The most significant
substance abuse problem on American college campuses is binge
drinking. Students often call it a “rite of passage.”
The Center has created the College Rite of
Passage Experience® Initiative to assist colleges and
universities in creating an enhancement to their process of initiation
for freshmen students.
It begins by acknowledging students’ natural impulses to
create rite of passage experiences to test and affirm their transition
from teenagers to adults. It then engages the entire college community
in guiding those impulses towards safe, productive leisure-time
activities, while supporting academic success.
Key components of the College ROPE® Initiative
include:
- Reframing the Problem: Acknowledging
that college is a place of initiation, where young people come
of age and are mentored in their growth and development as adults.
- Development & Training of a Leadership
Team: Bringing together the diverse citizenry of a college
community – students, staff, faculty and administration
– to create and support a team of community elders who take
responsibility for creating and sustaining the College ROPE®
Initiative, and for mentoring freshman.
- Creating a Positive Context for Declaring
Independence: Providing a structure that guides freshmen
in investigating and connecting with health promoting recreational
activities, while developing their abilities to make responsible
decisions.
- Engaging Parents: Educating parents
on how to support their sons’ and daughters’ adjustment
to and success in college.
- Creating Learning Communities:
Developing a support structure to sustain the commitment to and
skills necessary for academic success for all students.
- Giving Students Responsibility for Mentoring
the Next Class: Creating opportunities for freshmen to
give back to the college community in subsequent years by becoming
College ROPE® Elders and mentors.
For more information about the College ROPE® Initiative, please
contact TheCenter@rop.org.
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