Alcohol or Drug use/Possession Disclosure Policy

The Warner Amendment to the Higher Education Reauthorization Act of 1998 [Section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C 1232g)] removes the prohibition against an institution of higher education “from disclosing, to a parent or legal guardian of a student, information regarding any violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the institution, governing the use of possession of alcohol or a controlled substance, regardless of whether that information s contained in the student’s education records, if –(A) the student is under the age of 21; and (B) the institution determines that the student had committed a disciplinary violation with respect to such use or possession.”

Therefore, the Vice President for Student Affairs, in consultation with the Conduct Officer and the Director of Counseling will conduct a review of the following types of cases to determine if parents or legal guardians of students who are under the age of 21 should be informed about a drug or alcohol related incident:

1. Any case where a student is separated from the College for reasons related to alcohol or controlled substance. A separation from the College, for the purposes of this policy, shall include an interim suspension, expulsion, or involuntary medical leave.
2. Any case where a student is transported from the College by ambulance for reasons related to alcohol or controlled substances.
3. Upon the recommendation of a Hearing Officer or the Conduct Officer in cases related to alcohol or controlled substances where a student was found responsible, when that officer believes that the student’s behavior may be harmful to him/herself.

The Vice President will consider the following in determining whether to inform the parent or guardian: the level of harm the student cause to self, the level of harm to the community, the ability of the student to seek help on their own, and any information about the family which is know.