ºÚÁÏÉçÇø

Updated March 2022

In 2014, President Hodge commissioned the Alcohol Task Force to examine issues related to high risk alcohol abuse. In the final report, the creation of a permanent Alcohol Coordinating Committee (ACC) was recommended to ensure ongoing assessment and progress to reduce high risk alcohol use.

Due to the steadily increasing prevalence of poly-substance use/abuse on college campuses, including ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, the focus and charge of the ACC will be broadened to include other substances in addition to alcohol. In concert with this newly broadened focus, the ACC will now be called the Miami Oxford Substance Abuse and Information Committee, MOSAIC.

MOSAIC will provide regular updates to the Vice President of Student Life as well as submit an annual report to the Board of Trustees. The work of MOSAIC will be guided by a philosophical approach to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø substance use, rooted in the values of ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, and in strong partnership with partners within the City of Oxford, Ohio. 

Guiding Statement

Our philosophical statement reflects ºÚÁÏÉçÇø’s shared values:

ºÚÁÏÉçÇø is a scholarly community whose members believe that a liberal education is grounded in qualities of character as well as of intellect. We respect the dignity of other persons, the rights and property of others, and the right of others to express disparate beliefs. We believe in honesty, integrity, and the importance of moral conduct. We defend the freedom of inquiry that is the heart of learning and combine that freedom with the exercise of judgment and the acceptance of personal responsibility.

The ºÚÁÏÉçÇø community defends the freedom of inquiry that is the heart of learning and values the exercise of judgment and the acceptance of personal responsibility.

Whereas we recognize that alcohol abuse often leads to negative consequences for individuals and communities, we also acknowledge that the moderate and responsible consumption of alcohol can be a valid lifestyle choice for some members of our community.

We are all life-long learners. In particular, ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs are in a period of experimentation and exploration, which is essential, natural, often productive, and sometimes risky. 

Given that reality, there is a need for education on the safe and smart use of alcohol. We expect our community members to positively intervene in circumstances where alcohol and other drugs might interfere with the true goals of the Miami community. We reflect and define our community norms. We must all work together to be sure those norms and values are clearly articulated, widely communicated, and consistently applied. 

MOSAIC: Amended Charge

• Inform the selection of specific evidenced based strategies by offices and departments for addressing substance use in ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs.
• Receive, share, analyze, and respond to local data related to alcohol and other drug use to assess and improve strategies and/or develop new strategic approaches.
• Communicate the efforts to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø and Oxford stakeholders. This would include a summary of MOSAIC developments annually on the MOSAIC website.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with key stakeholders, including relevant commissions of Oxford City Council, the Coalition for a Healthy Community, Oxford, Ohio, and other Town-Gown efforts and initiatives.
• Serve as an advisory board regarding university and community programming and policy matters related to alcohol and other drug use.

Measuring Success

• MOSAIC will have a current familiarity of the high-risk behaviors of ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, its influence on campus culture, and community impacts.
• MOSAIC will have an expert understanding of best practices, current research, and emerging trends for addressing alcohol and poly substance use.
• ºÚÁÏÉçÇøics will be informed by best practices, local data, and broad community input (i.e., ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, faculty, staff, Oxford resources and residents).