Ithaca College expects all incoming undergraduate students to complete Alcohol Edu, an online education course, prior to the start of their first semester. Alcohol Edu can be completed on a computer, iPad, or tablet with access to the internet and audio capabilities. The course is assigned during the summer for incoming fall students, and winter for incoming spring semester students.
You can access the Alcohol Edu module through the link on your New Student Checklist (or here), using your IC account login to begin.
Consider taking Alcohol Edu in multiple sittings, rather than all at once. When you log back in, you can continue where you left off. The course will take you a total of about 90 minutes to complete.
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions:
Q. What is the purpose of Alcohol Edu?
A. Whether or not you drink alcohol, Alcohol Edu empowers students to make well-informed decisions and provides some simple strategies to help keep you and your friends safe. This online course includes information on college alcohol use statistics, alcohol’s effects on learning and memory, how to recognize and respond to an alcohol-related emergency, and how to find alcohol and other drug-related services on campus.
Q. How do students access the Alcohol Edu course?
A. Watch your IC email for a message with a link to the course, or go to this link and log in there. The email contains a link to the course login page. Then you'll use your Ithaca College Netpass (user name and password) to log in and begin the course.
Q. Does the Alcohol Edu course collect personal information about my alcohol use?
A. The course includes confidential surveys to help personalize your experience and to measure alcohol-related attitudes and behaviors in our student population. ALL SURVEY RESPONSES ARE CONFIDENTIAL. IC will only receive information about the student body as a whole and will never see an individual student's answers.
Q. What if I have technical problems with completing the course on my computer?
A. If you are accessing training from a desktop or laptop computer:
· Update and restart your browser. If you have any pending updates, they may need to be completed to move forward with training.
· Clear your browser’s cookies and cache, which is typically located under your browser’s history settings.
· It is possible that device-specific browser extensions and/or pop-up blockers may be interfering with your training. Try accessing the training from another browser to rule out this possibility.
A. If you are accessing training from a mobile device:
· The Vector system is compatible with many mobile devices; however, some users may have personal configurations that prevent certain courses from loading. Additionally, some custom and policy courses are best displayed on a computer. If you are experiencing difficulty loading our training on a personal device, try accessing the courses through a laptop or desktop computer.
If these troubleshooting tips do not correct the issue, please have your users submit a case with Vector Customer Care team using this link, sharing the following details:
· Which browser and version are you experiencing this on?
· Screenshot and description of where the user is stuck or having difficulty.
· Full course title and section of issue.
· Device being used
To access the Vector Support Center, simply click on "Help" once you're in the course, or go directly to this link: https://support.vectorsolutions.com/s/.
Q. I am a transfer student. Do I need to complete Alcohol Edu?
A. Yes, all incoming undergraduate students need to complete Alcohol Edu. It is important to us that you understand community expectations and learn about campus policies and resources.
Q. I am a parent of an incoming student. Do I have to complete Alcohol Edu?
A. No. There are special resources for parents listed on the Center for Health Promotion web page, here: For Parents, but there is no required course for parents.
Q. What about students who do not have easy access to computers at home or in their community?
A. We ask that you consider all the possibilities for accessing a computer. A friend or family member may be willing to let you use their computer for this purpose. The course can be completed on a computer, iPad, or tablet with access to the internet and audio capabilities.
Q. Why is Ithaca College requiring an alcohol course? Is there a drinking problem here?
A. Ithaca College is pretty typical of most college campuses when it comes to alcohol use. Most people drink moderately or do not drink at all. The course is designed to help students think through decisions related to alcohol use.
Q. What does the evaluation research say about the impact of online alcohol courses?
A. Research conducted on online alcohol courses has shown encouraging results for college retention rates, GPA’s, and decreased alcohol consumption and related harm among college students. Most IC students report that they learned useful information from the course and that they would recommend it to a friend.