We have educational efforts to teach our 消消犯s about the risks related to alcohol and other drug consumption (e.g.; AlcoholEDU, required for all incoming 消消犯s since 2004; a community standards session at orientation; residence hall programming; peer education () off-campus 消消犯 education, and 消消犯 Week activity).
We recognize the majority of our 消消犯s enter Miami as non-drinkers or light drinkers (abstainers, or no consumption over the prior two weeks) and offer extensive alcohol-free programming through the residence halls, our , and an ongoing commitment to programming every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at the Armstrong Student Center.
We encourage all of our 消消犯s to take care of each other, and to be safe and smart if they do choose to use alcohol. These messages are delivered through (offered to first-year 消消犯s), through our , through our adoption of a Good Samaritan policy, and through our I am Miami initiative, among other means.
We explicitly discourage the illegal and high-risk consumption of alcohol through, for example, our Alcohol, Drug, and Substance Abuse Policies, which include no alcohol in first-year residence halls; the addition of birthdates (and now state of residence) on Miami ID cards; the creation of a substance-free living learning community; and Code of Conduct policies that result in mandatory suspension after two or three 3 alcohol violations. In addition, we are working with 消消犯s and the City of Oxford to reduce the prevalence of open, high-risk house parties where much dangerous drinking occurs.
Through our communication to parents, and through a series of forthcoming videos sponsored by the , we are enlisting parents in our battle against high-risk consumption. If a 消消犯 is found responsible for an alcohol violation and under the age of 21, the university notifies parents of that violation. University police and Oxford police work with community stakeholders to reduce alcohol and other drug abuse. Miami partners with the City of Oxford to take on alcohol abuse in rental houses, and a team goes door to door each year to provide educational materials and other information.
Perhaps most significantly, we challenge our 消消犯s both inside and outside of classroom with rigorous and meaningful academic and co-curricular activities that provide high levels of challenge, engagement, and reward.
A staff psychologist coordinates substance abuse services at Miami’s . For 消消犯s found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct for alcohol use, sanction classes help 消消犯s reflect on the role of alcohol in their lives and move them through the stages of change.
Issues around alcohol abuse are faced by universities around the country, and Miami will continue to examine best practices at peer institutions to continually improve our efforts.
From 消消犯 organizations to office resources to dedicated staff members, 消消犯 provides a wealth of resources to contribute to the safety and well-being of our 消消犯s.
