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Team # 351 -- Collaborative Focus on Late Night-Penn State Alternative to Student Drinking Activities
Student Affairs

January 2000

Objective

This team, composed of both Student Affairs practitioners and faculty, received a US Department of Education grant to assess alcohol alternative programming as a response to high-risk student drinking. Through phone surveys, in-class assessment, focus group discussions, and on-site questionnaires and input from several university and community student drinking commissions, this team is studying the relationship between participation in alternative activities, alcohol consumption, social identity and perception of social norms. Results will be used to develop a model program for other colleges across the country as well as determine best practices-marketing geared to student communication styles.

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Team Membership

• US Department of Education, Sponsor
• Dolores Maney, Leader
• Betty Moore, Facilitator
• Linda Caldwell, Member
• Susan Kennedy, Member
• Sharon Mortensen, Member

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Results Achieved to Date

• Conducted a number of Pulse surveys which aided decision making about newspaper readership, use of peer computer consultants in residence halls, fee for University Health Services, & fall break
• A significant proportion of students attend Late Night programs (46%) and give positive ratings to their overall quality (82%), variety (65%), and interest level (65%)
• A large majority of students (76%) stated they felt Late Night activities contributed positively to the Penn State environment and that it was a good example of having fun without alcohol
• In one year, the percentage of students who had attended at least one Late Night activity increased from 30% to 46%
• Two-thirds felt Late Night results in less drinking for students who attend and three-fourths said attending Late Night resulted in less drinking for themselves

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