Empowered Choices

Empowered Choices covers three critical topics that students often say they wish they knew more about during their transition to a new school. Students arrive with different levels of knowledge and experience with alcohol, drugs, and sexual misconduct, so this course provides an overview of these topics with specific emphasis on health and safety, university services and policies, and local laws and resources. 

The course content covers educational components required by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (EDGAR Part 86) consistent with federal law.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the modules, students will be able to: 

  • Define “consent” as it applies to sexual activity. 
  • Describe safe and positive options for bystander intervention. 
  • Identify sexual misconduct awareness, prevention, and response programs provided by the university. 
  • Identify university drug and alcohol programs that are available to assist students. 
  • Understand ways to reduce the risk of harm when using alcohol or other controlled substances. 
  • Identify health risks associated with the use of alcohol and other controlled substances. 
  • Understand standards of conduct that prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students. 

Identify healthy and unhealthy traits in relationships. 

All incoming and transfer students must complete required educational compliance modules on alcohol, other drugs, and sexual misconduct. This curriculum is a necessary part of our obligation under federal law, and just one of the ways Emory promotes a healthy and safe campus community. 

Course Information 

Duration: 60-90 minutes  
Minimum Assessment Score: 85%   
Deadlines: Part 1 is due by August 21, 2026, and the Follow-up Assignment is due by October 12, 2026. 

Students who do not complete the course will have a registration hold placed on their account for Spring 2027.  

Confidentiality: All information is confidential, and individual student responses to any of the modules or surveys are not accessible by Emory University or any other party. Emory will only receive data about the entire student population to inform our work to better serve our students.

Accessibility: Closed captioning and interactive transcripts are available for this course. The courses are compatible with screen reading technology. 

Access 

How to Complete the Requirement: 
1.    Login to emory.canvas.edu using your EmoryID and password 
2.    Click the Empowered Choices on your Canvas Dashboard. 
3.    Complete the modules on Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Sexual Misconduct with a passing score of 85% on all three module quizzes and final quiz.

Troubleshooting 

If you have difficulty accessing the course or questions about the requirement, contact your Empowered Choices campus administrator at csw@emory.edu