Fifteen NCAA institutions have been selected to receive CHOICES program grants this year, up from 10 last year.

The total number of institutions that submitted proposals also increased, from 45 in 2004 to 59 in 2005, an indication of the increasing interest in tackling the alcohol-abuse issue on campuses by partnering with athletics for a more broad-based approach.

The grants, totaling about $450,000, bring to 153 the number of grants awarded since the CHOICES program began in 1991. About $3.4 million has been awarded to NCAA institutions since then.

The CHOICES program encourages NCAA institutions and conferences to integrate athletics into campus-wide prevention efforts through the implementation of 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.

This year's grant recipients are (with program title):

• Carroll College (Pioneering Choices: Building Champions through Health Choices)

• Cazenovia College (Cazenovia CHOICES: Making a Difference)

• Duquesne University (Healthy Choices, Healthy Lives)

• East Tennessee State University (CHOICES: Winning the Right Way)

• Eastern Washington University (CHOICES: Campus Alcohol Education Partnership with Athletics, Fraternities and Sororities)

• University of Massachusetts at Amherst (SMART CHOICES)

• Newberry College (Effects of My CHOICES)

• Pace University (Students Encouraging Alternatives to Risky Choices)

• St. John's University (New York) (Making Better CHOICES: Red Storm Student-Athletes Choose Not to Booze)

• St. Thomas University (Minnesota) (Choices in the Cities)

• Texas State University at San Marcos (CHOICES Wanted)

• Upper Iowa University (Balancing Alcohol Choices)

• West Florida University (You Have CHOICES!)

• Western Connecticut State University (Winning CHOICES)

• University of Wyoming (Cowboy CHOICES)

Grants are awarded 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 NCAA awards CHOICES grants with support from an original gift from Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

CHOICES projects feature such elements as peer education, interdepartmental collaborations, media campaigns, community outreach and events offering alternatives to alcohol use. CHOICES projects involve and encourage students to make healthy, responsible choices about alcohol use.

Application forms for CHOICES grants to be awarded in 2006 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. The deadline for applications will be in February 2006.

Abstracts for the programs awarded grants in 2005 will be posted online at www.ncaa.org/health-safety.