what you are talking about or cannot or will not provide you with the Biennial Review, then request it directly from the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Dean of Students. Campuses are required to provide these documents, and if a campus cannot do so then their education and abuse prevention efforts are certainly questionable. As a matter of fact, the college may even be in direct violation of Congressional requirements. 

The Visit 

When we returned to the campus the next day to take one last look, we spoke with a few students. We questioned them about the sirens we had heard the night before. Reluctantly they spoke of two students who had hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. One had been released from the hospital while the other was still in intensive care. That was truly a dose of reality for all of us.

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