Student Resources

The University of Alabama (UA) administrators, staff, and faculty consistently provide education and strategic programming to promote the health and wellbeing of the campus community. Wellbeing as defined by The Alabama Model consists of the following domains: academic, career, financial, psychological, physical, social, and spiritual. Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) misuse has the ability to negatively impact each of these domains. Therefore, UA’s goal is to address substance misuse from a multifaceted approach. The Division of Student Life provides intentional programs and support services designed to maximize student learning and wellbeing. Students are constantly learning beyond the classroom, and our programs complement academic pursuits, support well-being, and promote student development. The student resources listed below are a preview the efforts of campus professionals who provide innovative programming and collaborative services to students. Please visit the department’s website for additional information.

Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services

Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services (CRIS) provides a continuum of care for students exploring their relationship with substances. CRIS provides AOD counseling services by the Counseling & Intervention staff as well as recovery support services via the Collegiate Recovery Community.

• Students receiving AOD counseling from CRIS may be self-referrals or they may be mandated to receive AOD treatment due to a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) sanctions students for violations and provides CRIS as a treatment option for AOD related concerns. For the time frame of this report, CRIS screened 170 students.
• The University of Alabama’s Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) provides a safe and supportive environment for students pursuing abstinence-based recovery. Based upon a student success model and the standards of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE), the CRC provides a multitude of services to support UA students in early to ongoing recovery from a substance use disorder.
• CRIS provides an on-campus meeting space for outside, anonymous 12-step organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-anon, and Food Addicts Anonymous.
• CRIS provides meaningful alternative social activities such as recovery tailgates, sporting event watch parties, and outdoor events.
• CRIS provides an opportunity for students in recovery to engage in community service, peer education and outreach as an organization.
• CRIS works closely with the Office of Student Conduct (OSC). CRIS staff conduct assessment clinics at the OSC to facilitate the recommendation and referral process for students with Code of Student Conduct violations. For the 2020 Academic Year most of these were held via telehealth due to COVID protocol.
• CRIS offers four levels of AOD programming based upon the completion of an assessment appointment, PHQ9, Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) and a drug screen.
• Program levels include First Steps Program (early intervention); Insight Program – an individualized clinical program (tertiary intervention); University Community Program a holistic outpatient program (intensive intervention); Community Campus Drug Court Program (intensive intervention). See Appendix G.
• Program services are delivered by licensed professionals and supervised graduate level counselors and marriage and family therapists in training.
• Referral to outside agencies such as inpatient treatment centers and residential sober living are made based upon individual student/client needs.
• For mandated clients, the enforcement of the programmatic expectations is carried out by the Office of Student Conduct.
• During National Recovery Month (September), CRIS increases awareness and promotes a better understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrates those in recovery by hosting a series of events. The events include recovery night and sober tailgates. No events were able to be held in 2020 for Recovery Month but CRIS still held virtual and outdoor activities when it was safe to do so.
• CRIS staff and peer educators will speak in classrooms and at Student Organizations when requested.
• On April 22, 2021, Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services partnered with the Women Gender and Resource Center to host a virtual event with speaker Cecelia Rose LaPointe as part of the Guest Speaker Series. As an activist and community organizer, LaPointe spoke on the incorporation of native practices in the recovery journey.
• CRIS contracts with DTPM (Drug Testing Program Manager) to have an onsite lab where clients can be tested and have real time results available. This helps aid the counseling process and monitor abstinence.

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center helps students achieve academic success and personal growth through quality counseling and psychological services, outreach, and consultative services, and the training of mental health professionals.

• Provides outreach programs on Alcohol and Drug issues and provides a website with counseling resources on AOD issues (four programs for 200 attendees).
• Provides consultations to 11 individuals in the UA community about alcohol and drug concerns and how members may assist a student in need.
• Provides, free anonymous online evaluations including alcohol and drug concerns. Screenings can be accessed on the Counseling Center website and on a kiosk in the Ferguson Center. For the current reporting period, 67 alcohol misuse screenings were completed, and 130 substance misuse screenings were completed, and 2 opioid misuse screening were completed.
• Provides individual evaluation and screening sessions to students who reported alcohol and drug concerns.
• Provides on-going services to students who reported using alcohol or drugs more than they should as a particular issue or who are determined through evaluation to have related concerns.
• Provides referrals to Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services or other providers as needed when a substance use disorder is determined to be primary and/or if a student indicates an interest in pursuing recovery.
• Due to the COVID pandemic, provided tele-mental health services to those that were unable to meet in person.

Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

The Sports Medicine Program in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (IA) shall provide injury prevention, care and rehabilitation services and athletic education of recognized excellence to each and every student-athlete.

• The IA Drug and Alcohol Treatment Policy for Student Athletes is enclosed as Appendix O. As noted in the policy, IA responds to substance misuse among student-athletes with an addiction treatment method and not a punishment-based method. The IA policy includes education, evaluation, drug testing, treatment, intervention, and sanctions. In addition to prohibiting illegal drug and alcohol use, the policy also bans performance enhancing drugs and other substances found in over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements that are banned by the NCAA. Students taking prescription medications must have a current and valid prescription and are prohibited from giving their prescription medications to another student-athlete.

• Drug testing may include random testing, total team testing, probable cause testing and NCAA drug testing. UA Sports Medicine completed 4,213 from January 2019 – July 2021. These numbers do not include student athletes tested through the NCAA mandatory testing program.
• Student athletes who have a positive test are required to meet with the Director of Behavioral Medicine for a plan of treatment unless the athlete has been dismissed from the program for repeated violations. The sanction policy is described in Appendix O of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Policy for Student Athletes.
• A Safe Harbor policy allows a student athlete who desires help in overcoming an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol to complete a prescribed substance use disorder program without suffering sanction.
• IA’s Behavioral Medicine/Mental Health program. This program encompasses areas of student-athlete mental health, substance misuse, crisis intervention, domestic violence, and other behaviors that may cause harm to self or others. The goal of this program is to provide an integrated behavioral health care setting for each student athlete and to create an awareness of behavioral health concerns in the athletic environment. Awareness leads to identification of sub-clinical or clinical issues. Identification then becomes intervention in a way that is confidential and highly sensitive for the individual who is struggling. Intervention then moves into treatment involving IA’s Behavioral Medicine Team. The Team is pioneering this process by developing programming, individual treatment plans, and daily care of our student athletes. The team is working with the best professionals in the areas of psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, testing and substance misuse to work with IA’s student athletes.
• The program employs a Director of Behavioral Medicine who serves as a behavioral health consultant full time within the athletic department and a Behavioral Health Intern who is completing a degree in CMHC. Both staff members are certified athletic trainers. The Behavioral Medicine Team includes Director of Sports Medicine, Head Team Physician, psychiatrists (one of whom specializes in addictions only), clinical psychologists, LCSW clinical mental health counselors who are also certified addiction specialists, a contracted Counseling and Drug and Alcohol programming service with clinical mental health counselors/social workers, including addiction specialists and program directors, a consultant for athletic addictions/former NBA star, and Tuscaloosa Police Department officers assigned to football relations.
• The NCAA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brian Hainline, selected the University’s IA Behavioral Medicine/Mental Health program as one of three model programs in the nation that are administered by universities to be used as an example and standard for best practices.
  IA’s Modified AOD Programming. AOD educational programming is offered five days per week at four locations and through Telehealth. Five inpatient facilities are always available if needed. 21 student athletes were involved in modified AOD programing. Student athletes involved in modified AOD programing for 2020 totaled 15, and 20 in 2021.
• The Behavioral Medicine/Mental Health program annually offers speakers on issues involving alcohol and other drugs.
  • Chris Herren annually shares his testimony with the freshmen class, and in breakout sessions, to tell the “Chris Herren Story”. Additionally, Mr. Herren visited campus four times between 2019 and 2020 for individual and group programming.
  • Fall 2020: Keyon Dooling, featured All-Sports Speaker: addressed mental health including substances that lead to depression.
  • Ben Newman, public speaker, and character development coach shares with football student athletes about his struggles growing up in an alcoholic home. Mr. Newman visited campus 10 times between 2019 and 2021.
  • Spring 2021: Shan Foster, featured all sport speaker addressed Alcohol and Healthy Relationships.
  • Several other speakers and programs during this period focused on Mental Health awareness and initiatives.
• Required training for student athletes. All new student athletes are required to complete the HES 100 Freshman Compass course. Speakers from UAPD and the Office of Student Conduct are invited as speakers to discuss the legal consequences of drug and alcohol violations, and university disciplinary misconduct issues related to drugs and alcohol. In addition, the Student Athlete Handbook includes the University’s Code of Student Conduct and UA policies related to alcohol and other drugs. The Title IX Office provided required training for student athletes regarding the intersection between alcohol and sexual misconduct issues such as sexual assault, including the impact of alcohol on the ability to give consent and interpersonal violence.

