RECRUIT KEY PLAYERS

The key to building support for your program is to get students involved In the process from the beginning.


Not only can students be valuable as committee members, but they are also closest to your audience, and they can provide creativity and programming insights that administrators might be less likely to develop on their own. Remember, peer-to-peer influence is our most effective education tool! Building a wide level of student ownership in the planning of your NCAAW will help guarantee acceptance and participation. The more visible a role your students play, the more likely other students will want to get involved. If your week will target many groups, be sure all of those groups are represented by the students on your committee or task force.

NCAAW is an opportunity to gain interest and respect for campus-based prevention programs. It is important to use these special weeks to build the base for year-round efforts. Many campuses have used NCAAW to identify students to become peer educators. Starting a BACCHUS or GAMMA chapter as the cornerstone of your peer education program is a great way to ensure that your NCAAW efforts last well after your final program for the week.

Identifying and recruiting key players serves several purposes. It is simple human nature for people to take ownership in those things they help create. If you want to build participation and support for NCAAW, then it is important that you find allies across campus.

Although the players will vary depending on the size and type of campus, NCAAW planning committees often consist of student and/or staff representatives from:

  1. BACCHUS/Peer Education Organizations
  2. Student Activities/Programming Board
  3. Student Government
  4. Residence Life
  5. GAMMA Chapters/Fraternity and Sorority Systems
  6. Health Education/Wellness Offices
  7. Multi-Cultural Affairs/Student Groups
  8. Counseling
  9. Athletics/Campus Recreation/Intramurals
  10. Faculty Senate
  11. Campus Security
  12. Campus Food Service
  13. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Student Organization
  14. Campus Newspaper
  15. Student Volunteerism Office
  16. Campus Public Relations Office

Additionally, NCAAW presents a great opportunity for exposure in the community. Again, this will vary based upon your type of campus and sponsorship policies; however, many campuses include representatives from among the following sources:

  1. Police
  2. Local Health Agencies
  3. Treatment Centers/Private Hospitals
  4. Beverage Distributors (soft drink, beer, bottled water, etc.)
  5. MADD/SADD
  6. Restaurants & Bars
  7. Health Clubs
  8. Other Campus Area Businesses
  9. Highway Safety Office

Although it is not likely that any committee will consist of all of these individuals, it is possible that by reviewing this list, you might recognize an area on your campus or in your community that you might not have already contacted. The key is to have as broad a level of participation as possible to support your efforts and to recruit participation for your events. From this larger group, specific committees can be assigned to handle the details of individual programs.

Not everyone on your list will be an active participant. However, it is quite possible that they might have financial and other resources available for co-programming. This can be a great benefit to your NCAAW efforts.



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