Dear NDSU Parents:

As parents, my wife, Gale, and I understand the many decisions that face students and their families during the transition from high school to college. For nearly two decades, we parents have guided our children, taught them our values, and helped them realize their potential. Now, as they prepare to leave our homes, our job may be winding down, but I would like to suggest that there is at least one topic left to discuss high-risk alcohol use.

High-risk alcohol use by college students is a problem nationwide that too often leads to academic failure and tragic personal consequences. Understanding this reality, NDSU takes active steps to address the problem. In our role as educators, we create learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom where the purpose is not to lecture about the dangers of alcohol abuse young people already know these dangers but to encourage our students to make wise personal choices about alcohol use. Alcohol use is not permitted in university owned buildings, including residence halls. Many alcohol free late night activities are offered to give students a safe social environment.

Despite these efforts, we know that many students continue to abuse alcohol. This is why we are asking for your help. Research shows that when parents talk with their children about alcohol use, their children use alcohol less frequently and in less risky ways. Additional research says that the summer before college is not too late for parents to talk to their kids about alcohol. The bottom line is that your expectations about alcohol matter to your kids.

Thank you for visiting our alcohol information website; I encourage you to browse the section that provides useful tips on how to talk to your student about alcohol. It also outlines NDSUs policies on alcohol and provides contact information for our alcohol and drug prevention programs.

Finally, I want you to know that you can contact one of our staff members listed on the web site by e-mail or by calling 1-800-488-NDSU (option 2) any time you have concerns.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Chapman
President