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Washington State University - Project Community: Cougar Alliance for a Safe Environment

The mission of Project Community is to create and sustain a university community in which students feel secure from threat, danger or injury and
supported in making healthy lifestyle choices. This is a comprehensive, coordinated effort (1) based on the environmental management model which stems
from a large body of research and practice in the area of public health, and (2) focused on community building to provide students with greater
opportunities to socialize and come together around meaningful activities.

In order to accomplish this mission, a number of active, action-oriented workgroups have been organized to problem solve and develop strategic plans
to (1) reduce key problems that undermine campus safety such as illegal and abusive alcohol and other drug use, sexual assault and violence, (2) promote and
enhance a safer campus environment supportive of healthy student lifestyle choices and behaviors, and (3) evaluate project activities
to assure program effectiveness.
Workgroups have developed and are implementing the following strategies.

Objectives	Strategies	Outcome Indicators
Problem #1: Alcohol is abundantly available and aggressively promoted to college students.
Objective 1.1 – To decrease access to alcohol through enforcement of minimum purchase age laws aimed at retailers. Workgroup: Policy and Enforcement	Strategy 1.1 - Increase the vigorous use of compliance checks. Project Community, WSU PD and Pullman PD will continue to collaborate with the WSLCB Spokane Enforcement Office to perform compliance checks at local licensed liquor establishments.	- Number of compliance checks completed per quarter - Number of citations issued for noncompliance - Percentage of businesses who successfully pass compliance checks - Reports from WSLCB agents regarding the success and effectiveness of compliance checks
Objective 1.2 – To decrease access to alcohol through increased retailer awareness and responsibility. Workgroup: Policy and Enforcement	Strategy 1.2 – Training to retailers regarding underage drinking laws, their responsibilities, and improved business practices. The Hospitality Resource Alliance (HRA) is being re-energized and will provide server training and workshops on improved business practices to local retailers.	- Number of local retailers who attend server training and workshops. - Increase in pre- to post-test knowledge scores among server training and workshop participants - Reports from trainers regarding the success and effectiveness of the trainings and workshops
Objective 1.3 – To decrease access to alcohol through the enforcement of minimum purchase age laws aimed at underage students. Workgroup: Policy and Enforcement	Strategy 1.3 – Increase the application of penalties applied to those found to be using false identification.	- Number of citations issued for use of false identification per quarter - Percentage of customers who do not attempt to use false identification -Number of compliance checks completed per quarter -Number of citations issued for noncompliance -Percentage of businesses who successfully pass compliance checks -Reports from WSLCB agents regarding the success and effectiveness of compliance checks
Objective 1.4 – To limit and/or eliminate the advertising and promotion of events that encourage the excessive use of alcohol. Workgroup: Policy and Enforcement	Strategy 1.4 – Increase the enforcement of laws and policies with regard to the advertising and promotion of alcohol-related events. Project Community and the WSU Office of Student Affairs will continue to collaborate with the WSLCB Spokane Enforcement Office to perform environmental scans for the advertising and promotion of alcohol-related events.	- Number of local newspaper ads for drink specials and/or events that promote the excessive use of alcohol - Number of flyers/posters that advertise drink specials and/or events that promote the excessive use of alcohol - Number of citations issued to retailers for noncompliance with state law with regard to advertising for drink specials and/or events that promote the excessive use of alcohol - Reports from WSLCB agents and the WSU Student Affairs Conduct Officer regarding the success and effectiveness of environmental scans and sanctions/citations for policy violations
Objective 1.5 – To reduce the social availability of alcohol. Workgroups: Policy and Enforcement, Education	Strategy 1.5a – Walk & Talk interventions. Continue and enhance Walk & Talk interventions in which teams from the Policy and Enforcement Workgroup, consisting of a police officer and a Student Affairs staff member, make contact with the residents of “live out” houses on College Hill, engaging them in positive, constructive conversations about - responsible hosting - managing potential problems - alcohol policy, laws and liability issues -rules and consequences for violating policy -student social norms on alcohol use -helpful local resources	- Awareness and knowledge of alcohol policy (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Alcohol use levels as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Number of alcohol-related problems as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Number of alcohol-related negative health consequences as indicated by Pullman Hospital ER reports and Student Health & Wellness Services encounter forms - Number of alcohol-related incidents and arrests as indicated by WSU and Pullman PD police reports and Student Affairs incident reports - Number of noise complaints and incident reports from neighborhoods where these houses are located
	Strategy 1.5b – Risk Management interventions. Continue and enhance Risk Management interventions in which teams consisting of a police officer and student leaders deliver presentations to campus living groups, including fraternities and sororities, on such topics as - responsible hosting - managing potential problems - alcohol policy, laws and liability issues - rules and consequences for violating policy - student social norms on alcohol use - local resources	- Awareness and knowledge of alcohol policy (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Awareness of student support for alcohol policy and enforcement (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Alcohol use levels as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Number of alcohol-related problems as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Number of alcohol-related negative health consequences as indicated by Pullman Hospital ER reports and Student Health & Wellness Services encounter forms - Number of alcohol-related incidents and arrests as indicated by WSU and Pullman PD police reports and Student Affairs incident reports - Qualitative feedback from focus groups with participating houses and living groups
	Strategy 1.5c – Party Safe interventions. Implement peer-facilitated Party Safe interventions on safe, responsible party behavior for residents of campus living groups, including fraternities and sororities, housing underage students.	- Accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Alcohol use levels as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Awareness and knowledge of alcohol policy (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Awareness of student support for alcohol policy and enforcement (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Qualitative feedback from focus groups with participating houses and living groups - Number of alcohol-related problems as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Number of alcohol-related negative health consequences as indicated by Pullman - Hospital ER reports and Student Health & Wellness Services encounter forms - Number of alcohol-related incidents and arrests as indicated by WSU and Pullman PD police reports and Student Affairs incident reports
Problem #2: Students have inaccurate, exaggerated perceptions of college student drinking norms.
