The Higher Education Act requires institutions of higher learning to adopt and enforce policies aimed at preventing the illegal use of alcohol and other drugs. Ideally, campus policies should contain specific measures to de-emphasize illegal, excessive, and unnecessary alcohol consumption and promote the primary academic and social goals of the institution. Policies should be developed with input from students, faculty, administrators, and community members and should address each of the following objectives:

Reducing the availability and accessibility of alcohol

Examples include: dry campus, dry residence halls, dry orientation, prohobition of or limitations on alcohol at social activities on campus or at activities sponsored by student organizations, prohibition of common containers of alcohol (kegs) on campus, aggressive enforcement of minimum drinking age laws in residence halls and throughout campus.

Examples include: residence hall presentations by health educators, health fairs, "alcohol awareness week," social marketing campaigns, mandatory risk-management courses for student organizations that serve alcohol at social functions, health education presentations at new-student orientation, peer education.

Examples include: early intervention, referrals to on- or off-campus treatment programs, information about treatment options, screening of students who violate alcohol policies for problems related to alcohol abuse, peer counseling, and offering ample, discreet meeting space for 12-step recovery groups on campus.

Examples include: prohibition of alcohol advertising (or advertising of discounted drinks) in student newspapers and university publications, prohibition of alcohol advertising and promotions on campus, prohibition of advertising the availability of alcohol at events sponsored by student organizations.

Examples include: substance-free housing, alcohol-free social events (particularly early in the academic year), coffee houses or other alcohol-free gathering places on campus, late-night activities at recreational facilities, late-night study areas and computer labs.

Examples include: dry or deferred fraternity rush, mandatory risk management courses for fraternity officers or for all members, dry fraternity houses, mandatory registration of parties where alcohol will be present, invitation-only parties, BYOB parties with limits on the number of drinks an individual may bring, parties with hired bartenders, common container (keg) ban, educational programs specifically aimed at the Greek community.

Examples include: ban on tailgating (for students and alumni), ban on alcohol inside stadiums and arenas, elimination of alcoholic-beverage industry sponsorship of athletic teams (including intramural competition) and events, ban on alcohol advertising inside stadiums and programs, educational programs specifically developed for high-risk student athletes.

Examples include: mandatory Friday morning classes (or exams) and higher academic standards, community service requirements, incentives for community involvement or voluntarism, increased courseload or gradepoint average requirements, mandatory attendance at evening lectures or cultural/educational events, greater faculty involvement with students.

Examples include: town/gown coalitions, responsible hospitality councils, public forums to discuss alcohol issues, curriculum infusion, peer advocacy, enhanced involvement of local law enforcement officials.

The policy should include a plan for enforcing all campus alcohol policies and state alcohol laws, including penalties for violation. The policy should clearly state that all institution employees have a duty to report policy violation and should identify the appropriate individual to receive such reports. Penalties, which should be progressively more severe, should be clearly communicated to students

The policy should include a plan to routinely collect data on the extent of alcohol and other drug problems on campus. This information should be made available to the public.

Responsible beverage service training, enforcement of laws against service to intoxicated and underage patrons, "sting" operations, restrictions on happy hour-type drink specials, liquor license challenges, moratorium on new liquor licenses.