Highlights from the 2012 NASPA Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and Intervention Conference

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Atlanta Marriott Marquis atrium

Atlanta Marriott Marquis atrium

A few weeks ago, four MyStudentBody team members attended the 2012 NASPA Alcohol Abuse Prevention & Intervention Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a great conference and we learned a lot as well as talked with dozens of dedicated, passionate college alcohol and other drug professionals.

This conference, as if you couldn’t tell by the title, is “designed to address emerging issues in…alcohol and other drug prevention as they relate to student affairs, and to showcase effective policy development, thereby serving a wide range of institutional audiences, from those who are integrating and modifying policies and structure to those who would like to improve their current practices.”

That’s the conference program’s fancy way of saying that it helps departments come together to determine how to prevent and intervene on alcohol and other drug abuse among college students. It also gives students affairs professionals the skills they need to be successful.

We’ve been to this conference before. It’s SUPER informative and fits right in with MyStudentBody’s goal as a complete online alcohol, drugs, and sexual violence prevention program. It also gives us some time to meet current clients and puts faces to names, which is always fun.

This year we got to meet people from University of Georgia, University of West Georgia, Stevenson University, Kennesaw State University, Dartmouth College, State University of New York Oswego, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Agnes Scott College, St. Joseph’s University, Warren Wilson College, and Winston-Salem State University. Phew! A lot of our enthusiastic clients came to see us and it was really great to connect with them.

They agreed with us that there were some differences in the conference this year. At many past conferences, there was a focus on sexual violence/assault prevention and social norming. While these topics were certainly discussed, we and our clients found that this year’s conference was particularly centered on interdepartmental collaboration, suicide prevention, recovery programs, and addressing specific populations or subgroups of students.

That last topic, addressing subgroups of students, is especially important. Why? Funny you should ask because Emil Chiauzzi, Ph.D., our Vice President of Product Strategy, Pronabesh DasMahapatra, our biostatistician, and Beth DeRicco, consultant at DeRicco Consulting, presented on this very subject. The title of the presentation is “Tailoring Prevention Strategies: Are There Subgroups That We Have Not Considered?” and you can view the full presentation by clicking below.

A synopsis: It is critical to find ways to identify college students who are engaged in risky drinking behaviors so that prevention and intervention efforts can be targeted. This presentation is based on an innovative analysis of substance use data provided by 22,000 incoming U.S. college students. A four-group model that encompasses key indicators such a drinking patterns, risks, consequences, protective factors, marijuana use, and nonmedical prescription medication use is reviewed. Practical strategies for addressing these subgroups are also discussed.

Additionally, Tyler Achilles, our Product Coordinator, did a poster presentation on “Best Practices for Achieving a 90% Response Rate for an Alcohol and Drug Survey.” The poster is below and you can click the picture to view a PDF.

It’s pretty self-explanatory, but the key here is: although you may already be using many of these strategies to increase response rates to non-mandated surveys, making little tweaks in your process can have a huge influence. As briefly outlined in the poster, Stetson University was able to achieve a 90% response rate to its MyStudentBody survey by using these strategies, even though it’s not required. Wow! If you would like to consult with Tyler on the findings, feel free to email him or tweet him (he loves tweets!).

Well, that’s all folks. Let us know what you thought about the conference (if you attended) or our presentations in the comments.

Heads Up: Changes Coming to MyStudentBody!

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Hopefully, you noticed that MyStudentBody has been running faster. You have? Good, because in November we upgraded MyStudentBody’s operating platform behind the scenes. But here at MyStudentBody HQ, we’ll be rolling out some changes over the next few months in addition to some of our recent upgrades. Here’s a look at the next three big steps.

Change #1

Early next month, our welcome page will get a fresh look and links to useful articles that you can share with colleagues. Check out the snazzy previews of the new welcome page and library below.

Change #2

In February, we’ll also be unveiling a new registration process that will make users’ information more secure and help with forgotten passwords. Administrators, this is important because you’ll need to revise your instructions to students. But don’t worry, we’ll provide new samples and templates online.

Change #3

Also coming in February, MyStudentBody’s wellness information (topics like stress, sexual health, nutrition, and tobacco) will be available from the Student Center page. Here’s why: administrators spoke, we listened.

