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NCAA News Archive - 2001
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The NCAA News
Student-athletes are integrally involved in all of the 10 programs at NCAA institutions selected this year to receive CHOICES program grants.
The grants, totaling nearly $300,000, bring to 107 the number of grants awarded since the CHOICES program began in 1991.
Approximately $2 million has been awarded to institutions since then.
Once again, grants have been extended on a three-year basis. The maximum amount of the grant awards decreases from $15,000 the first year to $10,000 the second year and $5,000 the third year. The approach is designed to encourage the institution to assume greater responsibility for maintaining the program.
The CHOICES program seeks to encourage NCAA institutions and conferences to implement and evaluate effective alcohol-education programs. Funded programs are designed to work toward the elimination of high-risk consumption of alcohol on college campuses by promoting low-risk choices.
The use of alcohol by college students who are under the legal drinking age and the heavy use of alcohol by students for whom alcohol is a legal substance continue to concern program administrators.
The NCAA Foundation awards CHOICES grants with support from Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. The NCAA education services group is responsible for administration of CHOICES. All of the 10 newly funded programs feature peer-education components in which student-athletes and other students receive training to lead teammates and classmates in discussions promoting alcohol education.
Many of the programs also feature such elements as media campaigns, community outreach and events offering alternatives to alcohol use. All of the programs have characteristics that have been common in CHOICES. They are campus-wide in focus and are built around athletics events, activities and/or personalities. All also emphasize, in some way, the choices students must make about alcohol use.
Recipients of the latest CHOICES grants (and the amounts of the grants) are Augsburg College ($31,181); the University of Cincinnati ($28,550); the University of Louisville ($30,000); Morehead State University ($25,510); the University of Nebraska, Lincoln ($29,987); State University College at Oneonta ($30,000); St. Michael's College ($30,000); Salisbury State Universtiy ($29,925); the University of South Dakota ($30,000); and Troy State University ($30,000).
Application forms for CHOICES grants to be awarded in 2002 will be mailed to member institutions in October. The forms and grant guidelines will be sent to athletics directors, chief executive officers and directors of student affairs. Forms also will be available online at www.ncaa.org/
sports_sciences/education. The deadline for applications will be in February 2002.
Augsburg College
CHOICES for Life
Uses innovative research to develop positive health behaviors regarding the responsible consumption of alcohol.
Evaluate current use/abuse of alcohol on campus.
Train student-athlete mentors as peer educators.
Develop non-drinking activities before, during and after athletics events.
Host first-year athlete round-table discussions.
University of Cincinnati
New Situations -- New CHOICES
Reduce high-risk drinking rates through education and prevention programs.
Develop a social marketing campaign using student-athletes.
Use survey to determine perceived norms on drinking.
Use campus media to deliver messages on social norming and efforts to encourage responsible consumption of alcohol.
Sponsor Friday-night non-drinking activities.
University of Louisville
Positive CHOICES
Provide student-athletes with skills and strategies to make low-risk drinking choices.
Use existing research to demonstrate that altering students' perception of campus norms can lead to reduced consumption.
Use student-athletes as positive role models on campus and in community.
Take advantage of existing campus and athletics department groups to implement activities.
Morehead State University
CHOICES for a New Millennium
Increase student awareness and involvement in developing sound decision-making.
Use presentations and leadership seminars as a medium.
Aggressive promotional campaign on campus, including residence halls, fraternities and sororities, student government association and SAAC.
Provide "teachable moments" to advise peers.
Use Internet to broaden exposure.
Develop a Leadership Training Institute that incorporates student and student-athlete leaders.
University of
Nebraska, Lincoln
Husker CHOICES
Support students who choose to abstain from alcohol.
Encourage high-risk drinkers to drink in low-risk ways.
Use student and student-athlete leaders to launch educational campaign.
Make presentations to target audiences (freshmen, students in residence halls and Greek organizations.
Required training will include peer educator certification, a one-credit academic class and biweekly meetings.
More than 40 presentations planned to more than 1,000 students.
State University College
at Oneonta
Oneonta Students Making Healthy CHOICES
Use student-athletes and athletics events to empower non-users and low-risk drinkers to provide a social influence on campus.
Develop a social marketing campaign to challenge misperceptions about drinking norms.
Stage Friday-night non-drinking activities that incorporate an educational component.
Empower student-athletes to become "opinion leaders" and assert their positive lifestyle choices.
St. Michael's College
Knightlife CHOICES
Provides alcohol-free nightlife programming.
Use campus SAAC and other student-athletes to plan and implement programs that target the entire student body.
Components include guest speakers and peer educators.
Objectives include reduced underage drinking and increased knowledge of the risks and subsequent behavior change related to alcohol abuse.
Salisbury State University
Safe CHOICES
Promote safe living environments in targeted off-campus neighborhoods where there are high concentrations of student rentals.
Provide educational and community-building activities conducted by neighborhood-based teams of student and student-athlete leaders.
Provide information on alcohol abuse and its consequences, pertinent statutes and police enforcement practices, and pedestrian and traffic safety.
Develop positive relationships between student tenants and long-term residents.
University of South Dakota
Coyote CHOICES
Create a network of student and student-athlete leaders to encourage healthy personal choices.
Also incorporate community leaders, high-school students and city and county residents as guests at programs staged at athletics events.
Integrate student-athletes and the athletics department into the on-campus and community network of information dissemination encouraging abstinence or low-risk use.
Develop student-athletes as role models for community and regional youth.
Troy State University
Smart CHOICES
Educate faculty, staff, administrators and student leaders on risks associated with alcohol abuse.
Train individuals to identify students exhibiting risky, troubling behaviors.
Implement a training model through various existing university programs and groups.
Develop student-athlete advocates to promote messages through a multimedia campaign.
Sponsor alcohol-free events at athletics venues.
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