MSU Social Norms Project Awarded for its National Model Program Dedicated to Student Awareness of Alcohol Abuse on Campus

Montclair State University's Social Norms Project (MSNP) has received national recognition as a model program for reducing alcohol on college campuses. In late October, Deborah Price, Director of The US Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, presented Montclair State’s National Model Program on College Campus Award to Dr. Brenda Marshall, assistant professor for the department of Health and Nutrition Sciences.

The award was presented to Dr. Marshall during the 20th Annual National Meeting on Alcohol and other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention in Higher Education. The ceremony was held at the Regency Ballroom in the Hyatt Regency in Arlington, Va.

This year, collaboration between Marie Cascarano, director of the MSNP since 2002, and Dr. Marshall, has earned Montclair State University the distinction of being one of only four universities recognized for implementing a national model program. The award also entitles the MSNP to a federal grant worth $176,000.

Each of the four grantees then presented a US Department of Education FY 2006 Model Program Grantee Showcase, which was moderated by Vera Messina and Ruth Tringo of the US Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

The money from the grant will be invested in the development of student researchers, writing, and publishing a community social norms newspaper that will be sent to the parents of freshmen students. Grant funds will also be used to put together a conference being held in April for other universities to learn about reducing alcohol use on campus.

Cascarano said it’s important for students to become informed about the actual use verses the perceived use of alcohol. The program provides information and resources for the students if they have questions or concerns regarding their drinking behaviors.

"Students tend to overestimate the amount of alcohol consumed and the amount of intoxicated behaviors exhibited by their peers creating a "false norm." The aim of this project is to provide students with an actual depiction of attitudes and behaviors of their peers (actual norm) verses what they perceive their peers to believe and do," said Cascarano,

"I am very excited about our student researchers," said Dr. Marshall. "Through a collaborative effort with the Office of Technology, the researchers are able to conduct their research and work with me through Blackboard and Lecture 123 technology. I already have three students who have submitted abstracts for presentation at national conferences and seven others who are working on their research questions and developing their articles for publication."

The MSNP is a comprehensive, collaborative program that includes peer advocates, social norming, faculty mentoring of student initiated, evidence-based research, family outreach and information dissemination. A Social Norms conference, which will highlight results from this year’s program, is scheduled for April 17th, with Dr. Wes Perkins as the keynote speaker.