3.24 Substance Abuse Policy Involving Alcohol and-or Marijuana

Substance abuse policy

Statement of Compliance

Northeastern Junior College recognizes the social and personal consequences of drinking alcohol and the pressure to drink as part of the college rite of passage as a young adult. We also recognize the college's responsibility to enforce the state law, which limits legal consumption of alcohol to persons over twenty-one years of age, and the Drug and Alcohol Free Campus Federal Law, which restricts any alcohol or drugs on campus or associated with a college activity. As a local, state and federally funded college we must abide by all legal regulations and then realistically deal with the student behaviors related to alcohol use/abuse.

The College may notify parents/guardians when their son/daughter violates the substance abuse policy after the first violation. This notification is allowed to all parents/guardians of students under the age of 21 years. The college reserves the right to withhold notification on the first violation but will notify parents for any violation after level one.

Although possession and use of marijuana for certain medical conditions consistent with the requirements of the Colorado constitution is no longer a crime in the State of Colorado, the possession and use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Consistent with federal law, including the Controlled Substances Act and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the use and/or possession of marijuana continues to be prohibited while a student is on campus, including in campus housing.

The College will notify police when students are in possession of alcohol, marijuana and/or other drugs in a residence hall room or any other location on campus. This procedure applies to all discipline levels including level one.

Philosophy of Enforcement

Northeastern Junior College will respond to all known incidents of alcohol possession on campus property or any college activity and any other violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Strictly punitive measures as required by law do not serve the needs of our students. Violations of the alcohol policy will be dealt with at the education and behavior change level first. The goal of the Alcohol/Drug Education Procedure is to inform, educate and seek behavior change. The college assumes each student is developmentally normal and will respond to reasonable educational sanctions regarding alcohol use. The four-level education/intervention strategy provides appropriate assistance from the experimental user through the difficult chemical dependent level of addiction. Northeastern Junior College will abide by all laws while providing alcohol/drug education and will enforce appropriate disciplinary consequences of all alcohol use.

Situations where excessive quantities of alcohol/marijuana are found may result in the disciplinary level/sanction being enforced at a higher level. A resident hall student who is in possession of a large amount of marijuana may face eviction from the residence halls.

A combination of alcohol, marijuana, and/or other drug offenses in a single incident will result in an increase in the sanction levels of any/all procedures.

Level One - Educational Sanctions

A student who has been reported for a first violation of the alcohol/marijuana policy will be required to complete the following educational sanctions (Note: Presence of paraphernalia or devices used to smoke marijuana is also considered a level one violation.)

1. Explanation of Procedure

A Residence Hall Director, Director of Residence Life, Student Guidance Coordinator, or Vice President of Student Services will review the procedure and will give the student the appropriate assessment to complete and turn in to the Student Success Center staff. The student will be required to schedule an appointment with the Student Guidance Coordinator within 30 days of the report of the offense. The student has five days to complete an appeal through appropriate due process if deemed necessary.

2. Assessment of Need/Educational Sanctions

The student will be required to participate in an appointment with the Student Guidance Coordinator to determine if counseling assistance is needed and to discuss the results of the assessment. If the student lives on campus, they are required to meet with a Residence Hall Director (or an Assistant Hall Director, Director of Residence Life, or the Vice President of Student Services) to be assigned appropriate Educational Sanctions. Completion of all sanctions is required before any future enrollment at the college. The Vice President of Student Services or the Director of Residential Life will monitor the completion of all educational sanctions. A hold will be placed on the student account until the student has met with the Student Guidance Coordinator and completed the educational sanction. This hold will prevent the student from adding/dropping/withdrawing from classes. 

3. Disciplinary Probation

A student who has been reported for a first violation of the alcohol/marijuana procedure will be placed on Disciplinary Probation for thirty (30) days, beginning at the time the offense is reported. Additional violations during the warning period will cause the probation to increase two levels.

4. Community Service

The student will be required to complete supervised community service hours. The number of community service hours assigned will be determined by a Residence Hall Director (or an Assistant Hall Director, Director of Residence Life, or the Vice President of Student Services).