Health Promotion and Wellness Department

Health Promotion and Wellness collaborates with UA students, faculty, and staff to promote a healthy campus environment, enhance student well-being, and foster student empowerment to achieve optimal health and academic success.

• Annually provides presentations of “Know Your BAC” to freshmen classes about personal blood-alcohol content.
• Assists the Assistant to the Vice President of Student Life in the administration of the AlphaPoint course on Resiliency, an online required program for all undergraduate and transfer students. The course includes modules on substance misuse (alcohol, stimulants, cigarettes and vaping, marijuana, opioids, and other drugs); mental health; sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, sexual consent, and relationships; diversity (race, gender, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic status); and community (including campus resources for physical and mental health).
• Beginning in May 2021, the University adopted the EVERFI prevention courses after going through an RFP process. Beginning in the fall of 2021 all incoming new students will be required to complete approximately five hours of prevention training. The required courses include: AlcoholEdu for College, Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates, HE Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Mental Well-Being for Students, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Students.
• The GreekLifeEdu™ course has been updated and is now known as CommunityEdu™. It identifies 16 Greek chapters on campus that are encouraged by their National headquarters to complete CommunityEdu™ (Alpha Epsilon Pi; Alpha Sigma Phi; Alpha Tau Omega; Chi Phi; Delta Sigma Phi; Delta Tau Delta; Delta Zeta; Phi Gamma Delta; Phi Kappa Psi; Phi Sigma Kappa; Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia; Pi Beta Phi; Pi Kappa Phi; Sigma Delta Tau; Sigma Nu; Zeta Tau Alpha). CommunityEdu™ is an on-line educational supplement to AlcoholEdu™ and Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates that addresses the important issues of alcohol awareness, sexual assault, and hazing for incoming undergraduate fraternity and sorority members.
• Collaborates with the Department of Public Relations Ad Team on the award winning “It Takes Less Than U Think” campaign to reduce binge drinking.
• Coordinates and implements a water drop initiative as part of the harm reduction efforts related to excessive alcohol consumption. The initiative includes distributing bottled water on Friday nights when a large number of social events are planned to encourage students to utilize protective factors and alternate beverages without alcohol between their drinks containing alcohol. This event was temporarily tabled due to COVID guidelines during the Fall 2020 – Fall 2021 semesters.
• Collaborates with University Programs to host home game Student Tailgates. The event provides alcohol-free space for students to socialize and tailgate without alcohol on the Quad on game day. Previously, this event was held on selected SEC home football games. In 2020, the event was modified per COIVID protocols to limited in person attendance when possible. This event was modified to meet COVID guidelines during Fall 2020.
• Trains approximately 120 peer educators who provide interactive peer education through 4 distinct programs for students, including GAMMA (Greek affiliated representation), on AOD and other health topics relevant to the college population.
• Prepares evidence-based educational support handouts for use by peer educators on topics that change weekly.
• Administers the National College Health Assessment (NCHA); monitors student behavior compared to national averages and reports to central administration.

Housing and Residential Communities

Housing and Residential Communities supports students’ development, learning, and engagement through intentionally designed environments, programs, and services.

• Provides Alcohol Awareness programs with Community Oriented police officers and members of the University of Alabama Police Department.
• Offers active programming in the form of social and educational activities, and passive programming in the form of bulletin boards, which provides educational information. These activities occur throughout the semester and are highlighted in October during Alcohol Awareness week.
• Promotes Spring Break safety programming that emphasizes alcohol and other drug education.
• Advertises and encourages alternative (drug and alcohol free) social events for students.
• Resident Advisors create bulletin boards in their buildings throughout the year with educational information about alcohol and drugs.
• Offers student and staff training on how to identify warning signs of drug and alcohol misuse and how to make appropriate referrals.
• Refers cases of alcohol and other drugs in the residence halls to the Office of Student Conduct.