Back in September, we asked administrators who use MyStudentBody to tell us how they use the program, and how we could make it more useful to them and students. Regarding the wellness information, the biggest takeaways were:

  1. MyStudentBody’s wellness components, which aren’t part of the Essentials or Student Conduct courses, are liked, but not used extensively with students.
  2. Half of administrators found the wellness areas “very valuable,” but only 35% thought they were “very popular” with students.
  3. More than 70% agreed that, “though the wellness sites seem useful, we rarely use them.”
  4. Nearly 90% agreed that those areas “would be helpful if we used (them) more.”

In an effort to provide the comprehensive student health education we’ve always promised and provide ongoing prevention support, we asked ourselves what we could do to make the wellness information more accessible to students. Clearly, it’s important to administrators. We decided to move that wellness information to the Student Center tab of MyStudentBody because then it would be more easily seen and used as a resource by students. And 82% administrators liked that idea.

So that’s exactly what we’re doing. We expect the changes to take effect in late February, and we’ll have more information about that in January. Until then, those areas will be available as they’ve always been.

For more details about the findings from our customer survey read the Executive Summary [PDF].

Fulfilling Federal Mandates Part 2: Dominican College Uses MyStudentBody In Title IX Compliance

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In the first part of this series, we discussed the “Dear Partner” letter, which announced that campus drug abuse programs would be falling under increased scrutiny by the US Department of Education and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. We suggested ways that college and university administrators can step up the drug prevention programs on their campuses. In the second part of this series, we invite you to find out more about how MyStudentBody can help schools respond to another part of these new federal mandates, which was outlined in the recently distributed “Dear Colleague” letter.

Dominican College, in Orangeburg, NY, is a small college in the Catholic tradition serving about 1,800 students with professional programs in teacher education, athletic training, social work, business administration, and the health care professions of nursing and occupational and physical therapy. In addition to over 30 programs of study, the college also has a strong athletic program, sponsoring 12 intercollegiate sports in NCAA Division II.

According to Dominican College’s Prevention and Education Coordinator, Eileen A. Piccininni, MA, LPC, CASAC, CEAP, the “Dear Colleague” letter issued by the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights last April means all US colleges will be looking more uniformly at how they handle sexual assault complaints. The letter, which the White House has declared a “significant guidance document”, reiterated schools’ obligation under Title IX to deal with sexual harassment as unlawful discrimination, and detailed the process by which institutions should respond to sexual assault complaints.

“The ‘Dear Colleague’ letter specifically references issues around sexual violence,” Piccininni says. “Every campus will be reviewing and improving methods for promoting healthy and safe environments through educating students about sexual violence issues.”

Dominican has used MyStudentBody for the past five years as part of its alcohol abuse prevention education, and began using the Essentials course, which covers sexual violence as well as alcohol and drug use, last year. Piccininni finds it an effective tool for Title IX training and documentation. “Proactively, we’ve assigned MyStudentBody Essentials as part of the curriculum for our year-long Freshman Seminar,” she says. “I also use it when I have students who violate the alcohol and other drug policy.”

As part of an educational sanction for students who violate the policy, Piccininni requires completion of either the Essentials Course or the Student Conduct Course. Piccininni has also assigned the sexual violence component of Essentials course to students whose relationships show warning signs of dating violence or potential abuse. “These courses help to increase the culture of respect for self and respect for others, instilling the importance of being an active bystander and of a shared responsibility for the safest and most healthy learning environment possible,” she explains.

And at Dominican, MyStudentBody isn’t just for students. “Every administrator in student services has been asked by our Dean of Students to take and pass the Essentials course,” Piccininni says. “We’ve recommended that faculty and other staff take it as well.”

Fulfilling Federal Mandates Part 1: Drug Prevention and the Biennial Review

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To remain eligible for federal education funds, institutions of higher education must comply with mandates aimed at preventing alcohol and drug abuse, violence, exploitation, and discrimination. “Dear Partner” and “Dear Colleague” letters carry the force of law and may upend the interpretation of existing requirements. In this two-part series, we look at two recent communications from federal regulators, and how MyStudentBody can help institutions respond.

On September 23, the US Department of Education (DOE) joined forces with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in a “Dear Partner” letter to college and university administrators announcing that under the 2011 National Drug Control Strategy, campus drug abuse prevention programs would fall under increased scrutiny.

Schools have been required to provide prevention programs under Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) Part 86 (the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Act) since 1990. But on many campuses, alcohol is the primary concern. The September letter emphasized drug abuse prevention and treatment in a new way, calling for systematic early identification and treatment of students with substance abuse disorders and increased partnership with college-level recovery programs.

