Karen R. Hitchcock (retired)
The University at Albany, SUNY
President
Karen Hitchcock has been a visible and active supporter of comprehensive alcohol
and other drug prevention on campus. Since she began her presidency at the
University at Albany, she has resolutely approached high-risk drinking from
multiple angles. She established the President’s Advisory Council on
Alcohol, a group that conducts research on student attitudes and behaviors
concerning alcohol and assists in policy development and institute-wide prevention
programming. She is actively engaged in the Committee on University and Community
Relations to address town-gown relations, increase safety off-campus, and
collaborate with local taverns to enforce drinking age laws and promote responsible
drinking. A social norms marketing campaign, education, outreach and expansion
of alcohol-free social activities are also among President Hitchcock’s
accomplishments. She has been energetic and vocal in her approach, enlisting
the support of parents through a program called "Parents as Partners",
and developing a network of services for intervention, referral and treatment.
The University at Albany has become a safer place for students to live and
study due to President Hitchcock’s commitment and effectiveness as a
leader in alcohol prevention.
President Hitchcock has also been involved in:
- The development of a "Tavern Owner Advertisement Agreement"
through the Committee on University and Community Relations. This voluntary
agreement was developed by the committee, along with a representative from
the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association. The guidelines under
the agreement specify allowable on-campus advertising, emphasize age and
ID requirements necessary to obtain alcohol, and encourage the avoidance
of language that might encourage irresponsible drinking. Participating tavern
owners agree to review the content of their advertising to promote responsible
and lawful consumption of alcohol and to help ensure appropriate and civil
behavior by students leaving their establishments. Tavern owners place a
"Cooperating Tavern" sign at their tavern to indicate that they
have signed the agreement and also use that logo in their advertisements.
Committee members monitor on-campus advertising and revise unsuitable ads
to meet the guidelines.
- The promotion of student leadership through the Middle Earth Peer Assistance
Program (recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a model
AOD prevention program on college campuses), peer education programs
and social norms marketing programs for fraternities and sororities, and
co-sponsoring of alcohol-free activities.
- Policy evaluation and enforcement for students who violate university
alcohol policy. These students are referred to the student judicial referral
program, DOC (Discussing Our Choices), University Police and/or the Judicial
System. Alcohol policies are also developed and enforced by self-regulating
student groups such as the Interfraternity council, Pan Hellenic Organization,
and Greek-letter organizations.
- "The Norms and Misperceptions Project", a social norms marketing
campaign designed to reduce high-risk drinking among UAlbany students.
- Educational programming on academic and social norms, participation in
National Collegiate Awareness Week programming, Annual Student Affairs sponsorship
of an alcohol education program, and implementation of campaigns such as
"Don’t Drink and Drive".
- Creation of early intervention, treatment and referral programs for students
with AOD issues.
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