A local campus is trying to find new ways to educate its students about alcohol. And, this time they're going online to do it. Students and faculty told us what they think about the new mandatory program.

In the past students didn't have this kind of interaction when it came to education about alcohol. Winona State University is making sure your kids are getting the help they need with an online course.

"We wanted to connect with every first year student and there is no better way to connect with every first year student, in terms of giving them all the information we wanted them to have, other than online," says Kelli McClintick with the university.

She says all 1,800 freshmen have to take the course and as of Thursday morning, 1,500 have completed the first part.

"College students come in with an idea of what college is all about. How many people drink, and how much they're drinking and they generally way over estimate all those amounts."

The course uses online video and audio along with short quizzes to teach students about the effects of different types of alcoholic beverages.

"Anybody who takes this course would really benefit,” says WSU freshman Lily Golbach. “You gain a lot of knowledge about it. It's just better to go in with knowledge."

Kyle Dimke is another WSU freshman; he thinks the program has taught him to help not only himself but others.

"They said 'if this is happening, you can do this'. I just hope I gain the knowledge to help somebody in need," he says.

McClintick says she hopes the course will help cut down on college drinking down the road.

"We can look back in a few years and say in 2008 our numbers were this and in 2010 our rates have come down slightly or a lot."

The school also offers a similar online course to students' parents.