AlcoholEdu for Parents
Greetings from Duke! This is a very exciting time of year for us as we prepare to welcome your student and the entire Class of 2012 to campus. We know that you are equally busy helping your son or daughter get ready for college life.
As you may know, I have recently asked your student to complete AlcoholEdu for College. This Web-based alcohol education program is used at more than 500 colleges and universities around the country. AlcoholEdu uses the latest prevention techniques and science-based research to educate students about the impact of alcohol on the mind and body. Whether or not your son or daughter drinks alcohol, the course is designed to empower your student to make well-informed decisions about alcohol and prepare him or her to address the drinking behavior of peers.
Three years ago, during orientation, a large number of first-year students found themselves in social settings where alcohol was readily available to them. Many of them chose to disregard university policy and state law by consuming alcohol. What they did not know was that agents from North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) were conducting a special “back to school” operation. The students found themselves with alcohol citations their second evening at college! Resolving the citations with the city of Durham was stressful and time-consuming; they had to participate in the university’s disciplinary process as well. A large majority of the students we spoke with said this experience was not one they had expected to have as part of their collegiate journey. It is my hope that your student, armed with information from AlcoholEdu and other sources, will be able to avoid a similar situation.
These events provide one example of how the use of alcohol affects individual, social, and residential life at Duke. Because we believe that parents are the first line of defense against alcohol misuse and abuse, we have made AlcoholEdu For Parents available to you. Hopefully this online program will help you open a dialogue about alcohol with your son or daughter. Your participation is optional, and instructions are below.
AlcoholEdu for Parents includes:
• A brief introduction and suggestions on the best way to start conversations about alcohol (15 min).As a reminder, every incoming first-year student is required to complete Part 1 of AlcoholEdu (including passing the exam) by August 18. Approximately six weeks after doing this, your student will be notified via email to take the brief Part 2, which must be completed by October 24. Please let me know if you have any questions. We are excited to welcome your student to Duke!
• An overview of the AlcoholEdu for College course structure and key concepts (5 min).
• Direct access to AlcoholEdu for College, in an easy-to-use format that allows you to navigate freely from chapter to chapter (approx. 1.5 hours).
• Helpful resources, such as tips on talking to your college student about alcohol, fact sheets on alcohol’s effect on the brain, how alcohol impairs learning and memory, and more.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Szigethy
Assoc. Dean/Director of the Alcohol and other
Substance Abuse Prevention Center
thomas.szigethy@duke.edu
AlcoholEdu for Parents – Directions for PARENTS ONLY
1. Go to http://parents.alcoholedu.com/parent_login.aspx
2. Under New User, for Login ID enter: 8P198419PARENT
3. Click “Submit” to create a new user account. You will be asked for your email address and a password.
4. You may log out of the course at the end of any section. Section ends are marked with a “Next” button. Do not log out until you click the “Next” button or you will have to repeat the section you have just gone through.
5. Upon future visits, enter as a Returning User with the same email address and password.
Please note: Do NOT share this Web site and Login ID with your student, as he/she will not receive credit for course completion under this account. We have provided your student with a separate student Login ID via email.
You will need a computer with Internet access and audio capabilities. You may want to review the minimum technical requirements available on the login page. Should you experience any difficulties or require additional support, click “Technical Help” or call 866-384-9062 to access the 24-hour Online Support Center for AlcoholEdu.