The convenience of being an urban college campus comes with the responsibility of also being a good neighbor. That’s why UUP member Thomas Gebhardt of SUNY Albany always tries to look in from the outside when he considers the image of the campus in the surrounding neighborhoods — he needs to see the campus and its students the way area residents see them.
And, he wants to make sure that the “social norms” — the behaviors that
residents associate with and expect of SUNY Albany students — are responsible and positive.
“I think that’s one thing the university has really accepted,” said Gebhardt, a professional working out of the SUNY Albany Police Department as director of personal safety and off-campus affairs. “As far as I know,
we’re the only university in the United States that’s done anything about a social norms campaign directed at the long-term neighbors.”
The U.S. Department of Education has just awarded a $175,000 grant that recognizes the joint approach of two groups: the Committee on University and Community Relations — a collaborative effort under Gebhardt’s chairmanship — and the University Counseling Center. The grant will be used by the two groups to: reduce high-risk drinking among students; correct misperceptions about alcohol use among students; and communicate these messages to the campus, to students and to the community around the campus.
Among the techniques involved in the program: a public awareness campaign to set the record straight on the responsible behavior of the overwhelming majority of SUNY Albany students.
The grant is for two years and is already in place, Gebhardt said.
A broad-based effort
The Committee on University and Community Relations is made up of student leaders and professional staff at five Capital Region campuses — SUNY Albany; the College of Saint Rose; Albany Medical College; Albany College of Pharmacy; Siena College; and the Junior College of Albany/The Sage Colleges. Other members include city agencies, businesses and community groups in Albany.
The committee and the Counseling Center are using the results of a survey conducted by the Counseling Center to dispel some common misperceptions about SUNY Albany students. Toward that end, part of the grant money went to the production of a series of eye-catching posters that will be placed on campus and in off-campus businesses to address these misperceptions. One such poster reads, “Did you know 73 percent of UAlbany students drink alcohol once or twice a week, less often or not at all?”
The two groups did pre-campaign testing of attitudes in the community before beginning the public awareness campaign, and will do post-campaign testing in late March, Gebhardt said.
SUNY Albany UUP Chapter President Candace Merbler said Gebhardt’s work on this latest project is just one more accomplishment that typifies not only his commitment as a professional on campus, but also his commitment to community involvement as a union member.
“Tom Gebhardt is nationally known for his expertise, and has been invited to speak at over 50 conferences,” Merbler said. “We are very proud of Tom’s success, and thrilled to have him as part of our membership.”
— Darryl McGrath