(Posted October 24, 2011)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College received a $14,690 grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to fund an online education program and to increase security in neighborhoods close to Juniata's campus to support the board's mission to prevent underage and high-risk alcohol use.

Part of the financial grant will be used to continue an online prevention program called AlcoholEdu, which is aimed at first-year students and offers information to learn how to refrain from alcohol abuse.

"The funding will help the College fulfill its commitment to being a good neighbor by maintaining a higher profile in our neighborhoods on those days when students are more likely to be out."

Dan Cook-Huffman, assistant dean of students.

All Juniata freshmen will participate in AlcoholEdu, now in its second year on campus, as part of the freshman College Writing Seminar. This is the first year the grant will be used to fund the program. In addition, all freshmen will participate in a Monitoring the Future survey, a long-term study on drug and alcohol use in the United States sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

By participating in the survey, Juniata can track the attitudes of its incoming students toward alcohol use. In addition, the poll tracks activities students opt to participate in as well as student interest in events that do not focus on alcohol.

The grant also will provide funding for extra wages and possible overtime for the college's public safety officers for increased patrols throughout the school year on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays when the college is in session. Juniata's safety officers will increase their patrol on streets adjacent to campus where students often walk to neighborhood bars or restaurants.

"The funding will help the College fulfill its commitment to being a good neighbor by maintaining a higher profile in our neighborhoods on those days when students are more likely to be out," says Dan Cook-Huffman, assistant dean of students.

The Liquor Control Board Grant will also fund upgrades in radio communication equipment for the increased weekend patrols.

The liquor control board awarded more than $1 million in funding to 77 colleges and universities or local organizations to fund community-based initiatives. Since 1999, the PLCB has awarded more than $7 million in grants to 246 organizations to fund prevention programs focused on underage alcohol consumption, as well as initiatives supporting under-age drinking law-enforcement investigations.

"We know underage drinking has a tremendous impact on youth, families and communities throughout Pennsylvania, and we are commited to providing the resources necessary to help children make better choices," says Jerry Waters Sr., director of the Liquor Control Board's Office of Regulatory Affairs.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.