A significant part of the growth that students will experience during the college years is rooted in their ability to make smart life decisions—including decisions about the use of alcohol. Alcohol abuse on college campuses is a serious problem that calls for direct and candid discussion.
While we are committed to making a difference in the lives of our students, we also understand that parents are critical allies in the effort to prevent alcohol misuse and abuse. That is why we have made available additional content that is designed to support your conversations about alcohol that will help shape the decisions your child must make in college surrounding alcohol use. Research also suggests that parental involvement both before and after the transition to college can make a difference for student alcohol use. Parents can do a number of things to stay involved including having an open conversation about the potential negative consequences of drinking, the reasons why students choose to drink or abstain, and parents’ expectations about alcohol use. Please help your student understand that the new freedom they will enjoy at college brings responsibilities as well. We are confident that by making smart choices, they will have an enjoyable and successful experience at Lehigh. Not all families are the same, but below are a few brief pointers that may be helpful:
1) Reach out periodically to check in with your student (e.g., how are they spending their free time?)
2) Talk specifically about alcohol use (e.g., potential risks and, how to handle situations where drinking occurs, how to look out for friends)
3) Use open-ended questions. Let students know you want to listen and understand their experiences
4) Clearly communicate your own expectations
We are pleased and proud to count your student among the members of the outstanding Lehigh Community!
Safety of Your Student
We recognize that your parental pride and excitement about new levels of independence for your son or daughter may be combined with a degree of apprehension. The safety and well-being of our campus community is of paramount importance to all of us at Lehigh. To that end, we maintain a 24-hour on-call system for emergencies through a coordinated effort of our police department and the Student Affairs Deans on Call, in addition to working closely across departments to nurture a safe environment where our students can thrive. To help ensure timely and accurate communication, we ask that you encourage your student to sign up for our campus emergency messaging system, LU-ALERT, either prior to upon arrival to campus for Orientation.
Vibrant Social Life
It is important to note that Lehigh has implemented several other educational and programmatic efforts to reduce the frequency and severity of alcohol use and abuse. One initiative that has proven to be successful – and relies heavily on student ideas and planning is Lehigh After Dark (LAD). LAD programs are open to the entire community and provide social, cultural, intellectual and community development activities that are fun, popular, and well-attended on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. The popularity of LAD events, which focus on building and reinforcing students’ sense of community rather than alcohol, helps communicate what our anecdotal and assessment data has already indicated: while some students will certainly incorporate alcohol consumption into their social lives, many do not.
Standards and Alcohol Policy
It is Lehigh’s practice to notify the parents or guardians of students under the age of 21 who are found responsible for violating our alcohol or drug policy. Disciplinary suspension is an option for any single serious alcohol or drug violation. Students found responsible for two serious violations, including creating a risk to self or others, physical violence, significant property destruction, or other substantial infractions, will be suspended for a minimum of one semester. While the need to impose the latter sanction is rare, it is important that you are aware of and understand our approach. Lehigh’s community standards and Lehigh alcohol policy can be found in our Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations.