Alcohol and Other Drugs Point System Policy

The Alcohol and Drug Points System Policy provides more clarity of how the University will respond to alcohol and drug violations. Once a determination has been made that a student violated the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy (through an appropriate disciplinary process as described under Student Conduct Program or Residence Hall Policies in the Student Handbook), the corresponding number of points and other required sanctions will be assigned. Students with questions about the points assigned to them should consult with the office that assigned the points (Office of Student Conduct in Ely 103 or the Office of Residence Life and Housing in Ely 132). Students with general questions about the Alcohol and Other Drugs Points System Policy should contact the Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs Services (ADS) in Ely 103. Please consult with the online Student Handbook at http://www.gallaudet.edu/student-affairs/student-handbook.html for the most current policy. The chart below is a general representation and is not all-inclusive. The Office of Student Conduct (OSC), Office of Residence Life and Housing, and/or the Health and Wellness Programs (HWP) have the right to make determinations as to the point value and sanction of any violation of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policies. 

                                                      *repeated violation(s)                                                                                 *repeated violation(s)

Accumulation of 6 or more points: The most likely sanctions for students who have accumulated six or more points will include, in addition to the sanctions listed above,  mandatory alcohol/drug assessment; disciplinary probation (exclusion from participation in privileged and/or extracurricular activities; residence hall space reassignment for a designated length of time as determined by OSC, with residence hall access restrictions; prohibition from living off-campus (current on-campus residents); prohibition from hosting social events involving alcohol in your place of residence (current off-campus residents); and University suspension with or without conditions for readmission.

Fines: Fines are penalty assessments issued for the violation(s).  In most instances repeated violations will result in the doubling of the fine.  Fines are not eliminated for multiple violations in one incident.

Parental Notification Regarding Alcohol and Other Drug Violations: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford exceptions permitting colleges and universities to disclose certain information to the parents or guardians of students. Gallaudet's position on parental notification regarding alcohol and other drug violations is intended to develop a partnership with parents/guardians as a way of addressing student high-risk behaviors in order to enhance campus safety, student health and academic success, and to provide notification in instances involving the health and safety of students and our campus community. Exceptions that may preclude parental notification involve certain situations related to a student's personal relationship with or the current status of a parent/guardian, or violations that are considered less serious (e.g. empty alcoholic bottles or beverages used for decorative purposes in a "dry" residence hall room). Student Affairs administrators reserve the right to exercise professional judgment and discretion in such parental notification decisions.

Gallaudet will notify parents or guardians of students under the age of 21, regardless of dependency, in writing when their student is found responsible for a Student Code of Conduct violation involving the use, possession, manufacturing, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs and/or drug paraphernalia.

Gallaudet will also notify parents or guardians of students under the age of 21, regardless of dependency, in writing when their student is found responsible for a Student Code of Conduct violation involving the use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of alcoholic beverages.

Gallaudet will also notify parents or guardians, regardless of age, when a student is experiencing a medical or psychological emergency. The Office of Residence Life and Housing or the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs and Academic Support will make such notification by calling or in writing.

Coach and Academic Advisor Notification: Gallaudet informs coaches and/or academic advisors of alcohol and other drug violations in order to enhance student health and academic success. Student Affairs administrators reserve the right to exercise professional judgment and discretion in such notifications, including notifications made prior to the determination of whether the student is responsible for the violation.

Educational Programs and Alcohol/Drug Assessment: It is important that educational programs and alcohol/drug assessments be completed immediately following the assignment of sanctions. Letters from the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) and/or Health and Wellness Programs (HWP) will note the type of educational/assessment program the student is assigned and the date that it should be completed. In the case where a student is appealing an alcohol and/or drug violation and is waiting for the outcome of the appeal, the student IS STILL REQUIRED to complete the sanctions assigned unless instructed otherwise by the person reviewing his/her appeal.

• Online alcohol and/or drug course: This is a one to one and a half hour-long online course focusing on alcohol/drugs, with a test at the end of the course. All participants must pass the test with a score of 70 or better.
• Alcohol and Drug Class: This class gives participants the opportunity to examine attitudes and perceptions, how these influence behavior, strategies to reduce risk, and healthy alternatives to alcohol and/or drug use. It also focuses on the mental, physical, and legal effects of alcohol and drug use on individuals and the community. Several departments on- and off-campus collaborate to provide multiple perspectives. All participants are expected to be fully attentive, pass the test with a score of 70 or better, and complete a reflection paper.
• Alcohol/Drug Assessment: Students will meet individually with a Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff member for an alcohol and/or drug assessment; the assessment will also help determine whether the student will benefit from ongoing therapy sessions. 

Expectations for Participation:

• Online alcohol and/or drug course: Students will receive the website URL, the session password, and a deadline for completion of the online course through a letter from Health and Wellness Programs (HWP). It is expected that the students complete the online course before the deadline given in the letter. If a student does not complete the online course by the deadline given, he/she will forfeit his/her 'point forgiveness' for the following semester and will be charged by the University for non-compliance with University decision.
  
  
• Alcohol and Drug Class: All students are expected to attend the session they are assigned to regardless of any prior commitments or extracurricular activities (i.e. athletic competitions, intramural activities, student organization meetings and activities, and student body government meetings and activities). If a student has extenuating circumstance that would affect his/her attendance, he/she must contact the Prevention Education Coordinator at least 24 hours in advance prior to the date of the session or class. The Prevention Education Coordinator will review the request and if approved, will reassign the student to the next session. Students are expected to be attentive and respectful during class. Distractions, including the use of cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices, are not permitted. Any facilitator who feels participants are not complying with these expectations can ask the student to leave. It will be the student's responsibility to complete the course at a later date. If a student does not attend the scheduled session or classes or comply with the expectations then he/she will forfeit his/her 'point forgiveness' for the following semester and will be charged by the University for non-compliance with University decision.
  
