Ohio University Stats Located in Athens, Ohio 16,644 undergraduate students on the Athens campus

High school class rank: Average GPA: -- top 16-44% -- 3.3 (4.0 scale)

Composite ACT: Combined SAT (Math & Critical Reading)-- 21-26 --990-1180

860+ full-time faculty (Athens campus) 18:1 student to faculty ratio 24 student average class size 42 residence halls housing 7825 students 340 registered student organizations 30 fraternities and sororities Nearly 1,000 students from other countries 16 NCAA Division I teams in the Mid-American Conference

MEA Presentation

Medical Emergency AssistanceOhio University DataMEA Promotions

High-Risk Behaviors

78% of the undergraduate population is high-risk OU students report having on average 14 drinks

per week 52% of first-year students report high-risk use

before arriving on campus 68% of students had to baby-sit a drunk 94% of students surveyed said that they would

NOT call for help in a medical emergency involving alcohol or other drugs

Medical Emergency Assistance Pilot Program

Goals: Increase the likelihood that students will call for

emergency medical assistance when faced with alcohol or drug-related emergencies, and

Educate students about the hazards of high-risk alcohol and other drug abuse in an effort to reduce the likelihood of future occurrences.

Medical Emergency Assistance

MEA Philosophy  “I will be a responsible member/good citizen

of the OHIO Community.”

  The health and safety of the members of the Ohio University community

is of primary concern. Students need to seek immediate medical attention for themselves or

others when someone’s health and/or safety is at risk. Students may be reluctant to seek assistance for themselves or others

for fear of facing judicial charges. Ohio University wants to remove the perceived barriers that prevent

students from seeking immediate medical attention.

Medical Emergency Assistance

Why has Ohio University established a Medical Emergency Assistance (MEA) Program? The MEA program is part of Ohio University’s comprehensive

environmental approach to address high-risk behaviors. During the fall of 2007 Student Senate passed a resolution supporting

the need for the creation of an MEA program. It has been designed for the student who is concerned for the well-

being of a fellow student suffering from an alcohol or drug related medical emergency.

MEA enables Ohio University to more effectively address the issue of civility and good citizenship with our students. Students are encouraged to come to the aid of fellow students who are suffering a medical emergency.

Medical Emergency Assistance

Does this mean that Ohio University encourages high-risk drinking?

No: Ohio University recognizes that students sometimes make high-risk choices about the use of alcohol and other drugs. If a medical emergency is the result of the high-risk choice, the university wants the student to get the required medical attention without fear of “getting in trouble” with the university’s judicial system.

Medical Emergency Assistance

Which violations will MEA cover?  A-3 (harm to self) alcohol and other drug medical emergencies.

 

How does MEA relate to the Student Code of Conduct? MEA applies only to alcohol and other drug medical

emergencies but does not apply to other prohibited conduct such as assault, property damage and distribution of illicit substances. If other prohibited conduct occurs the student will be held responsible for those violations.

Medical Emergency Assistance

Does MEA provide protection from any legal consequences? NO: MEA will not provide protection from legal consequences of

underage/excessive drinking, illegal drug use and the misuse of prescription drugs.

 

Who decides if a student is covered by MEA? The Director of University Judiciaries will decide whether or not

a student is covered by MEA in lieu of facing formal university disciplinary action.

 

Medical Emergency Assistance

What are the stipulations? The Director of University Judiciaries will allow MEA to cover a

student when the student:

has received emergency medical treatment as a result of an episode of alcohol or other drug abuse, and

has not previously been covered by MEA or,

has called to assist a fellow student in need of medical attention.

Medical Emergency Assistance

How many times can MEA be used?

Once. If a student has a second high-risk situation they will face judicial charges.

Students calling for help or assisting in a high-risk situation, even if they are in violation of an alcohol or drug policy, may use MEA multiple times. MEA will not protect against other violations that have been documented.

 

Medical Emergency Assistance

If MEA is granted will the student have any responsibility?  YES, In order to successfully complete MEA, students must:

Comply with any and all recommendations for educational interventions;

Complete an appropriate alcohol or other drug intervention program through Counseling and Psychological Services;

Pay a $100 fee to cover the cost of the appropriate alcohol or other drug intervention program.

  What happens if the student fails to complete the intervention?

Students who fail to successfully complete MEA will face university judicial charges for the incident that prompted their admission to program. 

MEA Promotions

MEA Promotions Completed

RA’s received training on MEA. MEA Training to POWER & GAMMA. MEA Buzz Poster to all Residence Halls and

Greek Chapter Houses. MEA information on the Wellness Wagon

outside of Health Promotion.

MEA Promotions September/October

Call 4 MEA refrigerator magnets to residence halls and off-campus houses.

Posters distributed in classroom buildings. Call 4 MEA commercials to run on

CATVISION, Baker Theater and Baker Center Monitors.

Distribution of materials at neighborhood picnics, during After Hours and POWER programs.

MEA Promotions November

Surveys will be sent via Student Voice to evaluate the student awareness of MEA program, reduction of barriers to calling in a medical emergency and utilization of the MEA pilot program.

To date over 800 surveys completed. http://www.ohio.edu/alcohol/ Terry Koons, koons@ohio.edu