The Effects of Heavy Episodic Alcohol Use on Student Engagement, Academic Performance, and Time Use

Alcohol use literature has linked heavy episodic alcohol use and academic consequences, but has not examined the influence of such use on student engagement. This study uses survey data from over 40,000 students at 28 selective private colleges and universities to examine the connection between heavy episodic alcohol use and engagement. The strongest negative effects of heavy episodic drinking are on student–faculty interaction, with these effects most common at research universities and less common at coed colleges and women's colleges.