Alcohol and Drug Policy
College Responses for Alcohol
Saint Mary’s policy on the use of alcohol combines observance of federal, state and local laws, protection of the overall community and reduction of high risk conduct by students. Alleged violations of the Prohibited Conduct will initiate the student discipline process. Sanctions will vary depending on the nature of the offense and these responses are meant to act as minimum sanctions. A student’s discipline record is cumulative during his/her enrollment and applies to incidents on and off campus. However, a one-time grace is allowed for a Category I, First Offense. Such an offense will be removed from consideration of future sanctions if no further violations of alcohol or other drugs regulations occur for at least one calendar year.
- Category I: underage possession or consumption of alcohol; possession or consumption in public; being present at a location where alcohol is being consumed and where it is a violation to possess alcohol; furnishing or attempting to furnish false information regarding age and/or identity; possession of a “beer bong”.
- First Offense: education project/program and warning.
- Second Offense: education project/program, warning/probation and $50.00 fine.
- Third Offense: education project/program, assessment, probation/stayed suspension/suspension, stayed residence hall suspension/residence hall suspension, $150.00 fine and parental notification*
- Fourth Offense: stayed suspension/suspension, stayed residence hall suspension/residence hall suspension/residence hall expulsion, $250.00 fine and parental notification*
- Category II: regardless of age, student exhibits any of the following behaviors while under the influence of alcohol: intoxication, disorderly conduct, verbally disruptive or abusive, fist fights, vomiting but coherent and conscious; providing alcohol to an underage or obviously intoxicated person; possession of kegs or other common source or over-sized containers; use of a “beer bong;” consumption of large quantities of alcohol regardless of physical appearance.
- First Offense: education project/program, warning/probation, $100.00 fine and parental notification*
- Second Offense: education project/program, assessment, probation/stayed suspension, stayed residence hall suspension/residence hall suspension, $150.00 fine and parental notification*
- Third Offense: education project/program, stayed suspension/suspension/expulsion, residence hall suspension/residence hall expulsion, $250.00 fine and parental notification*
- Category III: regardless of age, student exhibits any of the following behaviors: vomiting and/or incoherent, unconscious, needed or received medical attention (including treatment by EMTs and/or transport to hospital, and/or including treatment at College sponsored events), loss of control of bodily functions, memory loss; a pattern of alcohol abuse; driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
- First Offense: education project/program, assessment, probation/stayed suspension, stayed residence hall suspension/residence hall suspension, $150.00 fine and parental notification*
- Second Offense: stayed suspension/suspension/expulsion, residence hall suspension/expulsion, $250.00 fine and parental notification*
*Generally, only the parents/guardians of those students under the age of 21 will be notified in these cases. Please refer to the Parental Notification Policy for further explanation of this policy.
College Responses for Illegal Drugs
Alleged violations of the Prohibited Conduct will initiate the student discipline process. Sanctions will vary depending on the nature of the offense and these responses are meant to act as minimum sanctions. A student’s discipline record is cumulative during his/her enrollment and applies to incidents on and off campus.
- Category I: Possession of drug paraphernalia or objects that could be used as drug paraphernalia; being in a location where controlled substances and/or illegal drugs are present.
- First Offense: education project/program, warning/probation and $50.00 fine
- Second Offense: education project/program, probation/stayed suspension, stayed residence hall suspension/residence hall suspension, $150.00 fine and parental notification*
- Third Offense: education project/program, stayed suspension/suspension, residence hall suspension/residence hall expulsion, $250.00 fine and parental notification*
- Category II: Possession and/or use of any controlled substance or illegal drug regardless of quantity, including seeds and/or residue; illegal use of prescription or other legal drugs.
- First Offense: education project/program, probation/stayed suspension, stayed residence hall suspension/residence hall suspension, $150.00 fine and parental notification*
- Second Offense: education project/program, assessment, stayed suspension/suspension, stayed residence hall suspension/residence hall suspension/residence hall expulsion, $250.00 fine and parental notification*
- Third Offense: expulsion and parental notification*
- Category III: Possession of large quantity and/or the actual or attempted sale, distribution, cultivation or manufacture of any controlled substance, illegal drug and/or drug paraphernalia; driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs or controlled substances.
- First Offense: suspension/expulsion, residence hall expulsion, $250.00 fine and parental notification*
- Second Offense: expulsion and parental notification*
*Generally, only the parents/guardians of those students under the age of 21 will be notified in these cases. Please refer to the Parental Notification Policy for further explanation of this policy.
