What Parents Can Do
Whether the parent, guardian, or family member of a St. Ambrose University student, your influence over the decisions she/he will make will continue throughout their adult life. Research1 is clear that the expectations you set and conversations you have continues even though the physical distance becomes greater.
This is what we know about our students:
- The majority of first year students report having used alcohol prior to arriving here.
- Underage alcohol use is the most frequent crime committed on our campus.
- The majority of students, if they choose to use alcohol, do so in a safe, healthy, and responsible manner.
Nonetheless, it is important that the adults who continue to influence our students inform themselves and engage in discussions throughout the course of the student's time at St. Ambrose. To assist you, we offer several resources on this website and encourage you to browse the information below. Additionally, we are available at any time to discuss questions or concerns.
Thank you for reading this information and the commitment you are making in our partnership to further the learning and growth of each of our students.
-Christopher Waugh, Dean of Students
1Abar, C., Abar, B., & Turrisi, R. (2009). The impact of parental modeling and permissibility on alcohol use and experienced negative drinking consequences in college. Addictive Behaviors, 34, 542-547.
Resources
The following resources may be helpful to you as you seek information on how to approach this issue:
Alcohol & Health
College Drinking Prevention Information
What Parents Need to Know about College Drinking
National Institute on Health/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Publications
Please discuss your expectations with the incoming student regarding your expectations about decisions to use alcohol and other drugs.
• Make sure he/she has completed the AlcoholEdu and Haven online learning modules prior to arriving on campus. All First Year students will be sent information in late July.
• Complete the AlcoholEdu Parents module (available in July).
• Clarify understanding that policy violations occurring on campus become part of the student's disciplinary record and may be recovered during routine employment background checks.
• Review the online brochure Make A Difference: Talk to your Child About Alcohol Use and the Resources page to increase your awareness and efforts.
As your student progresses through their college years, you will be called upon again and again (sometimes deliberately and other times it will be you who needs to reach out to them) to give advice, clear direction, and perhaps remind them of expectations:
- Maintain contact and a sense of how the student's time is being used.
- Refer students that seem to be struggling with the campus environment or decision-making issues to campus resources, which can include the Counseling office, their academic advisor, an RA, or the Dean of Students office.
- If unsure where or how to reach out, feel free to contact the Dean of Students Office at 563-333-6258.
- If a student is uncertain or concerned about their alcohol use, encourage them to use the screening tool. Results can be discussed by scheduling an appointment at 563-333-6423.
Feel free to contact us to discuss your concerns and possible intervention strategies.
Contact
Christopher Waugh, Dean of Students
Dean of Students
Rogalski Center, 2nd floor
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6258
WaughChristopherA@sau.edu