Five years ago, the College implemented Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) to enable students to respond to challenging alcohol-related situations. More recently, the College was awarded the 2014 TIPS Award of Excellence as one of just five chosen institutions out of the 1,200 colleges and universities that offer TIPS programs, according to an article posted on the College’s website on Monday, Aug. 11.
The College was chosen based on several factors, including the amount of students certified, the feedback from TIPS trainers and the community leaders involved in the program.
A free, two-hour program for students, TIPS aims to lessen high-risk drinking behavior among students. Drunk driving accidents, serious injuries and academic flops are just a few of the negative effects that college students face as potential consequences of binge drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website, “more than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape,” and “about 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers and receiving lower grades overall.”
TIPS has been a platform for the College to educate students about issues such as binge drinking. Over 700 students at the College have been certified since TIPS was established on campus.
“I learned the dangers of a level one, two and three drunk,” junior chemistry major Daniel King said, who was trained through TIPS.
During Greek Week, members from each organization within Fraternity and Sorority Life attend TIPS training. The Department of Student Affairs, the Alcohol and Drug Education Program, and Student Conduct and Residential Education also host TIPS sessions for students.
“I think (TIPS is) very beneficial for the student body,” junior communication studies major Jared Sokoloff said. “As an issue that hits close to home for me, I applaud its current successes and future implementation.”
In future years, the College hopes to train even more students through TIPS.
