My Student Body course bolsters health initiatives

BY RASHMIKA NEDUNGADI
rasnedun@indiana.edu

AlcoholEdu was replaced this summer with a new program called My Student Body, which aims to expand the wellness initiatives on campus.
My Student Body was opened to freshmen and transfer students on July 1, and was required to be complete by Aug. 18. The core components of the program include learning modules on alcohol, drug abuse and sexual assault, a comprehensive quiz and a follow-up on student knowledge and progress in October.
“My student body provides a more holistic approach to student health,” said Jackie Daniels, director of the Office of Alternative Screening and Intervention Services. “It also appeared to me that it was more relevant in terms of videos and resources. We wanted to capture the broader student experience.”
A major difference between My Student Body and AlcoholEdu is the sexual assault component. The program provides information specifically for college students, such as a definition of consent and information about bystander intervention. Daniels said the program fits with IU’s new Culture of Care initiative.
“We want students to intervene in situations that might be risky for someone else’s health or their own,” Daniels said.
The program is being used at several universities nationwide, including Louisiana State University, University of San Diego and Tulane University. While My Student Body is a national program, it was chosen by OASIS because of its customizable options to fit the needs of IU students.
As part of My Student Body, OASIS was able to create the “MyPlan” landing page that offers students a number of resources like the Culture of Care initiative, contact information for the IU Health Center and the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct.
Daniels said the page is geared to give freshmen a plan for their entire first year at
college.
“Part of that plan is learning about resources on campus,” Daniels said.
Results from the My Student Body are used by OASIS throughout the year to inform their prevention programming. Information on the course results will be available in October after students take the follow-up survey.
From preliminary data, Daniels said she has already noted some surprising trends.
“The data breaks down the stereotype that IU is a party school — that everyone drinks,” said Daniels. “It’s important to have that information to see the change from August to October and use that information to target areas and specific behaviors.”
Currently, the student response to My Student Body is overwhelmingly positive, Daniels said.
Of 5,000 students who took the course, 92 percent say they are more aware of campus alcohol policies, 87 percent feel like they know how to take more precautions to maintain personal safety and 81 percent believe that overall, the course helped them make healthy adjustments to college.
“I think it is necessary for students to take it,” said Erika Hudson, a freshman student who recently finished the course. “The issues are important because anything like such can occur on a college campus.”
Moving forward, Daniels said she hopes My Student Body will have a positive effect on students’ decision-making on campus.
“My biggest hope is that it plants a seed at the beginning — that IU cares about their health and well-being,” Daniels said. “I would like to think they see their academic life and personal development as very aligned with their health.”

Follow reporter
Rashmika Nedungadi on
Twitter @rashmika_n.