Objective 2.1 – To increase accuracy of student perceptions about peer alcohol use norms and about consequences of alcohol use. Workgroup: Education	Strategy 2.1a – Small group norms-challenging interventions. Trained peer presenters will continue to deliver the small group norms-challenging intervention to students in living groups, including fraternities and sororities, student athletes, students in classrooms and incoming students during orientation.	- Number of interventions delivered per semester - Accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Alcohol use levels as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Increase in accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by pre- to post-intervention surveys - Decrease in alcohol use levels as measured by pre- to post- intervention surveys - Qualitative feedback from focus groups with participating students
	Strategy 2.1b – Social norms marketing campaign. Posters and student newspaper ads will be used to disseminate accurate social norms regarding student alcohol use, healthy lifestyle behaviors and support for alcohol policy and enforcement.	- Number of posters and ads displayed per semester - Accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Alcohol use levels as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Increase in accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by pre- to post-intervention surveys - Decrease in alcohol use levels as measured by pre- to post- intervention surveys - Awareness of student support for alcohol policy and enforcement (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey
	Strategy 2.1c – Social norms and peer education. All educational programming delivered by peer educators will contain accurate student alcohol use social norms information.	- Number of interventions delivered per semester - Accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Alcohol use levels as measured by the annual campus-wide survey
	Strategy 2.1d – Walk & Talk, Risk Management and Party Safe interventions. All Walk & Talk, Risk Management and Party Safe interventions will contain accurate social norms information as well as information about consequences of alcohol use, including - managing potential problems - alcohol policy, laws and liability issues - rules and consequences for violating policy	- Number of interventions delivered per semester - Accuracy of perceptions of student drinking norms as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Alcohol use levels as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Awareness and knowledge of alcohol policy (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Awareness of student support for alcohol policy and enforcement (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Qualitative feedback from focus groups with participating houses and living groups
Problem #3: Students have a great deal of unstructured free time.
Objective 3.1 – To increase student involvement in prevention efforts. Workgroups: Education, Leadership	Strategy 3.1a – Values-based leadership training. Continue and enhance values-based leadership training for student leaders, peer mentors and peer helpers.	- Number of values-based leadership trainings - Number of students participating in values-based leadership trainings -Qualitative feedback from student participants regarding the usefulness of the training and how to improve the effectiveness of the training
	Strategy 3.1b – Cougars Encouraging Alcohol Knowledge (CEAK) peer education programming. Maintain and enhance the CEAK student organization, which delivers alcohol education programs to student living groups and classrooms on such topics as - alcohol poisoning - how to help a friend you suspect has an alcohol or other drug problem -alcohol and other drug information	- Number of presentations delivered by CEAK students Number of students participating in CEAK - Qualitative feedback from CEAK students regarding the usefulness of the peer education experience how to improve its effectiveness - Qualitative feedback from students who have received CEAK peer education programs regarding their usefulness and how to improve them
	Strategy 3.1c – Cops and Cougars as Partners (CCAPS). Maintain and enhance the CCAPS program, which trains student police interns to - serve as peer mentors and role models to living groups - deliver safety and risk reduction programs to living group members	- Number of presentations delivered by CCAPS interns Number of students participating in CCAPS - Qualitative feedback from CCAPS students regarding the usefulness of the experience how to improve its effectiveness - Qualitative feedback from students who have received CCAPS programs regarding their usefulness and how to improve them
	Strategy 3.1d – Risk Reduction and Party Safe interventions. Increase student participation in delivering Risk Reduction and Party Safe interventions to student living groups.	- Number of Risk Reduction and Party Safe presentations delivered - Number of students participating in the delivery of Risk Reduction and Party Safe presentations - Qualitative feedback from peer facilitators regarding the usefulness of their experience how to improve its effectiveness - Qualitative feedback from students who have received Risk Reduction and Party Safe presentations regarding their usefulness and how to improve them
	Strategy 3.1e – Youth conference presentations. Continue to support presentations by WSU student peer educators and CCAPS interns at state and regional conferences. These students provide practical information on effective prevention strategies to other college and high school peer educators while serving as positive role models. Conferences include: - The Washington State Prevention Summit - The Annual Spring Conference on Collegiate Wellness -The Annual National Conference of the BACCHUS & GAMMA Peer Education Network	- Number of youth who attend the various conferences - Number of youth who attend the presentations delivered at the various conferences by WSU student peer educators and CCAPS interns - Number of presentations delivered at the various conferences by WSU student peer educators and CCAPS interns - Student evaluations of the knowledge gained as a result of attending the presentations by WSU student peer educators and CCAPS interns
