NCAA Choices Grant
2,150 reasons why Salve Regina University applied for grant
Salve Regina University enrolls approximately 2,150 undergraduate students and employs over 430 full-time staff and faculty, including 355 athletes for our 18 varsity teams. Salve Regina University is located in Newport, RI, a city renowned for its beaches, historic mansions, museums, and restaurants. Although Newport has a year-round population of 24,000, during the summer months many thousands more make this a popular vacation destination. Newport has 99 liquor licenses in an area of 7.9 square miles. Approximately one half, or roughly 1,000 of Salve Regina's students live off-campus in and surrounding the Newport community, this unique situation increases the challenge of alcohol education for our students. This availability of alcohol to students is a cause for concern.
Why NCAA Choices?
The misuse of alcohol by college students is of great concern to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In an effort to educate students about the risks involved with the misuse of alcohol, the NCAA has, through the support of the NCAA Foundation and Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., developed CHOICES, a grant program for alcohol education.
The NCAA recognizes that illegal use and abuse of alcohol may occur in conjunction with athletic events. Further, the NCAA recognizes that athletics can be a medium through which alcohol education can be delivered. Alcohol education programs that have been developed through CHOICES have used athletes or athletic events to deliver the educational program to the entire campus. Many of these programs targeted the student body rather than providing programs solely for student-athletes. Collaboration between the athletics department and other campus organizations involved in alcohol education is vital element of a CHOICES project.
Through the CHOICES program, the NCAA provides funding for NCAA member institutions and conferences to integrate athletics into campus-wide efforts to reduce alcohol abuse. CHOICES projects must partner athletic with other campus partners in the development and implementation of effective alcohol education projects on college campuses.
The NCAA chose the theme "CHOICES" because college students are confronted with a variety of choices on a daily basis, some of which have lasting effects on their lives. The NCAA believes that programs implemented through this grant program will help create an environment that supports and encourages personal CHOICES that are legal, healthy, appropriate and safe.
Salve Students for Responsible Choices (or S.S.R.C. on t-shirts)
Using the description of programs provided by the NCAA, Salve Regina University developed SSRC, Salve Students for Responsible Choices. SSRC was designed to create an environment at Salve Regina University that encourages all students to make responsible decisions and to promote healthy lifestyle choices. The cornerstone of SSRC is the peer education program. In order to achieve our goals of providing students with the information and tools they need to make responsible choices and decrease student drinking, peer involvement is essential. The best model for change incorporates horizontal peer-to-peer communication and support.
So you want to become a peer educator?
Peer Education is a voluntary student program that provides health and wellness information to fellow Salve Regina University students to promote healthy choices. Salve Regina University is a member of the BACCHUS Health Education Network, an international association of college and university peer education groups. Peer Educators help students make educated and healthy choices through peer support, educational workshops, conducting health screenings and special events. Peer Educators advance the mission of Salve Regina University by encouraging students to work for a world that is harmonious, just and merciful. Primary focus is to provide student support to Salve Regina University's alcohol education program (AlcoholEDU) and to also educate peers on issues related to depression, eating and exercise. Peer educators will also be athletes who provide education, guidance and leadership to peer athletes to help prevent destructive and unhealthy behaviors.
Peer Educators:
- Encourage friends to talk honestly about high-risk health and safety issues
- Trained in how to listen and support peers
- Promote healthy lifestyles and decision making skills
- Provide innovative and instructive presentations on a wide range of personal health and safety issues to classes, residence halls, and other settings where students gather
Interested in becoming a Peer Educator? Contact Paul Cardoza at: paul.cardoza@salve.edu (x3219) or stop by Rodgers Recreation Center, Room 110 to get more information.
Goals for Salve Regina University
- decrease the number of on and off campus student incidences related to alcohol use
- decrease the number of binge drinking episodes of the entire student population
- increase the rate of student attendance at alcohol-free healthy alternative activities
- decrease the number of alcohol-related incidents on athletic teams
Campus Groups who support SSRC
- Campus Ministry
- Counseling Center
- Coordinator of Student Health Education
- Department of Athletics
- Department of the Administration of Justice
- Department of Safety and Security
- First Year Experience Coordinator
- Health Services
- Office of Student Life/Residential Life
- Office of Student Activities
- SAAC-Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
- VIRGO-Volunteers Interested in reaching and Guiding Others
Off Campus Groups who support SSRC:
- Newport Police Department
- Newport Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
- Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
Salve Regina News is now available in RSS feeds.
Photos from Choices Events
Choices kick-off
Scott Maloney
Thursday Skating
Wii Tournament
Mr. Seahawk