Office of Special Projects
Student Affairs

Past Program & Policy Successes

• A policy task force of students, staff and community members spent more than a year discussing possible changes to Lehigh's student alcohol policies. Their recommendations formed the basis for the university's new alcohol policies that went into effect in the fall of 1999. These policies continue to work to reduce high risk drinking by setting expectations, promoting responsibility and accountability, and helping shape the overall environment.
• University alcohol policy requirements for student parties include: non-alcoholic beverages served in single-serving containers, sufficient food for the number of guests, limits on the total amount of alcohol that can be served, and two Events' staff at parties with alcohol.
• Letters are now sent to the parents of students found guilty of any violation of university alcohol policies. Students with two serious violations face suspension from the university.
• Off-campus alcohol violations by students are reported by Bethlehem Police to Lehigh for university discipline charges.
• The AMOD program continues its work with community groups, local beer distributors and bars owners to encourage responsible practices and restrict the bulk sales of alcohol to students.
  1. We continue to collaborate with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to provide Responsible Alcohol Management Training (RAMP) to encourage responsible alcohol sales policies and discourage sales to minors.
• Substance-free housing has grown from 11 students to more than 200 who choose to be alcohol and drug free in their campus homes.
• Alcohol-free events have been dramatically expanded to provide more social options.
  1. Each fraternity and sorority is now required to host one non-alcoholic party a year.
  2. The Moonlight Café was created with different programming each week ranging from swing dancing to comedians to karaoke.
  3. On-campus movies are now free.
  4. Free buses are provided on weekends to the mall and a local movie theater.
  5. Monthly bus trips to such places as New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
  6. Financial support is provided to student groups hosting alcohol-free events.
• The community policing initiative has further improved cooperation and communication between the University and Bethlehem Police Departments.
• We are also supporting efforts by the city to address off-campus housing problems related to absentee landlords, safety issues and disruptive tenants.
• Freshman orientation has been revised to include more alcohol issues discussions with new students who are especially vulnerable to peer pressure to drink.
• Curricular infusion has allowed students and faculty to examine the issue of alcohol use and abuse through freshman writing courses, public relations case studies, marketing classes and independent study.
• The LehighLive.com website was created as a student life website that provides information about the wide range of activities available on campus and the areas surrounding Lehigh. The website is used as a marketing tool to expand student's social options and involve students in activities by exposing then to ideas, events and issues that will enhance their college experience and provide individual developmental opportunities. AMOD continues to fund this project.
• AMOD is working with the Lehigh Admissions staff (in particular the tour guides) to create and promote positive messages about non-alcoholic student activities to prospective students, target them more effectively for substance-free housing and draw them to LehighLive.com.
• Other AMOD interventions to help curb high risk drinking include community policing, birthday lists that confirm the age of potential patrons, a community liaison, landlord ordinances, and the “Everything You Needed to Know to Live Off-Campus” brochure that details the rules, regulations and safety tips of the university.

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