University of West Florida

The UWF You Have Choices! is a comprehensive, evidence-based program implemented at the University of West Florida (UWF) since 2005. The goals of UWF’s program are to (1) reduce alcohol misuse in UWF students, and (2) reduce the incidence of UWF students who experience negative consequences related to their and/or others’ alcohol consumption. The program utilizes environmental strategies, including coalition building and policy enforcement, coupled with social norms marketing and informational, knowledge- and motivation-based interventions to achieve its goals. For the past three years, promising results included (1) an increase in students’ awareness of campus-related policies, (2) students’ awareness of the availability of prevention programs, and (3) students’ perception that alcohol policies are enforced.

The model grant will allow for further assessment to measure the effectiveness of the various interventions targeted toward the individual student level. Specifically, freshman students who are enrolled in an academic foundation course will be targeted to determine the most effective approach in providing alcohol prevention programs either through an online delivery or face-to-face, leader-facilitated group-level intervention. The campus also plans to examine the effectiveness of a personalized normative feedback seminar developed for freshman students who meet criteria for high-risk drinking patterns.

Additionally, the program enhancements allow for strengthening the program’s effect on the student body as a whole, through expansion of social marketing and health communications strategies campaigns.