Governor provides funding for programs aimed at student recovery

Gov. Pat McCrory recently lauded UNC Charlotte’s Collegiate Recovery Community for efforts to address student recovery, underage drinking and substance abuse.

The University was named one of six UNC system campuses to participate in a pilot program with a goal to further deter substance abuse and underage drinking. UNC Charlotte will join ECU, UNC Chapel Hill, North Carolina A&T, UNC Wilmington and UNC Greensboro in the new program. Each campus will receive $125,000 to aid education, prevention and recovery efforts.

McCrory noted at a press conference that UNC Charlotte is a national leader in on-campus prevention and treatment, adding it was the first UNC institution to have a campus recovery center, and it provides scholarships to students receiving substance abuse treatment.

During the event, the governor also recognized Debbie Insley, director of the Center for Wellness Promotion, who spearheaded creating UNC Charlotte’s Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) in 2012. She was asked to sign the executive order regarding the new pilot program.

In fall 2013, Carol Rose, marketing specialist for the CRC, along with students involved in the CRC and Insley, attended a ceremony where Gov. McCrory designated Sept. 5 as “Collegiate Recovery Day” in North Carolina. They subsequently prepared a presentation at the governor’s invitation for a Collegiate Wellness Task Force.

“We shared as much as we could with the committee,” said Insley. “We have quite a lot we do in the CRC with outreach initiatives like Rockin’ for Recovery and our N.O.P.E (Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education) Vigil and our sober/safer tailgating event for football.”

In November, Dion Terry from the Governor’s Office visited campus to learn about prevention programs at the Center for Wellness Promotion and the CRC. According to Insley, Terry was “amazed” at the University’s efforts and expressed an appreciation for the type of care being offered to students in recovery. She wrote a personal check in support of the program.

Rose stated the funding from the governor would enhance UNC Charlotte’s CRC program. ““Each year we’ve grown and connected with more students, and now we’ll be able to increase our outreach and hopefully continue to make a difference.”

She estimated of the more than 26,000 students on campus, roughly 400 students are in recovery.

While UNC Charlotte was the first system institution with a Collegiate Recovery Community, UNC Wilmington and UNC Chapel Hill now have similar programs.

Photo: Gov. Pat McCrory holds a UNC Charlotte CRC T-shirt surrounded by representatives from UNC institutions that are part of the pilot program, including Carol Rose, CRC marketing specialist (left of the governor); Chelsea Schmidt, a UNC Charlotte CRC student (right of governor); Susan Stahley, substance abuse coordinator, Center for Wellness Promotion (next right); and Rep.Thom Tillis (behind the governor).