Alcohol and the University of Kansas

Q: What is the KU alcohol education online course?

A: KU utilizes AlcoholEdu for College, an online, science-based program that provides the latest information about alcohol and its effects on the body and mind. The program is personalized to each student based on their previous alcohol education, choices regarding alcohol and gender. AlcoholEdu includes several chapters of content, interactive exercises, and assessments of alcohol-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Whether you choose to drink or not, this course will empower you to make well informed decisions about your own use of alcohol and help you better cope with the drinking behavior of your friends and peers.

Q: What does research say about AlcoholEdu?

A: Data suggest that AlcoholEdu significantly improves knowledge and increases protective behaviors among students who drink alcohol. A recent study on AlcoholEdu showed that students who completed it experienced a 50% reduction in negative academic and personal consequences (Wall, 2007).

Wall, A. F. (2007). Evaluating a Health Education Website: The Case of AlcoholEdu. NASPA Journal, 44(4), Art. 4. Retrieved June 21, 2008, from http://publications.naspa.org/naspajournal/vol44/iss4/art4.

Q: Who is required to take the course?

A: All newly-enrolled, degree-seeking students on the Lawrence campus under the age of 22 as of August 1, 2009 are required to complete the KU alcohol education online course.

Q: Are my answers confidential?

A: Yes, all survey responses are strictly confidential. KU will only receive information about the student body as a whole and will never see individual student answers. You can feel confident that providing truthful answers - no matter what they are - will not put you at any risk for repercussions.

Q: How do I access the course?

A: For students that are required to complete the KU alcohol education online course:

You may access the program starting August 31, 2009

1. Go to KU Enroll & Pay and log in with your user name and password.
2. Select Student Center and look under the Others header.
3. Click on Mandatory Alcohol Education link to access the course. You will be redirected to the AlcoholEdu registration page.
4. On the registration page you may be asked for additional information to complete the creation of your account. You will not need to create an additional username or password.
5. You may login and out of the course at the end of each section. Section ends are marked with a "Next" button. DO NOT log out until you click the "Next" button or you will have to repeat the section you have just gone through.
6. To log back into your account, always access AlcoholEdu from your KU Enroll & Pay account and follow steps 2 and 3.

For students that are voluntarily taking the KU alcohol education online course:

This information is only available to individuals with a KU Online ID. Please login to view these instructions.

Q: I don't have a computer. Where can I find a computer on campus to use?

A: If you do not have a computer, you can use any publicly available computer with Internet access. Click here for computer lab locations on campus.

Q: What is the timeline for the required online course?

A: August 31 - Students will receive information via email from KU about how to access the AlcoholEdu course. This is the first day students may log into Part 1 of AlcoholEdu. Part 1 takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Students should avoid waiting until the last minute to complete the program.

September 24 - Part 1 must be completed by this date or your enrollment for the spring semester will be jeopardized.

30 Days After Completing Part 1 - You will receive an email from "Outside the Classroom" prompting you to begin Part 2, which will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Due to the short timeframe, students should avoid waiting until the last minute to complete the program.

November 2 - Part 2 must be completed by this date or your enrollment for the spring semester will be jeopardized.

Q: What are the deadlines to complete the required online course?

A: August 31 - First day students may log into Part 1 of AlcoholEdu

September 24 - Part 1 must be completed by this date or your enrollment for the spring semester will be jeopardized.

30 Days After Completing Part 1 - You will receive an email from "Outside the Classroom" prompting you to begin Part 2, which will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

November 2 - Part 2 must be completed by this date or your enrollment for the spring semester will be jeopardized.

Q: What happens if I do not complete the course by the deadlines?

A: If you fail to complete both parts of the course by the deadlines, an administrative hold will be placed on your account and your enrollment date for the following semester may be jeopardized. You will not be able to enroll for classes until you have completed the AlcoholEdu course and the hold is lifted.

Q: I am having technical problems, what should I do?

A: Trouble with KU Enroll and Pay:

If you are unable to log into KU Enroll & Pay, please contact the KU Customer Service Center at enroll-pay@ku.edu or (785) 864-8080.

Trouble with AlcoholEdu:

If you receive the message "Service Unavailable" while trying to navigate through the course, please try the trouble shooting steps listed below:

1. Try an alternate browser.
2. Refresh the screen 2 to 3 times from within the course.
3. Close all browser windows, and try logging into the course again.

If you experience other technical difficulties, the AlcoholEdu Online Technical Support Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For support, click the "Help" button in the upper-right corner of any active window in AlcoholEdu for College or call 1-866-384-9062.

Q: I would like to speak to someone at KU regarding the course. Who should I contact?

A: For questions or concerns on the Mandatory Alcohol Education Policy:

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success
(785) 864-4060
vpss@ku.edu

For questions on the alcohol education online course:

Student Health Services
Wellness Resource Center
(785) 864-9570
health@ku.edu

For questions on holds due to the Mandatory Alcohol Education Policy:

Student Health Services
(785) 864-9533
health@ku.edu