Alcohol and Other Drugs Point System Policy

The Alcohol and Other Drugs Point System Policy replaces the "3 strikes" policy of the previous academic years, and 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/or drug policies (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 Coordinator of Student Conduct in Ely 103. The Point System Policy is a pilot program during the 2009-2010 academic year, and revisions may be made during the academic year as needed. Please consult with the online Student Handbook at http://sa.gallaudet.edu for the most current policy.

Item#	Point Value	Violation	Fine/ Referral	Most Likely Sanctions
A	0	Underage student present in a location where the alcohol policy is being violated who has a BAC of .00 following a voluntary test. Students may choose to take a voluntary breathalyzer test or an alcohol test strip as a way to verify that no alcohol was consumed. Otherwise, all available information from observation(s) and investigation(s) by University official(s) will determine whether a violation occurred.
B	0	Good Samaritan: Underage student who has consumed alcohol who seeks assistance for another in need of emergency care.
C	0/1	The use of alcoholic beverage cans/bottles/containers as decoration in dry residence halls or a room occupied entirely by underage students.	$50.00 (repeated violations)	First violation will result in a warning issued. Repeated violations will result in a penalty fee and one point assessed.
D	1	Health and Safety Emergency Consideration: a student who engages in drinking practices or activities that seriously threatens one's health and life (e.g. transported to the hospital for alcohol consumption or drug use), who seeks help for self or contacts a University staff or friend(s) to seek help for him/her. One time opportunity.		Educational program (online alcohol and/or drug course or module) and/or alcohol/drug assessment).
E	1	Consumption/possession of alcohol by an underage guest of a student.	$50.00	Repeated violation may lead to overnight guest privileges being revoked for a specific period of time.
F	1	Consumption/possession of alcohol by a student who is 21+ in any areas designated as alcohol-free (dry floor and/or dry residence hall).	$50.00 (repeated violations)	Warning for first offense; $50.00 fine for second offense. Referral to OSC for 3 or more violations.
G	1	Possession of an open container of alcohol, regardless of age, in any public location or in any location not designated for alcohol consumption.		For underage students - also a violation of H
H	2	Underage consumption/possession of alcohol.	$50.00	Educational program (online alcohol course or module) and/or alcohol/drug assessment.
I	2	For students 21+ - public drunkenness (defined as seriously impaired behavior that does not require hospitalization) and/or engaging in alcohol-related disruptive behavior.		Educational program (online alcohol course or module), anger management assessment and/or online module, and/or alcohol/drug assessment.
J	3	For students 21+ - providing alcohol to an underage person (for hosting a party with underage students present, please see K).	$50.00
K	3	Hosting (in your place of residence) a social event with alcohol which involves disruptive behavior, underage drinking, or other violations of University policy.	$100.00	Educational program (online alcohol course or module) and/or alcohol assessment. Case by case review may include other sanctions such as a prohibition from hosting social events involving alcohol at your place of residence for a specified period of time.
L	4	Use or possession of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia.	$150.00, or referral to OSC	Educational program (online drug course or module) and/or alcohol/drug assessment.
M	5	Use or possession of illegal drugs other than marijuana and/or abuse of prescription drugs.	$150.00, or referral to OSC	1. Coach/Academic Advisor Notification 2. Educational program (online drug course or module) and/or alcohol/drug assessment.
N	5	Possession of a large common source of alcohol (e.g. keg or barrel, punch with alcohol, etc), regardless of age on University premises or University managed properties.	$150.00, or referral to OSC	1. Coach/Academic Advisor Notification 2. Educational program (online alcohol course or module) and/or alcohol/drug assessment. 3. Case by case review which may include other sanctions.
O	6	Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal drugs on University premises or University managed properties.	Referral to OSC	1. Possible loss of on-campus driving privileges. 2. Coach/Academic Advisor Notification 3. Educational program (online alcohol course or module) and/or alcohol/drug assessment.
P		Accumulation of 6 points	Referral to OSC	1. Coach/Academic Advisor Notification 2. Educational program related to alcohol/drugs may include required classes, research papers, and/or other related sanctions 3. Mandatory alcohol/drug assessment 4. Disciplinary Probation (exclusion from participation in privileged and/or extracurricular activities)
Q		Accumulation of 7-8 points	Referral to OSC	1. Coach/Academic Advisor Notification 2. Educational program related to alcohol/drugs may include required classes, research papers, and/or other related sanctions 3. Mandatory alcohol/drug assessment 4. Residence hall space reassignment for the remainder of the semester with residence hall access restrictions 5. Prohibition from living off-campus (current on-campus residents). 6. Prohibition of hosting social events involving alcohol in your place of residence (current off-campus residents). 7. Disciplinary probation (exclusion from participation in privileged and/or extracurricular activities).
R		Accumulation of 9 or more points	Referral to OSC	1. Coach/Academic Advisor Notification 2. University suspension with conditions for readmission 3. Educational program related to alcohol/drugs may include required classes, research papers, and/or other related sanctions 4. Residence hall space reassignment for the remainder of the semester with residence hall access restrictions 5. Prohibition from living off-campus (current on-campus residents). 6. Prohibition of hosting social events involving alcohol in your place of residence (current off-campus residents). 7. Disciplinary probation (exclusion from participation in privileged and/or extracurricular activities).
S	10	Selling/distributing illegal drugs including, but not limited to, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, stimulants, sedatives, ecstasy, opiates, inhalants, and/or prescription drugs.	Referral to OSC	University suspension

