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Last modified: Monday, August 31, 2009 9:20 AM CDT
NDUS receives funding to reduce binge drinking
by Erin C. Hevern • Daily News
The North Dakota University System's (NDUS) alcohol consortium was the recipient this week of $371,791 in federal funds, set to be distributed to the 11 campuses, and Jamestown College, to implement Project North Dakota Partners in Prevention.
"I think it's amazing," said Mary Wolfgram, North Dakota State College of Science Student Health and Counseling Services Clinic coordinator. "I think it's a plus for North Dakota and it will definitely give us money to help, hopefully, open eyes and prevent underage drinking."
As a member of the North Dakota Higher Education Consortium for Substance Abuse Prevention, Wolfgram assisted in writing the grant, which spanned more than 100 pages.
Karin Walton, director of the alcohol consortium, and Jane Vangsness, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) director at North Dakota State University make up the remainder of the grant writing committee.
"We had three weeks to write the grant. It went fast," Wolfgram said. "We knew it was important because North Dakota ranks highest in the nation for drinking, among all ages."
The grant, awarded through the University of North Dakota, begins Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2011, and is expected to help reduce binge drinking among underage students not only on the university system campuses, but the communities they are located in.
Two staff members on each campus will be trained on intervention strategies for at-risk students and how to implement the strategy.
The Partners in Prevention project is designed to provide first-year students with online alcohol intervention programs.
Wolfgram indicated that the online services will be a part of incoming and first-year student orientation at NDSCS, but will also be accessible by all students.
"NDSCS looks forward to putting these funds to good use by creating student awareness programs that will help reduce alcohol consumption and give students the tools they need to make wise decisions concerning alcohol," said John Richman, NDSCS president.
The initiative will also allow the alcohol consortium to provide on-campus students appealing, alcohol-free, late-night activities.
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