Furman University's Substance Abuse Coalition (FUSAC)

The mission of FUSAC is to create a climate of support for an environmentally focused approach to alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention on campus. 

The Coalition has several responsibilities:

1. To facilitate an assessment of the problem and a comprehensive examination of existing AOD programs and policies;
2. To continually monitor campus conditions and examine the institution's prevention efforts;
3. To understand the nature and extent of the AOD problems on our campus; and
4. To assist the Health Educator with the implementation of the PICCC grant (2008-11)

The student members of FUSAC have two additional responsibilities:

1. To provide the members of FUSAC with the students' perspective on Furman University's AOD policies and programs; and
2. To serve as a liaison to their respective organizations by providing AOD-related information to their peers.

Goal: To build a strong coalition of dedicated members who will work cooperatively to ensure the Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws. The coalition's major role will be to provide input and assistance around the issue of enforcement of underage drinking laws in our community and also to implement the action steps and activities outlined in the work plans.

Members will work to strengthen the existing coalition to include members of the Greenville community who will work cooperatively to ensure the health and safety of Furman students.

Work Plan #1

Goal: To reduce the sale of alcohol to underage youth by conducting additional compliance checks, education, training and working with retailers throughout the target area by September 30, 2011 and to promote the health and safety of Furman students by increasing public safety checkpoints and decreasing the level of reported driving under the influence and riding with someone else who is impaired.

Members will work with local AET (Alcohol Enforcement Team) to reduce the sale of alcohol to underage youth by conducting additional compliance checks, education, training and working with retailers throughout the target area.

Work Plan #2
Work Plan #3

Goal: To conduct formal and informal reviews of existing campus alcohol policies. The purpose of this review is to determine what environmental strategies and preventative measures are already in place as well as identify gaps that need to be addressed.

Members will work to improve campus alcohol policies, enforcement and awareness by Furman students. Examples: general alcohol policy and university police policies.

Work Plan #4

Goal: To decrease underage students' social access to alcohol in the target area both off and on campus.

Members will focus on risk management programs as well as planning and implementing a Mock Trial on underage drinking.

Work Plan #5

Goal: To reduce the number of underage students who report drinking in residence halls from 25.2% to 22.2% by September 30, 2011.

Members will look at ways to reduce the number of underage students who report drinking in residence halls. We will focus on Paladin Nites, Alcohol Awareness Months as well as other Educational programs.

Work Plan #6

18 Staff/Administrators
15 Students
3 Community Members
2 Faculty
2 Parents
1 Trustee