IU Southeast dean of student life awarded for efforts to reduce high-risk drinking among students

11th November 2015
Seuth Chaleunphonh, dean of student life, receives the Dean Richard McKaig 2015 Award for Exemplary Leadership in Addressing High Risk Drinking from Lisa Hutcheson, director of the Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking.

Seuth Chaleunphonh, dean of student life, receives the Dean Richard McKaig 2015 Award for Exemplary Leadership in Addressing High Risk Drinking from Lisa Hutcheson, director of the Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking.

By Kristin Kennedy

NEW ALBANY, Ind. – Seuth Chaleunphonh, IU Southeast dean of student life, recently received an award for his efforts to reduce high-risk drinking among students.

Chaleunphonh received the Dean Richard McKaig 2015 Award for Exemplary Leadership in Addressing High Risk Drinking from the Indiana Collegiate Action Network (ICAN). He was honored at the ICAN Annual Conference on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel in Carmel.

Amanda Stonecipher, assistant vice chancellor for retention and student services, nominated Chaleunphonh for the award. In the nomination form, Stonecipher said Chaleunphonh has coordinated and aligned campus efforts to address high-risk drinking behaviors, ensuring the university complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act.

Stonecipher said Chaleunphonh helped develop an alcohol education program for students who violate university policy. He also encourages the use of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory for students of concern, and he has helped develop educational outreach programs with Personal Counseling Services at IU Southeast.

In 2012, Chaleunphonh received a 3-year community grant from Our Place Drug and Alcohol Education Services in New Albany for the MyStudentBody.com online prevention program. Since this grant, the Indiana University system has established a contract with the program, and all students are required to complete the program as part of their first-year experience.

“As a regional campus, our professional staff would not be able to accomplish our prevention work without the support of local partners like Our Place, Floyd Memorial Hospital, and other local health services,” Chaleunphonh said. “It has been a pleasure to work with our community leaders and alumni.”​

Chaleunphonh said he helps coordinate IU Southeast’s participation in the Indiana College Substance Use Survey, developed by ICAN and the Indiana Prevention Resource Center. The survey allows IU Southeast to benchmark data with other college campuses in Indiana, and it helps provide Indiana with information about substance use and trends among college students.

Besides his work at IU Southeast, Chaleunphonh has been a member of the ICAN Administrative Leadership Group (ALG) since 2011. According to Chaleunphonh, ALG members provide support and leadership for existing statewide and regional initiatives, generate support for substance abuse prevention efforts among higher education officials, and serve as advisers to college and university presidents interested in preventing substance abuse.

ICAN’s mission is to lead Indiana in reducing student alcohol misuse, tobacco use, and violence through environmental change. According to ICAN’s website, ICAN is Indiana’s component of The Network, a national organization of over 1,500 campus leaders who address issues related to alcohol, other drugs, and violence. The Network encourages and enhances related local, state and regional initiatives.

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