The Office of the Dean of Students, in collaboration with the Wellness Promotion team, hosted a week of educational events during National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week from October 16-20.
Each day focused on a different theme related to educational topics, such as alcohol facts, alcohol’s relationship with consent, partying smart, drunk driving prevention and sobriety.
In alignment with educational outcomes for the Office of the Dean of Students, messaging for the “SmartMove: Alcohol Awareness Week” events were approached from a harm reduction lens.
Harm reduction education strategies aim to minimize the negative consequences associated with alcohol and drug use by providing practical, non-judgmental and evidence-based information to empower individuals to make safer choices and reduce potential harm to themselves and others.
The SmartMove: Alcohol Awareness Week provided tools and encouraged students to continue their healthy behaviors when it comes to drinking. Students could participate in a variety of educational activities as well as receive free t-shirts, cups, highlighters and more. Nearly 280 students participated in the week of events.
According to the most recent American College Health Association (ACHA) National College Health Assessment survey conducted at UCCS, 88% of students who choose to drink engage in moderate drinking, 85% don’t binge drink and over 2,000 students choose not to drink alcohol or have never had alcohol. This means that a large majority of our students are already making safe, smart and responsible decisions about alcohol.