Engaging Senior-Level Administrators

USING THE CAMPUS DIAGNOSTIC TO GARNER SUPPORT FOR EFFECTIVE PREVENTION

Battling a campus culture where senior administrators tend to turn a blind eye to the alcohol issue, the assistant director of health promotion at Alpha University* has had little success engaging campus leaders about the importance of alcohol prevention.

After completing Campus Diagnostic, this practitioner forwarded the results to a recently formed alcohol working group to educate them on their challenges and opportunities and to focus their efforts around areas of greatest concern for their campus.  Their results served as a foundation for planning and a tool to ensure that all task force participants were "on the same page."

The results of the Campus Diagnostic were also shared with the vice chancellor for student affairs.  Upon reviewing the results, the vice chancellor immediately requested a meeting to discuss the implications of the diagnostic.  The data and feedback provided in the Campus Diagnostic report served as an effective catalyst for re-engaging this administrator and garnering support for addressing the issue of high-risk drinking.

*pseudonymed university