Recovery Community members gather to meet in Coborn Plaza Apartments.
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St. Cloud State University’s Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) has earned a top nod as the Region IV-East Innovative Program of the Year award from NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
The CRC serves as a site for recovery-focused social networking, advocacy, peer support and community service activities.
“This program demonstrates our University’s commitment to fostering innovative programs that support student success while providing access to an affordable education,” said Jennifer Sell Matzke, assistant dean of students.
The CRC ensures that students in recovery have a supportive campus environment that enables them to achieve academic success while working toward long-term sobriety. The program provides recovery coaching and linkages to a wide spectrum of resources tailored to each student’s needs.
It is estimated that as many as one in three college students meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol misuse and another six percent are alcohol dependent.
Jen Sell Matzke ’96, assistant dean of students, at a NASPA student affairs administrators’ regional conference.
Supportive housing is a key component of the program that utilizes a peer support model to significantly reduce the risk of relapse. The program also offers one-on-one clinical meetings, weekly recovery support groups, sober programs and outreach.
Since its inception in 2013, 93 percent of St. Cloud State recovery students have maintained abstinence. The average semester GPA for recovery students is 2.85, while in spring 2016 the average rose to 3.19.
In fall 2015, the program partnered with the rehabilitation and addiction counseling master’s program to provide additional support and resources to recovering students.
Students can be admitted into the CRC once they are accepted to either St. Cloud State or St. Cloud Technical and Community College.
This award is presented to a college or university within Region IV-East for an outstanding innovative program and its ideas, methods or programs that result in improved educational activities, services or management for a college or university community.
“We have a supportive administration that recognizes and responds to demonstrated needs in our community. As an alumnae and employee, it makes me so proud to have the opportunity to serve students at an institution that supports this work,” Sell Matske said.
