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Welty awarded honor

By Tom Uribes

President John D. Welty and CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed have been named to the prestigious Presidents Leadership Group, a body of 31 higher education presidents and chancellors from 22 states who have declared their commitment to student substance abuse prevention.

The U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention named 26 new members of the group, chosen based on their previous leadership and their plans for future leadership in alcohol and other drug prevention.

"We are now learning that there are steps that campuses can take that will reduce substance abuse," Welty said. "I am pleased to be part of a group that is committed to adopting programs and practices that make a difference."

Last year, Welty established a 16-member Alcohol Advisory Council consisting of university and community members who review and make recommendations to him on policies, programs and goals regarding alcohol use.

The council, chaired by Dr. Judy Sakaki, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, includes subcommittees on policies and compliance, educational programs and prevention, and assessment. The subcommittees add another 28 members to the effort.

One way Fresno State is using a social norms approach is through a specially designed birthday card that students receive a week prior to their 21st birthday.

The card urges responsibility as the students celebrate reaching the state's legal drinking age and informs them of survey findings in an effort to alleviate peer pressure to over-consume.

Sakaki said that since the card program was implemented in February, about 350 of the special greeting cards have been sent to students. Another 145 cards are scheduled to go out in April.

The Presidents Leadership Group was originally formed by the Higher Education Center in 1997 with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Back to University Journal, 4/02/02 Issue