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is dedicated to the growth and success of the Greek community at UA and to the individual development of sorority and fraternity members.

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life serves over 10,000 students, the UA Greek community comprises 35 percent of the undergraduate student body and is home to 66 social Greek-letter organizations.

• Provides at least four in-person and virtual on-demand educational programming each semester in collaboration with the Office of Student Involvement, Office of Counsel, Office of Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety, University Police, and Facilities and Grounds on how to responsibly host on-campus social events that may or may not include alcohol.
• Offers monthly educational programing during each fall term to educate organizations and new members on a variety of topics, including but not limited to alcohol and drug prevention.
• Partners with Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services, Counseling Center, Health Promotion and Wellness, and Student Care and Well-Being to provide educational, treatment, and testing resources to individuals and organizations around substance use disorder and support.
• Partners with Health Promotion and Wellness and GAMMA peer educators to educate students on responsible use of alcohol.
• Offers student social events and activities that are alcohol and substance free through the Alabama Interfraternity Council, Alabama Panhellenic Association, Alabama National Pan-Hellenic Council, the United Greek Council, and the Greek Programming Board.
• Maintains policies and procedures consistent with enforcement of alcohol and drug-free programs, services, and facilities.
• Regularly reviews and updates, with Student Life, Office of Counsel, Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and the Office of Student Involvement, The University of Alabama Social Event Guidelines for Student Organizations who host on-campus social events with or without alcohol present. Partners with University Police to offer additional training and education to all organizations that maintain housing on University property, to educate about responsible alcohol consumption, and the laws of the state of Alabama.
• Coordinates and supports sanctions issued through the Office of Student Conduct for organizations and individuals who require educational programing, testing, or treatment services related to alcohol or other drug use and misuse.

Office of Student Conduct

The Office of Student Conduct adjudicates cases arising from student non-academic misconduct and develops students in a manner that provides a foundation for success and responsible citizenship.

• The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) annually provides a “Know the Code” presentation to freshmen classes focusing on campus policy and city laws regarding alcohol usage.
• OSC facilitates Alcohol and Other Drug Educational Workshops to all students found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct in alcohol or other drug use or misuse.
• OSC facilitates Drug Education Awareness Workshops to all students found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct specifically for marijuana use or misuse.
• OSC provides Marijuana 101, 3rd Millennium, a web-based course, to all students found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct in the area of marijuana use or misuse.
• The OSC provides Under the Influence, 3rd Millennium, a web-based alcohol education course, to students found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct in the area of alcohol use or misuse.

Office of Title IX

The Office of Title IX ensures The University is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination based on gender and expects individuals who live, work, teach, and study within this community to contribute positively to the environment and to refrain from behaviors that threaten the freedom or respect that every member of our community deserves.

• Provides programming regarding the intersection between alcohol and sexual misconduct issues such as sexual assault including the definition of consent and the impact of alcohol in a determination of capacity to give consent.
• Provides programming regarding the intersection of alcohol use and reports of sexual misconduct including sexual assault and interpersonal violence.
• Provides programming and collaborates with University partners regarding active bystander intervention strategies that include scenarios involving the use of alcohol and other drugs.

University Recreation

University Recreation serves students, faculty, staff, and the community through opportunities to foster health and well-being, as well as learning, leadership, and inclusion.

