Past Program & Policy Successes

• The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) released a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that finds that Lehigh’s A Matter of Degree program, along with four other AMOD schools testing the efficacy of an environmental change approach to reduce college high risk drinking and related harms, showed significant decreases in the harmful secondhand effects of high risk drinking.
• 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 included: 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.
• Each fraternity and sorority was required to host one non-alcoholic party a year.
• The Moonlight Café was created with different programming each week ranging from swing dancing to comedians to karaoke.
• On-campus movies were offered for free.
• Free buses were provided on weekends to the mall and a local movie theater.
• Monthly bus trips were provided to such places as New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
• Financial support was provided to student groups hosting alcohol-free events.
• Letters were 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 were reported by Bethlehem Police to Lehigh for university discipline charges.
• The AMOD program worked with community groups, local beer distributors and bars owners to encourage responsible practices and restrict the bulk sales of alcohol to students.
• We collaborated 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.
• Alcohol-free events grew dramatically and expanded to provide more social options.
• The Community Task Force, a campus-community coalition made up of students, staff and community members, canvassed the surrounding South Side neighborhoods with informational flyers on how to have a safe party. More than 200 houses received this helpful information that covered information on safe party tips, possible penalties and other pertinent information.
• The Community Task Force also worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Northampton County Drug and Alcohol Program to create and distribute more than 10,000 bags to local South Side business owners to distribute during the South Side’s monthly First Friday event. The bags had important changes to the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws in Pennsylvania, including lowering the Blood Alcohol Content and stiffer penalties.
• The community policing initiative further improved cooperation and communication between the University and Bethlehem Police Departments.
• We also supported efforts by the city to address off-campus housing problems related to absentee landlords, safety issues and disruptive tenants.
• Freshman orientation was revised to include more alcohol issues discussions with new students who are especially vulnerable to peer pressure to drink.
• Curricular infusion 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 them to ideas, events and issues that will enhance their college experience and provide individual developmental opportunities. AMOD continues to fund this project.
• Other AMOD interventions to help curb high risk drinking included community policing, the community liaison position, development of a City of Bethlehem Landlord Ordinance, and the “Everything You Needed to Know to Live Off-Campus” brochure that details the rules, regulations and safety tips of the university.