The letter also explicitly pointed out the requirement to cover drug abuse programs and sanctions in the upcoming Part 86 biennial review. As you assemble your report over the next year, keep in mind that the DOE is looking for evidence that your program actively addresses illegal drug use. If drug prevention hasn’t been an emphasis on your campus in recent years, now is the time to make sure your program goals and strategies include it.

  • Both laws and medical knowledge change, sometimes rapidly. Make sure the drug messages in your annual notification are up to date.
  • President Obama has set a goal of reducing illegal drug use in the US by 10% over the next 5 years. Consider a similar goal for your campus.
  • If you survey your students or staff as part of your biennial review process, be sure to include questions on both drug and alcohol use and treatment.
  • The review requires you to recommend revisions, so if you find your program falls short in its approach to drugs, investigate ways to more effectively promote the DOE/ONDCP goals going forward.

Also make the most of any tools and data you currently use that do address drug use. The drugs section in MyStudentBody Essentials provides prevention education on both prescription and illicit drug abuse, and MyStudentBody Admin reports data that can help you assess the prevalence and severity of drug abuse on your campus.

Overheard On Campus: What Alcohol-Free Activities Can College Students Do on Halloween?

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Contributed by Melissa Kelley, MS, CHES

Kudos to you for deciding to avoid a booze-infused Halloween this year. There are many ways to make a sober Halloween a fun one.

Scare Some Kids

Since Halloween is pretty popular for kids, consider contacting a local organization that works with youth to help plan a haunted house or Halloween party that’s safe, fun, and of course, alcohol-free. Most organizations look for volunteers that can dress up, help with activities, and make the event fun for kids.

Scare Some Friends

If you’re looking for something to do with your own friends, plan a costume contest or Halloween fashion show. You can also contact your Student Activities Office about doing a haunted event on campus. Consider turning your residence hall into a haunted hall!  It might be fun for students to ‘trick-or-treat’ in your dorm and go door-to-door, just like when you were kids. It’s easy and pretty inexpensive to decorate.  You can even make it a contest, where the best decorated floor wins a pizza party or ice cream social, etc. Throw in a strobe light or black light for effect and you have instant Halloween! You also can’t go wrong with a scary movie fright fest, either at the theater or in your dorm room. You never know, you might just start a new sober Halloween trend on campus!

Sexy & Savvy: 3 Tips for Dealing with a Long Distance Relationship

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Contributed by Rebecca Smith, M.A., L.C.P.C., C.S.A.T.

Committing to a long distance relationship in college is like being single, going through a break-up, and having a relationship all at the same time. It’s a crazy experience, for sure.

Some people will tell you that you’re lucky to at least have someone in your life, but there are many days when you actually feel unlucky. You might feel sad or jealous when you see happy couples spending time together. You might also feel that you have a lot of time to yourself because the one you love isn’t there with you. But just remember – you have someone who loves you and wants to be with you in spite of the distance.

Reuniting and then being apart again is heartbreaking. The weeks that lead up to seeing the other person are exciting, yet very frustrating. You just want the reunion to be here already! Then, the time you spend together seems like a dream and flies by way too fast. After your significant other leaves, your friends expect you to be happy since you just saw the person you love…but you feel sadder than ever after having to say goodbye again.

How can you deal with a long distance relationship’s exhaustive roller coaster of emotions? Here are three helpful tips for college students from Rebecca Smith, a counselor at Aurora University’s Counseling Center:

Use Technology – This Is the 21st Century, After All

Technology has come a long way. Back in the day (like waaaay back), couples had to communicate by writing letters and sending them in the mail (what’s that?). Come to think of it, that’s probably why a lot of people married cousins who lived next door. Today, you can meet someone online who lives across the country. As a result of this availability of potentials, many people date long distance.

Skype, a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chats over the Internet, is a fun way to connect with your significant other. Many people also send daily or weekly emails, or chat through services like Google’s Gchat or Facebook. This is particularly useful for those that have significant others in the military overseas or who have major time zone differences.

Sometimes the Internet isn’t always reliable, though, so pick up that cell phone and give each other a call at the very least.

