January 7, 2011
Leadership Award -- University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan answers reporters'
questions during a news conference to announce UW's receipt of the Presidential Leadership
Award presented by Outside The Classroom and United Educators. The award recognizes
UW's commitment to addressing alcohol issues and success in promoting alcohol education.
(UW Photo)
University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan was honored today with a national award
recognizing his success in promoting a vibrant intellectual and social campus climate
that de-emphasizes the role of alcohol.
The Presidential Leadership Award, supported by Outside The Classroom and United Educators,
recognizes a college or university president who has given freely of time and energy
to create an environment where learning and campus life are not undermined by the
misuse of alcohol.
"Through strong focus by university leadership and close partnerships between the
campus and the broader community, we can significantly reduce the impact of alcohol
among college students," said Janice M. Abraham, CEO of United Educators. "President
Buchanan's commitment to addressing alcohol issues and success in decreasing both
alcohol use and its adverse effects are models for the entire higher education community."
Under Buchanan's leadership, UW has effectively worked to change the culture of college
drinking through the implementation of comprehensive alcohol abuse prevention initiatives,
including alternative late-night programming, mandatory online alcohol education for
all UW freshmen, and AWARE, a nationally recognized alcohol education and intervention
program.
He also leads a vibrant campus-community coalition called the A-team that has been
involved in campus policy changes, local ordinances, state laws, and strategic planning.
He has also pushed to make alcohol prevention an institution-wide priority.
"President Buchanan has communicated a collective sense of responsibility regarding
this issue so that a single office or individual does not ‘own' the task of preventing
alcohol abuse," said Lena Newlin, coordinator of the AWARE program at UW. "Rather,
he has fostered a spirit of initiative and cross-campus collaboration, and ultimately
a sense of ‘we' around this important issue on college campuses."
As a result of Buchanan's leadership, UW has seen significant improvements in student
alcohol behaviors and consequences. Data collected from 2007 to 2009 binge drinking
has dropped by an impressive 24 percent. Over that same period of time, the number
of abstainers has increased to 21percent.
Equally promising, UW students reported a 29 percent decrease in alcohol negatively
impacting their academics, and a 40 percent decrease in student drunk driving.
"The impact of high-risk drinking extends far beyond student health to issues like
academic performance, retention, and student success. Solutions to the alcohol problem
therefore require a strategic view and cooperation among people from diverse disciplines
both on and off campus," said Brandon Busteed, founder and CEO of Outside The Classroom.
"I applaud President Buchanan for his keen vision and ability to bring multiple stakeholders
to the table."
The Presidential Leadership Award is designed to highlight college and university
presidents who have demonstrated innovative leadership by developing and implementing
a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses the specific educational needs of
individuals but also seeks to bring about change at the institutional, community,
and public policy levels.
The award, funded by The United Educators and Outside The Classroom, carries a $20,000
donation made to the university or college in the name of the recipient.
Buchanan's career in higher education has spanned more than 35 years. After completing
his doctorate, he came to the University as an assistant professor in the Department
of Geography. Over the next 30 years, he rose through the faculty ranks, became Associate
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and was eventually elevated to the rank
of Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 2005, he was appointed UW's 23rd president.
Past recipients of the award include Dr. Jonathan Gibralter of Frostburg State University
and Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg of the University of Pittsburgh. Their willingness
to speak out on the issue has catapulted them into the spotlight as models for college
administrators who are fighting the dangerous culture of binge drinking on campuses.
ABOUT OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Outside The Classroom addresses the mission-critical challenges that threaten the
ability of educational institutions and their students to achieve their potential.
For more than a decade, the organization has been focused on strengthening the field
of alcohol prevention. Today, the organization's flagship educational program, AlcoholEdu®
for College, is used on hundreds of campuses and by 36 percent of all first-year students
at America's higher education institutions. In 2009, Outside The Classroom launched
The Alcohol Prevention Coalition to provide institutional leaders with the insights,
tools, and support to develop well-informed, cost-effective strategies for reducing
alcohol-related risk and preventing harm. All of Outside The Classroom's programs
are developed under the leadership of national prevention expert William DeJong, PhD.
For more information please visit www.outsidetheclassroom.com.
ABOUT UNITED EDUCATORS
United Educators is a licensed insurance company owned and governed by more than 1,160
member colleges, universities, independent schools, public school districts, public
school insurance pools, and related organizations throughout the United States. The
company's members range from small, private schools to multi-campus public universities.
As "Education's Own Insurance Company," UE understands education's unique risks and
liability needs better than any other insurer. UE is committed to the single goal
of providing its members with a high-quality, specialized alternative to commercial
insurance. For more information please visit www.ue.org