Item#	Additional Points	Violation	Required Sanctions
AA	0	Repeated alcohol-related violation within the same semester.	Additional $50.00 fine.
BB	0	Damaging University property or the property of another.	Restitution for the total cost of damage.
CC	0	For First Year Students: Two alcohol violations, one drug violation, or any serious incidents as determined by OSC.	Loss of privilege to participate in the free Study Abroad program.
DD	2	Failure to cooperate with a University staff and/or law enforcement officer.
EE	2	Disruptive public behavior (e.g. excessive public noise, public drunkenness, screaming/cursing in public, or other forms of disorderly conduct.
FF	2	Hosting a party that involves alcohol and drinking games such as beer pong, flip cup, beer bong, etc.
GG	4	Engaging in drinking practices that seriously threatens one's health or life (e.g. transported to the hospital for alcohol and/or drug consumption/use) when the student does not seek help for themselves and are found by DPS, other University staff, or MPD.	1. Coach/Academic Advisor Notification 2. Educational program related to alcohol/drugs may include required classes, research papers, and/or other related sanctions 3. Mandatory alcohol/drug assessment 4. Disciplinary Probation (exclusion from participation in privileged and/or extracurricular activities) 5. $50.00 fine for overage students.

Educational Programs and Counseling: It is important that educational programs and counseling assessments be completed immediately following the assignment of sanctions. Letters from the Office of Student Conduct will note the type of educational/counseling program the student is assigned and the date that it should be completed.
• 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; after completion of the online course, the participant is to meet with a Peer Health Advocate for a one-on-one session to discuss what was learned from the online course and how it relates to the participant's behavior.
• Second Look: Health and Wellness Programs facilitates this one and a half hour program that gives participants the opportunity to examine attitudes and perceptions and how these influence behavior. Students are given strategies to reduce risk.
• Alcohol and Drug Class: This is a three hour class focusing on the mental, physical, and legal effects of alcohol and drug use on individuals and the community. This course is a collaborative effort between several departments on- and off-campus to provide multiple perspectives, and a reflective paper concludes this class.
• Counseling Assessment: Students will meet individually with a Mental Health Center staff member for an alcohol and/or drug assessment; the assessment will 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 and one-on-one meeting with the Peer Health Advocate through a letter from the Office of Student Conduct. 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. Students who do not complete the online course will be issued a penalty assessment and a new deadline to complete the online course. If the student does not complete the online course for the second time, the student will be charged by the University for non-compliance with University decision.
• Second Look and 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 Coordinator of Student Conduct at least 24 hours in advance prior to the session's date. The Coordinator of Student Conduct will review the request and if approved, will reassign the student to the next session. If a student does not attend his/her first scheduled meeting then he/she will be reassigned to the next session and he/she will forfeit his/her ‘point forgiveness' for the following semester. If the student does not complete the session for the second time, the student will be charged by the University for non-compliance with University decision.
• Counseling Assessment: If a counseling assessment is required, students will receive a letter from the Office of Student Conduct and upon receiving the letter, students are expected to make an appointment with the Coordinator of Student Conduct or his/her designee to meet to discuss the expectations of the counseling assessment. The letter will also have a deadline for completion of the counseling assessment. All counseling assessments are done at the Mental Health Center (MHC) and there are additional fees incurred for the assessment. If a student does not complete the counseling assessment by the deadline given, he/she will forfeit his/her ‘point forgiveness' for the following semester. Students who do not complete the counseling assessment will be issued a penalty assessment and a new deadline to complete the counseling assessment. If the student does not complete the counseling assessment for the second time, the student 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 via the use of a breathalyzer or alcohol test strip. 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 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 - #S.

Other Potential Sanctions: In addition to the sanctions listed above, the Coordinator 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, 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, 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 one point from their record, as described above, students must meet the scheduling expectations for educational programming and counseling assessment at the time of the initial violation (see the Educational Programs and Counseling 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 Office of Student Conduct located in the Student Center Programs and Services Office in Ely Center #103.

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's points tally will be reduced to six points.