In addition to their first-semester’s class load, all incoming freshmen will be required to participate in OU’s alcohol education program, designed to promote smart decisions and inform students about the university’s alcohol policy.

The freshmen alcohol program involves three components: an online education program, a face-to-face education course and an additional new member education program for students joining sororities and fraternities. Students must complete the required programs in order to enroll for the following semester.

Freshmen and first-year transfer students will receive a letter at their home address and an e-mail explaining the policy and the class. For those living in the dorms, resident advisers will notify students on deadlines and program information.

Jennifer Crenshaw, freshmen alcohol programs coordinator, said the program is important for informing and educating students.

“OU is offering comprehensive alcohol education to our first-year students to encourage smart decisions, promote healthy lives and create a culture of care on our campus,” she said.

The online portion of the program is required for all incoming freshmen and transfer students under the age of 22. Students must complete the online requirement by Sept. 19. The online program can be found at http://alcohol.ou.edu.

The face-to-face presentations are scheduled in advance and must be completed within the first six weeks of the fall semester. Housing students are assigned a date and time by their dorm floors and should contact their resident adviser for their floors’ specific time.

Crenshaw said the face-to-face program began in 2005 and is heavily discussion-based.

“The program uses clickers, similar to a remote, to generate discussion based on real-life scenarios,” she said. “The programs are scheduled for 45 minutes and are facilitated by trained peer educators and project staff.”

Ashley Wiglesworth, art history sophomore, said last year’s class was both interesting and informative.

“We mostly discussed the consequences of having alcohol strikes against you,” she said. “We also played a game with little poker chips. They were all different colors and the colors represented what choice you’d make in different situations.”

The programs for housing students will be held in the Health and Exercise Science building next to the Huston Huffman Center. Commuter students will have to attend presentations in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Commuting freshmen and transfer students younger than 22 will receive a letter and e-mail explaining how to schedule their program times.

New member education will be required only for students joining a fraternity or sorority. Individual houses will provide students with information on the policy, and program dates and times will be announced during or following recruitment.