Time is closing in for freshmen who have yet to complete e-CHUG, a mandatory online alcohol assessment, by Sept. 28, according to an e-mail sent to first-year students.

E-CHUG, electronic-Check-Up to Go, is an alcohol intervention and personal feedback program developed by counselors and psychologists at San Diego State University, according to the e-CHUG Web site, www.e-chug.com.

The assessment takes about 10-15 minutes for the personalized feedback report to be completed and reviewed. The report includes information on topics including calorie intake, peak blood-alcohol count, amount and percent of income spent on alcohol, tolerance level and a personal family-risk score, according to the e-mail UA President Robert Shelton sent out to freshman students.

“”The goal is to inform people about the dangers of indiscriminant drinking and the fact that an overwhelming majority don’t drink irresponsibly,”” Shelton said. “”There are a lot of other ways to engage socially.””

There is a stiff penalty for freshmen who do not take the assessment.

Students who fail to complete the program and are subsequently referred for alcohol violations will be charged an additional $50 fine above standard diversion fees, Melissa Vito, vice president of student affairs, wrote to freshmen in another e-mail.

E-CHUG is designed to motivate individuals to assess their alcohol consumption using personalized information about their own drinking and risk factors, according to the Web site.

Some students, especially those who don’t drink, said they dislike that the assessment is mandatory.

“”I think we should have the option to take it,”” said Eddie Taylor, a veterinary science freshman. “”I think they assume a good majority drink and that’s why it’s mandatory.””

Students have differing opinions on their personal feedback results.

“”I thought a lot of people, like the whole university, drank. But a lot actually don’t,”” said Karla Gonzalez, a pre-physiology freshman.

“”I think the validity of the information is incorrect,”” said Steve Wallace, a pre-business freshman.ÿ””I do not drink more than 93 percent of people in this school.””

E-CHUG is currently in use at more than 300 universities and colleges across 42 states and in Canada and Australia, according to its Web site.

“”Many other colleges and universities have found it to be helpful to students and those working in residence halls,”” Shelton said.

He said the university wants to see every student complete the program.

“”Students coming in are the most vulnerable group,”” he said.