The University of West Florida is one of hundreds of institutions nationwide taking a new approach to alcohol prevention. The Division of Student Affairs is excited to offer our students AlcoholEdu for College - a non-opinionated, science-based course taken by thousands of students each year.

This course will be made available to UWF students over the 2008-2009 academic year. In the next few weeks, freshmen students will receive an e-mail with directions on how to log into the course. During spring semester 2009, other student groups will be contacted to take the course.  We are providing information about the course to faculty and staff since students may potentially discuss it with you.

UWF is fortunate to have dedicated staff and supportive faculty that have been providing evidence-based alcohol prevention programming for our students over the past few years. For more information on UWF's comprehensive alcohol programming, contact Mica Harrell, assistant director of Health Promotion Services, at Ext. 3190 or visit http://www.uwf.edu/cws. For questions about the course, contact Debra Vinci at Ext. 2598.

Sincerely, Judith Bense, Ph.D. President

Deborah Ford, Ed.D. Vice President for Student Affairs

AlcoholEdu® for College: About the Course

The course aims not to preach, but rather to teach the facts about alcohol and its effects on the mind and body. Whether or not students drink, AlcoholEdu for College empowers students to make well-informed decisions and provides simple strategies to help keep themselves and their friends safe.

What is AlcoholEdu for College?

AlcoholEdu for College offers a confidential, personalized experience for each student. The course includes: - Five modules of alcohol-related content featuring videos, blogs, IM chats, comics and more - Helpful tools, like a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) calculator and map of U.S. laws - Discussions on policies and issues related to alcohol - Safe partying strategies and tips for helping a friend - Access to a social networking site

Why AlcoholEdu for College? Surveys from more than 70,000 students who completed AlcoholEdu for College in the summer and fall of 2005 demonstrate the effects of the program. After taking the course: - 72 percent said they now know more about blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and 44 percent of men know more about how alcohol affects consent for sex. - 70 percent said they would recommend the program to other students.

Further, an independent study of AlcoholEdu for College showed that students who took the course had 50 percent fewer negative personal, health and academic consequences than those who did not take it. For more information about AlcoholEdu, visit Outside The Classroom's Web site at http://www.outsidetheclassroom.com.

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