We conducted extensive groundwork before launching the Spit for Science project to develop support, raise awareness, and minimize misunderstanding that could surround a large-scale university-wide study with a genetic component. This included meeting with multiple stakeholders across the university, including administrators at multiple levels (the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans), the registrar's office, faculty, staff, and students. We worked with the public relations and media office, and they ran stories about the project both in university outlets and the local media. We developed a close working relationship with the VCU Institutional Review Board (IRB), due to the unique nature of a large-scale study at a major university with highly time-sensitive data collection. All Spit for Science protocols were approved by the IRB. We worked with the university Wellness Resource Center to develop informational materials about alcohol use on college campuses to mail to parents over the summer prior to matriculation alongside informational materials about the study. We developed informational materials about the study and a study-specific website (www.spit4science.vcu.edu). Included in these materials was information about why the study included a
