University President Honored with National Award for Role in Innovative Alcohol Prevention...

University President Honored with National Award for Role in Innovative Alcohol Prevention Work

At height of debate on legal drinking age, Frostburg State
University President Dr. Jonathan C. Gibralter receives award for
de-emphasizing alcohol within his campus community
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Dr. Jonathan C. Gibralter, President of Frostburg State
University, was honored today with a national award recognizing his
success in promoting a vibrant intellectual and social campus climate
that de-emphasizes the role of alcohol. In the midst of a debate among
college presidents around the legal drinking age, Dr. Gibralter, along
with the 17 other presidents who were nominated for the award, stands
out as a shining example of the real work being done to address this
perennial, up-at-night issue for college campuses across the country.

The Presidential Leadership Award was developed by seven major
higher education organizations, including the American College
Personnel Association, American Council on Education, Association of
Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Gordie Foundation,
NASPA, Outside The Classroom, and United Educators. The goal: to
highlight and congratulate the college and university presidents who
have demonstrated keen vision and innovative leadership by developing
and implementing a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses the
specific educational needs of individuals but also seeks to bring
about change at the institutional, community, and public policy
levels. The award carries a $50,000 donation made to the institution
in the name of the recipient.

"We've been glad to see the visibility of high-risk drinking
raised through the recent conversation among college presidents," said
Brandon Busteed, Founder and CEO of Outside The Classroom and a
Representative of the Presidential Leadership Award Review Panel.
"We're even more pleased to see practical examples of presidents who
have begun to make progress on their campuses and in their
communities. On behalf of all of the participating organizations, I
want to congratulate Dr. Gibralter for his vision and implementation
of programs and policies that have helped create a campus community
less defined by alcohol."

While the debate continues about the most appropriate drinking
age, Dr. Gibralter has demonstrated active leadership on the issue of
high-risk drinking since his presidency began in 2006. By
re-conceptualizing the way in which his campus views the issue of
alcohol abuse, he has facilitated effective partnerships with
students, staff, faculty, city residents, and city officials. Dr.
Gibralter provided support for student-led initiatives and was
personally involved in bringing together on- and off-campus law
enforcement agencies that led to a dramatic improvement in the sharing
of information. As a result, the alcohol issue is no longer viewed as
a constant source of contention between the university and the city of
Frostburg. Instead, community leaders now actively partner with
University officials to change the culture of alcohol abuse at both
the campus and community levels.

President Gibraltar created a campus-wide Alcohol Task Force that
meets twice each semester to address four key issues: Campus and
Community, Policy and Procedures, Alternative Programming, and Today's
Student. The Task Force makes recommendations in each of these four
areas, which are then prioritized and implemented as resources are
identified. As a result of the dialogue that has been facilitated by
these meetings, FSU now sends representatives to meet with city groups
such as the University Neighbors Association and the Frostburg
Business Professionals Association. The President has personally met
with these groups and has also reached out on multiple occasions to
have discussions with alcohol distributers in the area.

By clearly communicating to students that he is genuinely
concerned about their safety, by engaging student leaders in the
conversations about alcohol, and by dedicating both human and fiscal
resources to develop programs that will improve campus life, President
Gibraltar is effectively changing the culture of alcohol at Frostburg
State University.

The debate over the past two weeks stems from the issue that is
the largest distraction to the educational mission of our nation's
colleges and universities: alcohol. What is clear is that the problem
is real. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(NIAAA) cites more than 1,700 alcohol-related deaths among college
students each year, with another 500,000 injuries, 70,000 sexual
assaults, and 159,000 first-year student dropouts due to alcohol and
other drugs every year. This award seeks to recognize those presidents
who have made a difference in the culture of alcohol and high-risk
drinking on their campuses.

About The Presidential Leadership Award

The Presidential Leadership Award recognizes one president for his
or her success in promoting a vibrant intellectual and social climate
that de-emphasizes the role of alcohol. The recipient of this award
exemplifies the highest standards of professional, social, and
cultural leadership. This president gives freely of time and energy to
create an environment where learning and campus life are not
undermined by the misuse of alcohol. Through demonstrated keen vision
and innovative leadership, the recipient of this award has implemented
a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses the specific
educational needs of individuals but also seeks to bring about change
at the institutional, community, and public policy levels. The award
was developed by the American College Personnel Association, American
Council on Education, Association of Governing Boards of Universities
and Colleges, Gordie Foundation, NASPA, Outside The Classroom, and
United Educators. Financial support is provided by the Gordie
Foundation and Outside The Classroom.

Presidential Leadership Award
Erika Tower, 877-338-5001, ext. 137

Copyright Business Wire 2008