Level Two - Alcohol/Drug Education Class

1. Assessment of Need

The student will be required to schedule an appointment with the NJC Student Guidance Coordinator. This needs to be scheduled within 30 days of the report of the offense. The student will be required to attend an Assessment appointment with NJC Student Success Services to determine if counseling assistance is needed and to complete an assessment. This assessment will take into consideration information regarding prior violation. Based on the assessment, the student may be required to complete additional counseling and assigned appropriate educational sanctions.

2. Alcohol/Drug Education Class

A student who has been reported for a second violation of the alcohol/drug procedure within four (4) enrolled semesters will be required to enroll in an Alcohol/Drug Education Class. This class addresses participant’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning alcohol and other drugs; encourages low risk decision making, positive life style changes and provides appropriate referral for those in need of further services. The student will be required to show proof of completion of this class prior to the next enrollment period. The student will pay the cost of the class. A hold will be placed on the student account until the student has met with the Student Guidance Coordinator and completed the educational sanction. This hold will prevent the student from adding/dropping/withdrawing from classes. 

3. Disciplinary Probation

A student who has been reported for a second violation of the alcohol/marijuana policy within four (4) enrolled semesters will be placed on Disciplinary Probation for sixty (60) days. Violations during the warning period will cause the probation to increase two levels.
Note: Disciplinary Probation may cause loss of NJC Scholarship support and/or loss of participation in any activity representing the college, for the duration of the probation status.

4. Community Service

The student will be required to complete supervised community service hours. The number of community service hours assigned will be determined by a Residence Hall Director (or an Assistant Hall Director, Director of Residence Life, or the Vice President of Student Services).

5. Parental Notification of Enrolled Students Under 21 years of age.

The parents of a student, under 21 years of age that is reported for a Second Level Alcohol/Marijuana Violation may be notified within seven (7) days of the violation. This notification will include the report for the Level One or the first alcohol/marijuana violation. The parents of a student, under 21 years of age that is reported for a Third or Fourth Level Alcohol/Marijuana Violation may be notified within seven (7) days of the violation. This notification will include the report for all prior alcohol and drug violations.

Level Three - Professional Assessment and Alcohol/Drug Education Class

1. Chemical Assessment

A student who has been reported for a third alcohol/marijuana violation within four (4) enrolled semesters will be required to receive an individual alcohol/drug assessment by a certified chemical dependency counselor. The assessment may include a series of chemical dependency tests that would direct personal strategies to avoid chronic alcohol/drug use. The chemical dependency counselor could recommend continued treatment and personal/social changes that would become a requirement to continue as a student. Should the counselor deem an Alcohol/Drug Education class as appropriate, the student will assume costs of assessment and continued treatment.

2. Extended Disciplinary Probation

A student who has been reported for a third violation of the alcohol/marijuana procedure within four (4) enrolled semesters will be placed on Disciplinary Probation for ninety (90) days. Violations during the warning period will cause the probation to increase two levels, which would cause suspension. See Level Four.

3. Community Service

The student will be required to complete supervised community service hours. The number of community service hours assigned will be determined by a Residence Hall Director (or an Assistant Hall Director, Director of Residence Life, or the Vice President of Student Services).

Level Four - Chemical Dependency Treatment

1. Suspension for Further Assessment/Treatment Recommended

A student who has been reported for a fourth violation of the alcohol/marijuana procedure within four (4) enrolled semesters will be suspended from the report date until all required conditions are met for re-admittance. This suspension will be for the balance of the current enrolled semester and the following semester.

2. Treatment Certification

The chemically dependent student will be required to receive a professional chemical assessment, encouraged to pursue substance abuse counseling &/or treatment, and submit an appeal for re-admission to be reviewed by the Vice President of Student Services.

Northeastern Junior College will enforce the Alcohol and Drug Educational Sanctions for all enrolled students as written and we presume each student is developmentally normal and capable of responding to all reasonable sanctions. Northeastern Junior College is not a treatment facility for alcohol/drug abuse; we are an educational institution promoting responsible personal behaviors and understanding of alcohol/drug use through an effective and reasonable Alcohol/Drug Education Procedure.