Minnesota Institute of Public Health

Positive Response is a comprehensive assessment tool designed to proactively address the dangerous culture of drinking and substance abuse that occurs at colleges and universities across the country.

P.R. is an across-the-board, objective analysis intended to assess the policies, services, overall school climate, and environmental factors that contribute to the consumption of alcohol and other drugs in or around college campuses. The assessment reviews institutional policies and practices, discipline processes, availability and marketing of alcohol, prevention campaigns, and available services related to substance abuse. The P.R. team also conducts a best practices review to compare the university’s prevention efforts with recommendations from credible institutions such as the Higher Ed Center. P.R. is not a consumption and consequence survey, rather it aims to achieve an understanding of attitudes, norms, and perceptions of the culture of drinking from four primary sources, including students, faculty, local community members, and bar/restaurant managers. Data is collected through various methods including surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, and an environmental scan.