Representatives from 21 colleges and universities across West Virginia will be attending the first-ever Governor’s Summit on Alcohol Use in Higher Education Monday, April 7, at West Virginia University’s Mountainlair student union in Morgantown.

Attendees will discuss all relevant issues, problems and solutions concerning alcohol and substance abuse on college campuses.

“Response to this conference has been fantastic,”said Gig Robinson, education and prevention supervisor with the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage and Control Administration (ABCA).”We have received registration forms from college administrators, faculty, students, law enforcement officers, health care professionals, counselors, government officials, even parents. It’s evident by the high interest that alcohol abuse on college and university campuses is of keen interest.”

Among the state’s college and university presidents scheduled to attend are David C. Hardesty Jr. of WVU ; Erik Bitterbaum, president of WVU at Parkersburg; Daniel Bradley, president of Fairmont State College; and Patricia Poteat, president of Bethany College.

“WVU is excited to be hosting this first-of-its-kind event in West Virginia,”Hardesty said.”We believe it will produce new initiatives that will go a long way in helping to solve this nationwide problem.”

Highlights of the summit include:

• a signing ceremony and a proclamation of commitment by higher education officials to alcohol and substance abuse prevention

• Bill DeJong, director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Center on Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, discussing the ramifications of a recently issued report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

• Adam Chafetz, president of Health Communication Inc., discussing the various aspects and composition of campus and community partnerships

• workshop sessions to share best practices and ideas among law enforcement officers, health educators and counselors, students, community members, school administrators, faculty and others.

Following the sessions, DeJong will summarize, critique and offer input regarding the workshop sessions’discussion product and will chart a plan of action for the state. ABCA Education and Prevention Supervisor Gig Robinson will subsequently outline resources available to help colleges and universities carry out the plan.

The summit is sponsored by the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration and the Governors Highway Safety Program in cooperation with the U.S, Department of Educations Higher Education Center on Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and WVU . Supporting organizations include The Network Addressing Collegiate Alcohol and Other Drug Issues, West Virginia Division of Health and Human Resources, West Virginia Prevention Resource Center and Health Communication Inc.

Continuing education units are available for participants.