  
• Alcohol/Drug Assessment: If an alcohol/drug assessment is required, students will receive a letter from the Health and Wellness Programs (HWP); upon receiving the letter, students are expected to make an appointment with the Prevention Education Coordinator or his/her designee to meet to discuss the expectations of the alcohol/drug assessment. The letter will also have a deadline for completion of the alcohol/drug assessment. All alcohol/drug assessments are done at CAPS and there may be an additional fee incurred every time the student misses their appointment for their alcohol/drug assessment. If a student does not complete the alcohol/drug assessment by the deadline given, he/she will forfeit his/her 'point forgiveness' for the following semester and will be charged by the University for non-compliance with University decision.

BAC Testing: BAC testing is conducted by designated University staff addressing the situation. DPS officers, Resident Advisors, or other unauthorized individuals will not administer BAC testing. Students who wish to be voluntarily tested should communicate their desire for testing to University staff at the scene of the incident.

Health and Safety Emergency Consideration: Gallaudet University's primary concern is the health and safety if its students and offers health and safety emergency consideration for students in potential life-threatening emergencies as a result of alcohol and/or other drug(s) consumption, in order to encourage students to seek help for themselves without being too overly concerned about possible sanctions imposed. Health and safety emergency consideration will be considered for students who seek medical attention for themselves by contacting a University staff or friend. This is a one-time opportunity, and health and safety emergency consideration does not apply to students found by DPS, other University staff or students, or MPD.

Good Samaritan: To qualify under the Good Samaritan provision of the Alcohol and Drug Point System, the student seeking assistance for the student needing medical attention must:

• be the first person to contact DPS or Residence Life staff to report that a person needs medical assistance due to alcohol consumption/drug use,
• the calling student must provide his/her own name when they contact DPS or Residence Life,
• the calling student must remain with the person needing medical assistance until DPS and the Residence Life on-call team member arrives and the need for their presence has ended, and
• the calling student must not have purchased, supplied, or otherwise made alcohol and/or other drugs available to the student needing medical attention.

Multiple Violations in One Incident: The student will be assigned the point value of the most serious violation from items #A - #R. However, the student may be given additional points and/or sanctions (items #AA through #EE) if certain policy violations were committed when violations of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy occurred. However, fines are not reduced or eliminated for multiple violations in one incident.

Other Potential Sanctions: In addition to the sanctions listed above, Residence Life staff, the Coordinator (or Director) of Student Conduct, and/or the Administrative/Student Conduct Board may also assign other sanctions, depending on the specific circumstances of the situation. These sanctions include, but are not limited to, reflective essays, educational activities, one-on-one sessions with the Health and Wellness Programs, anger management assessment, community service hours, restriction/loss of parking privileges, residence hall reassignment, residence hall reassignment to dry floors/buildings, residence hall access restrictions, loss of housing priority points, counseling assessment, alcohol/drug educational programs, and restitution.

Point Forgiveness:

• For each semester that a student is not involved in any violations of University policy, ONE point will be removed from their record.
• To qualify for the removal of any points from their record, as described above, students must meet the scheduling expectations for educational programming and alcohol/drug assessment at the time of the initial violation (see the Educational Programs and Alcohol/Drug Assessment section above for more details.)
• No more than two points can be forgiven for a student in one academic year (fall and spring semesters); no more than one point can be forgiven for a student per semester (fall and spring semesters only).
• Points cannot be forgiven for the previous semester if the student is being investigated for (or has been charged with) a violation (committed in the previous semester) until the violation has been fully adjudicated.

Point Balance Inquiries: Inquiries regarding point balances should be addressed to the Prevention Education Coordinator via e-mail or in person at Ely Center #103. 

Fast Track Point Reduction: For students who have accumulated nine or more points in a short period of time (defined as within a semester or a consecutive four-month period), the student can appeal for a fast track reduction in points after a year has elapsed since the last violation. The appeal should be addressed to the Associate Dean of Student Center Programs and Services. The Associate Dean of Student Center Programs and Services or his/her designee will meet with a committee consisted of himself/herself, the Director of Student Conduct, the Coordinator of Student Conduct, the Prevention Education Coordinator, the Director of Residence Life and Housing, the Director of Health and Wellness Programs, and other University representatives.  The committee will review the appeal and determine whether the student is eligible to apply for a fast track reduction in points and/or to award a point reduction. The decision to award a point reduction is partly determined by whether the student satisfies certain behavioral expectations, including but not limited to: alcohol and/or drug counseling, reflection paper, and no violations of University policy for a substantial amount of time.

University Suspension: A key component of Gallaudet University's mission is to provide a safe environment where students are able to pursue their academic and social goals. The University may suspend the student if the student demonstrates that he/she is repeatedly unable to make sound and/or safe decisions about alcohol and drug use, or the student engages in drinking or drug use that threatens the life, health, and safety of one's self or others.

Upon readmission to the University after the suspension, the student can appeal for a point reduction to the Associate Dean of Student Center Programs and Services or his/her designee.  The same committee that handles fast track point reductions will review the appeal and make a determination of the point reduction. Under no circumstances will the point balance be reduced to a total of less than six points.

Note: Bucknell University and Gettysburg College point system policies served as a framework in the development of this policy.

EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 21, 2018