• Provides recreational and sports programming, which offers alternatives to alcohol and other drug use or misuse.
• Offers facility access and informal recreation play at the Student Recreation Center, Robert E. Witt Student Activity Center, Aquatic Center, Outdoor Pool Complex, Outdoor Fields Complex and University Recreation Tennis Courts all in an alcohol, drug, and tobacco-free environment.
• Conducts ongoing group exercise, fitness consultations and personal training with attention to holistic health and wellbeing through an understanding and appreciation for alcohol and other drug awareness and its role in health.
• Provides and supports campus-wide late-night programming to aid in alternative activities to alcohol and other drugs use.
• Maintains policies and procedures consistent with enforcement of alcohol and drug-free programs, services, and facilities.
• Works collaboratively with various partners internal and external to the University for health and wellbeing programming that emphasizes non-alcohol and other drug awareness. Collaborations include partnering with Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services to offer yoga classes to CRIS students, working with Health Promotion and Wellness and Pharmacy on a weekly radio show that provides Alcohol and Other Drug awareness during the month of September, and leading a kayaking trip and meditation opportunity for CRIS on the Black Warrior River.
• The Intramural Sports Participant Guide and the Sport Club Officer Resource Guide contains policies governing participation in Sports Programs that specifically address standards of conduct concerning alcohol and other drugs.

University Programs

University Programs fosters community and maximizes student development through campus-wide events implemented by UA students.

• University Programs fosters community and maximizes student development through campus wide events implemented by UA students. University Programs events are “for students, by students.” University Programs aims to create community and connection for all UA students. Weekly events aim to support the Division of Student Life’s strategic goals and offers live music, trivia nights, free food, DIYs, tailgates, watch parties, movie nights, themed events, and much more.
• In conjunction with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Tied with the Tide is a program for all students participating in the early move in process including but not limited to members of the Million Dollar Band, students participating in the recruitment process, Honors College, Camp 1831, and BRIDGE, to make connections and learn about resources at The University of Alabama. Events include movie night, spa night, BINGO, painting class, and a pool party.
• Week of Welcome is a large series of programs hosted by the Division of Student Life and coordinated by University Programs to help first year and transfer students in the transition to academic and student life at UA. Over 40 events are held during a two-week period to provide a variety of experiences for students including Script A, The Big Event featuring a concert, carnival rides, and food trucks, academic programs, partnerships with athletics, Welcome Back Breakfast with administrators, comedy night, and silent disco.
• University Programs’ UP Engages series features events every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of large-scale students’ events. Signature events include: Fright Mania, Mardi Gras, Ultimate Egg Hunt, blockbuster movies, tailgates and watch parties. All events are free and open to all UA students. These events provide students a safe, alcohol-free environment on campus for building community.
• University Programs and the Counseling Center partner at the conclusion of each semester for Stress Free Days, a week-long programming series focusing on mental health and healthy stress coping techniques. These events highlight resources available to students during finals and promote academic and mental wellbeing.
• University Programs goes beyond traditional marketing strategies to meet students where they are through frequent tabling and guerilla marketing efforts. Additionally, University Programs has a strong presence on social media to monitor students’ needs and keep in touch with the campus climate.

Women and Gender Resource Center

The Women and Gender Resource Center addresses gender inequity and fosters a community of multiculturalism, social justice, safety, and leadership through gender-related outreach, advocacy, and support to communities of all identities.

• Presents statistics and information regarding the correlation of sexual assault and dating violence and alcohol/drug misuse and incidence/prevalence of drug facilitated sexual assault to student organizations and classes. In 2019-2021, the total outreach numbers were more than 10,000 participants.
• Provides ongoing Harbor training and annual training to key staff and faculty partners on campus, including specialized presentations to university police, and residential staff on the positive correlation of alcohol and other drug misuse to perpetration and victimization of interpersonal violence.
• Provides information on department website regarding the role of alcohol and other drugs used to facilitate sexual assault and dating violence.
• Maintains a variety of resources focusing on women and substance use/misuse and the correlation of substance use/misuse to interpersonal violence, including books and DVDs available through the Frances S. Summersell Resource Library, affiliated with the university library system and available for use by all members of the university community.
• Includes information on the correlation of alcohol and other drugs to interpersonal violence to first-year students through Compass/introductory orientation presentations.
• Trains more than 70 peer educators/leaders on the intersection of alcohol and other drugs in relation to dating violence, sexual assault, and other forms interpersonal violence. The peer educators/leaders serve as informed resources to the campus community.
• Staff therapists provide free, confidential, and voluntary counseling to students and provide referrals to Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services or other providers as needed when a substance use disorder is determined to be primary and/or if a student indicates an interest in pursuing recovery.