BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota Higher Education Consortium for Substance Abuse Prevention has received a grant in the amount of $7,602.09 from the Dakota Medical Foundation to support a forum on college substance abuse prevention for higher education senior administrators.

The consortium is a non-profit organization serving college students across the state. Programs include initiatives to impact public policy and strengthen community partnerships so that student safety and success is not jeopardized by the use of alcohol or other substances in campus communities. The forum will focus on what senior higher education administrators can do to create a campus environment that effectively addresses alcohol and drug misuse. Forum discussion topics include the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's report on college drinking; legal issues, such as risk assessment and reduction, liability and compliance with relevant federal mandates; senior administrators' perspectives on alcohol abuse and other drug issues; and a consortium update on college drinking.

Based in Fargo, N.D., the Dakota Medical Foundation focuses its efforts on improving access to medical and dental care. Since its inception in 1995, the foundation has invested nearly $27 million in more than 275 non-profit organizations to help measurably improve health and access to healthcare.

For more information about the foundation, go to www.dakmed.org. For more information about the consortium or the forum, go to www.ndhec.und.edu.