Objective 3.2 – Provide more alternative social activities for students. Workgroup: Social and Recreational	Strategy 3.2a – “Up All Night” alcohol-free social activities. Continue and enhance “Up All Night” programs as alcohol-free social opportunities for students. Each event takes place over three nights, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and includes at least one big event per weekend. Thursday evening activities have an academic focus, offering opportunities for students to interact and discuss topics of interest with faculty, receive tutoring and advising, and use study rooms. Friday and Saturday evenings focus on entertainment-centered events such as live music, comedians and movies. Free food is provided to participants at these events. Several “Up All Night” weekends were implemented during the 2001-2002 school year with up to 1200 students attending the events. 17 “Up All Night Weekends” will take place during the 2002-2003 school year.	- Number of students attending the “Up All Night” events - Qualitative feedback from focus groups and interviews with participating students
	Strategy 3.2b – Social event web site. Create and widely publicize a web site providing information on various alternative social activities available to students.	- Number of students attending various alternative activities - Qualitative feedback from focus groups and interviews with students - Number of hits on web site
Objective 3.3 – Provide more service learning and volunteer opportunities for students. Workgroup: Service Opportunities
Objective 3.4 – Enhance student accountability for academic work by adjusting current attendance and test-scheduling practices and policies. Workgroup: Academics
Problem #4: Lack of student awareness of alcohol policy and policy enforcement.
Objective 4.1 – To increase effective policies that prohibit alcohol use on university property, in university-owned housing and/or at university-sponsored events. Workgroup: Policy and Enforcement	Strategy 4.1 – Enhanced policy dissemination. Continue and enhance policy dissemination strategies, including - letter from President Rawlins to all students, staff and - faculty emphasizing good citizenship, including adherence to alcohol policies - insert in Student Handbooks (distributed to all students) describing updated alcohol policy and sanctions for violations - expanded section in the Daily Evergreen containing detailed description of alcohol policy - policy information web site - including policy information in all Walk & Talk, Risk Management and Party Safe interventions - including policy discussions in all new student orientation programs, including WSU Alive! summer orientation for new students and their parents	- Awareness and knowledge of alcohol policy (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Awareness of student support for alcohol policy and enforcement (rules and consequences) as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Number of alcohol-related problems as measured by the annual campus-wide survey - Number of alcohol-related negative health consequences as indicated by Pullman Hospital ER reports and Student Health & Wellness Services encounter forms - Number of alcohol-related incidents and arrests as indicated by WSU and Pullman PD police reports and Student Affairs incident reports
Problem #5: Insufficient involvement of community members and coordination with community efforts.
Objective 5.1 – To increase the development of community coalitions to reduce illegal and abusive drinking. Project Community	Strategy 5.1a – Project Community: Cougar Alliance for a Safe Environment membership. Maintain and enhance Project Community: Cougar Alliance for a Safe Environment by increasing community and student participation in Alliance activities.	- Number of Alliance meetings - Increase in number of community members and students who attend Alliance meetings and participate on Alliance workgroups - Qualitative feedback from community members and students participating in Alliance activities on the usefulness of the Alliance and how to increase its effectiveness
	Strategy 5.1b – Project Community: Cougar Alliance for a Safe Environment planning. Maintain and enhance Project Community: Cougar Alliance for a Safe Environment by increasing the number of strategic plans produced by Alliance workgroups based on best practices research.	- Number of Alliance workgroup meetings - Increase in number of strategic plans produced by workgroups - Qualitative feedback from workgroup members on the usefulness of the strategic planning process and how to increase its effectiveness
Objective 5.2 – To increase participation in and coordination with local community prevention efforts. Project Community	Strategy 5.2 – CMASA (Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse). Maintain and enhance participation in the Whitman County CMASA.	- Number of CMASA meetings attended by WSU Project Community representatives - Number of CMASA-sponsored events attended and/or assisted by WSU Project Community representatives - Qualitative feedback from CMASA members on the usefulness of Project Community participation and how to increase its effectiveness
Objective 5.3 – To strengthen relationships with the local hospitality industry. Project Community	Strategy 5.3 – Hospitality Resource Alliance. Reenergize and enhance the membership of the Hospitality Resource Alliance (HRA), which promotes responsible and healthy business practices to influence customers (WSU students) to make healthy and responsible choices about their alcohol use.	- Number of HRA meetings - Increase in number of businesses who attend HRA meetings - Qualitative feedback from HRA members on the usefulness of HRA and how to increase its effectiveness

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Washington State University - Project Community: Cougar Alliance for a Safe Environment