Southeastern NEWS
                    Southeastern Louisiana University
                    Public Information Office
                    SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                    504-549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                    
   Date:  3/25/02
      Contact:      Rene Abadie     (1)

MOFFETT APPOINTED TO PRESIDENTS GROUP ON HIGHER ED ALCOHOL/DRUG
PREVENTION

     HAMMOND - Southeastern Louisiana University President Randy Moffett has been
selected to serve on the Presidents Leadership Group (PLG) of the U.S. Department of
Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, a body of college
and university presidents and chancellors who have declared their commitment to student
substance abuse prevention.
     He is one of only 31 higher education officials nationally and the only university
president from Louisiana selected to serve on the recently-expanded panel that now represents 22
states. The group was originally formed by the Higher Education Center in 1997 to bring
national attention to alcohol and other drug prevention on college and university campuses.
     The new PLG members were chosen based on previous leadership and plans for future
leadership in alcohol and other drug prevention. The selection process required applicants to
submit personal statements, letters of support from people within their institutions and
surrounding communities, and biennial review reports, a federal reporting requirement under the
Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations. PLG members are expected to assume leadership
roles in existing regional initiatives.
     "I greatly appreciate the opportunity to serve on the President's Leadership Group,"
Moffett said. "University and college presidents must play a significant role in addressing
alcohol and other drug use by students. This is a national problem that must be addressed by all
segments of higher education joining together in a united effort to change an overarching student
culture that includes alcohol and drug abuse. It's important for those of us in leadership positions
to speak out, to model, and to lead."
     While serving as provost at Southeastern in 1996, Moffett appointed the university's first
alcohol policy task force comprised of faculty, staff, community members and students. The
group forged Southeastern's alcohol policy, which is assessed by the university on a regular basis
and which serves as the foundation for other programs. Southeastern assisted in the development
of a national model student-oriented educational program called "Alcohol 101," and was one of
five universities selected to present at the program's national unveiling. The university also
hosted a statewide symposium for college presidents and chancellors on alcohol issues in 1998.
The symposium involved state organizations and other institutions, including the Higher
Education Center, in reviewing approaches to alcohol and drug abuse prevention.
     "With new students continually entering our campus, we can never relax our efforts in
maintaining an aggressive alcohol and drug abuse prevention effort," Moffett said. At
Southeastern 42 alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs were offered last year, averaging
one each week school was in session with student participation exceeding 81,000 contacts. The
university also employs in its counseling center a full time counselor certified in the area of
alcohol and drug abuse. 
     "Our efforts have resulted in a significant drop in students facing conduct charges related
to alcohol, dropping from 88 students in the 1998-99 academic year to 41 students last year,"
Moffett said. "Is this significant? We think it is. Is it enough? We know it is not. We will
continue to attack this problem, always looking for innovative ways to reach our student
population."
     "Presidential leadership is a critical component of successful prevention efforts on college
and university campuses and of effective partnerships between these institutions and their
surrounding communities," said William DeJong, director of the Higher Education Center. "We
are looking forward to seeing these presidents serve as change agents in their campus
communities, and also as models for other presidents who are looking to take action."
     The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention serves as the
national resource center for institutions of higher education concerned with reducing alcohol and
drug abuse. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education with supplemental funding from the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the center offers training, technical assistance, publications
and other information. It is based at the Education Development Center, Inc., a non-profit
educational research and development organization located in Newton, Mass. 
-SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/news/spring02.html