Faculty, staff can have positive influence on students’ alcohol behaviors

Alcohol is often a major reason students struggle academically at UW–Madison. One-third of students report that alcohol is the reason they perform poorly on assignments, and research suggests there is a relationship between grade point average and number of drinks per week.

The good news: Faculty and instructors can have a positive effect on students’ choices outside the classroom in a number of ways.

“Promoting social norms of academic excellence, both inside and outside of the classroom, encourages students to thrive and succeed as members of the UW–Madison community,” says Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf. Studies indicate that students look for these cues as they make choices about their own behavior.

Students may come to campus with expectations of what their drinking habits should be. Faculty and staff can support prevention efforts and assist students in evaluating their behaviors by not discussing alcohol use out of the context of courses in an attempt to connect with students. Comments like “I know everyone will get wasted at the game this weekend” or “When I was a student, we drank more than students do now” promote the idea that a UW–Madison weekend involves high-risk drinking and alienate students who choose not to drink.

In fact, most UW–Madison students make informed, low-risk choices about alcohol if they choose to drink, according to the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment administered last spring. Results show that seven out of 10 students avoid drinking games, have no more than one alcoholic drink per hour, and have a friend tell them when they’ve had enough. However, misperceptions of how much students drink and discussions that focus on the behavior of a small percentage of the student body may influence beliefs about alcohol use.

Faculty can also help discourage high-risk drinking by scheduling classes and assignment due dates on Mondays and Fridays. Studies show that students who are heavy drinkers are less likely to have Friday classes and more likely to enroll in classes that convene later in the day. Students with no Friday classes drank approximately twice as much on Thursdays as students with early Friday classes.

Instructors can also communicate the consequences that alcohol-related violations may have on a student’s chances for admission to study abroad programs and professional schools, and for campus employment opportunities.

Faculty who are concerned about a student due to excessive absences, decline in academic performance or coming to class intoxicated can contact University Health Services Counseling and Consultation Services or the Dean of Students Office. In addition, Red Folder Program training is available for faculty and staff to learn how to recognize a student in distress, respond to their concerns and refer them to campus services for help.

With help from faculty and staff, the campus community can mitigate the effects of alcohol on students’ success, says Jeanette Kowalik, director of prevention at UHS.

“High-risk alcohol use is one of the biggest challenges our campus community faces,” she says. “We strive to create an environment where alcohol use does not prevent a student from reaching his or her highest potential.”

—Kelsey Anderson