Residence Alcohol Policy Development at Acadia University

Cecilia Jacobs Residence Don Matthew Guy Manager, Residence Life

Acadia’s Experience

• Why we were looking at alcohol policies? • Strang Review

Acadia Residence Alcohol Policy Disclaimer:

• This is not THE answer (or the only answer)

• High risk drinking still happens • We still get ambulances, we still get

vandalism and we still have problems •  I will concentrate on our approach rather than

the minutiae of the policy • One size does not fit all

Strang Review

• The Review Process • Individual, Environmental, Systems • Best Practices (Residence) • Student Reaction (ASU) • Our Strengths • Provincial/National Level (Issue) • Webinar (Winter 2012)

N.C.H.I.P.(The National College Health Improvement Project) • Acadia University’s involvement (Spring

2011) • Darren Kruisselbrink (Alcohol Surveys) • Collection of Data • Alcohol Internship (Addictions course) •  “Party Smart” Video •  “Motivation is Sophistication” student

campaign • Red Watch Band Program

Resident Assistant Training

• January 2012 Alcohol Education workshop

• August 2012 Training • EHS Training • R.A.s Leaders for Responsible Drinking

Red & Blue Crew

• Red Watch Band Program (Stony Brook University, U.S.A.)

• Acadia specific • Alcohol First Aid • September 2012 • Student led program

Globe and Mail

“While the University of Alberta is prohibiting alcohol consumption in public areas of residences, Acadia has adopted a more radical, far-reaching approach. It includes sending letters encouraging parents to have “safe drinking” chats with their children, allowing residence advisers to enter dorm rooms to check for alcohol during “welcome week,” and designating public areas where those who are of legal age can drink. Worth noting is that Acadia’s policy has the backing of its students’ union, while the University of Alberta’s has been widely criticized by students.”

“What makes Acadia’s approach stand out among its Canadian counterparts is an acknowledgment that banning alcohol in residence might only displace the problem (or simply drive students to their rooms to drink).” Globe and Mail, August 2012

Context

• NCHIP • Strang Review • Welcome Week being coordinated by

Residence Life • Under a media microscope • Failure was not an option

Approach to Welcome Week

• Back to the drawing board • What is orientation?

– What do we want to achieve? • Enhanced role of RAs and House Councils • Changed role of Welcome Week leaders • More alternative programming (much much more) •  Less cheering • New residence alcohol policy

Residence Alcohol Policy

•  Involve small group of key stakeholders • Senior Director, Student Affairs • Manager, Residence Life • President, Acadia Students’ Union • VP Programmining, Acadia Students’ Union

Admission time....

I started off firmly believing we needed to ban alcohol

Consensus

• Did not rush the process • Series of meetings • Worked on areas of agreement • Similar to a contract negotiation • Lots of areas of agreement • A few significant areas of disagreement

(deal breakers)

What made it work

• Backing of Senior Administration • Good respectful relationship with our

Students’ Union • Partnership approach • Commitment to reach consensus

What happened?

• Decision made at 11th hour • Policy:

– Ban glass bottles outside rooms – Relax alcohol transportation rules – No stockpiling – No “trophies” – Drinking only in designated lounges during first few

days (so no drinking in rooms)

Communication

• Long meeting with RAs, House Council and student Safety and Security staff

•  I was thrown to the wolves • Hour long meeting - some aggressive questions • No overnight emails

• Follow up meetings with the key student leaders

• ASU met with House Councils • ResLife met with Senior Resident Assistants

Successes

• General adherence to rules • No write ups • More engagement of international students • Greater satisfaction from international

community • Dare to be an individual • Residence retention • Ongoing programming

Challenges

• Measuring success? –  Ambulance calls? NO! –  No major harms? –  Non-academic Judicial Charges? –  Program hours? –  Anecdotal evidence? –  Attendance at events? –  Residence retention

Challenges

• Keeping up the momentum – Homecoming – Halloween – Last class bash – “Traditional” rivalry events (Cheaton Cup)

• Planning for next year – Making it better – Keeping the adherence to rules – What to repeat and what to drop

Lessons Learnt

• Consensus can emerge • Be flexible - its not winners and losers • Students often have the best solutions • Change is difficult • Starting with blank sheet really worked for us • Dare to be different - Plan, Do, Study, Act • Standby for unexpected consequences