Spend Time with Close Friends

Being apart from someone you love hurts and time can seem to slow down – not fun! Your friends will try to understand and support you, though no one truly knows how painful it is until they’re dealing with it. Nevertheless, you need your friends now more than ever. It may be hard at times for you to relate to them or for them to relate to you, but remember that everyone is trying their best to be there for you.

Pick a Date

One of the hardest parts of a long-distance relationship is figuring out how to actually be together. For some couples, it’s only a matter of time. For example, if your partner’s in the military, you’ll be reunited when he or she returns. For other couples, it’s more complicated. There are logistics to figure out, like which one of you might be willing to move to be closer to the other person. That decision involves many sacrifices, and can be really hard on a relationship. It’s difficult to strike a compromise sometimes.

Regardless, it’s a good idea to pick a date for the next time you’ll see each other face-to-face. This will get rid of some of the uncertainty of when you’ll see them next, and it will give you something to look forward to.

Dealing with Distance Is Hard

Sometimes it will be easy to be positive. Other days, the sadness will just take over, no matter how hard you try to be upbeat. The situation isn’t ideal, but there are others out there who do know how you feel. Many couples survive this period of their relationship, and you will too. Do what you can to process your emotions in positive ways and don’t be too hard on yourself when you feel depressed.

At the end of the day, the struggle is worth it. As they say, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” The distance may pose challenges, but it can also make your relationship stronger.

Overheard On Campus: My partner cheated on me – should I get tested for an STI even though I don’t feel any symptoms?

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Contributed by Melissa Kelley, MS, CHES,  Beau Dooley, MS, MPH, &  Erin Kaufmann, BS

Check out what Melissa Kelley, a health educator at the University of Rochester, Beau Dooley, Associate Director of Student Wellness and Outreach at James Madison University, and Erin Kaufmann, MPH student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, have to say about getting tested in this not-so-fun situation. For information on similar topics, check out the Overheard On Campus category or log in to MyStudentBody.

Melissa says …

Many people aren’t symptomatic or don’t recognize the symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It’s always better to be sure.

Most clinics and health services offer confidential, free, or reduced-cost testing, so that lessens the burden of testing.

Keep in mind that getting tested regularly can be part of your standard health care regimen. Even people in long-term, committed relationships can benefit from knowing for sure whether they have an STI. People tested regularly also benefit from early detection and treatment if necessary, and from the confidence of knowing that they’re keeping their partner(s) safe.

We are each only responsible for our own health and well-being, so getting tested, even when we think the risk is low, is worth it!

Beau says …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that there are about 19 million new STI cases each year, making STI a major health concern, especially for sexually active young adults. So your anxiety about contracting an STI from your partner is a valid one.

If you’ve had sex, especially unprotected sex, with your partner after your partner has had sexual contact with another person, you should strongly consider getting tested for an STI – even if you do not feel any symptoms.  Here’s why:

  • Many STIs are asymptomatic, which means that you’re infected but don’t exhibit any symptoms. For example, the majority of people infected with chlamydia (the most frequently reported STI in the U.S.) have no symptoms at all.
  • If symptoms do appear, there may be a delay from the time of infection to their onset. For instance, chlamydia symptoms, if present, usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after exposure. Symptoms in HIV-positive individuals may take months or even years to develop.
  • The symptoms of many STIs may be mild and mistaken for other conditions. For example, in women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild and can be so nonspecific that they’re mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection by a medical provider.

Periodic testing for both you and your partner(s) is a good thing. Using safer-sex practices and effectively communicating with your partner about STIs is a great thing. Talk to your healthcare provider about STI testing options and other ways to protect your health.

Erin says …

One of the best ways to prevent sexually transmitted infections is by staying in a monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner, but this means that both partners have to stay monogamous.

An STI is probably the last thing you want to think about after your partner has cheated. But unfortunately, because you don’t know the unwanted third party’s sexual history, you don’t know what unwanted STIs he or she may have passed to your partner and then on to you.

It’s important for both men and women to get tested for STIs even if they don’t experience any symptoms. Most people who have an STI don’t know that they have it.

Many common STIs, such as chlamydia, herpes, and HIV, can be spread between partners even when no symptoms are present. Because your partner has recently had sex with someone else, he or she may have contracted an STI, even without feeling or seeing any signs of one. Getting tested early, before you experience symptoms, is the best way to cure or treat an infection and to prevent its long-term effects.

Even if or when your cheating partner is long gone, you don’t want to be left with a burning, itching reminder of him or her.

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