Alcohol and Drug Policy

Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy

Statement of Purpose

Wellesley College is committed to providing an environment of well-being, learning, and accountability for its members. To this end, the Wellesley College Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy is grounded in four community standards derived from the Honor Code:

Compliance with governing law and College policies;
Respect for the Wellesley College community by minimizing the impact of alcohol and other drug use upon others;
Care for one’s own health and well-being; and
Prevention of harm and seeking of assistance and support for self or others.

This policy informs students of their individual, group, and community responsibilities regarding alcohol and other drugs, the College's response to violations, and the resources available for addressing alcohol and other drug-related concerns. Campus Police and Residential Life Professional Staff have primary responsibility for enforcement of this policy.

Scope

The Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy applies to all Wellesley College students and student groups, whether they are on or off campus.

Community Standards

The first three community standards establish the basis for Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy violations.

Compliance with Governing Law and College Policies

Students are expected to comply with governing law and College policies regarding alcohol and other drug use, which adhere to the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act. Wellesley College prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and illicit drugs by students and employees. Examples of behaviors that violate this Community Standard include, but are not limited to:

Causing another person to ingest alcohol or other drugs without that person’s consent, or coercing a person, even subtly, to ingest alcohol or other drugs.
Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other drugs when operating a vehicle is contraindicated.
Attempting to purchase or purchasing, possessing, or otherwise having control of alcoholic beverages, or making arrangements with any person to purchase or procure alcoholic beverages, if under the age of 21.
Delivering, furnishing, or otherwise providing alcohol to person(s) under the age of 21.
Engaging in the private sale of alcohol or other drugs, informally or through websites or social media sites or applications used for private commerce, regardless of whether the purchaser is of legal drinking age.
Procuring the commercial delivery of alcohol to Wellesley College.
Purchasing, procuring, possessing or otherwise having control of or using illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, or prescription drugs that have not been properly prescribed to the person, or attempting to do so. Marijuana is an illegal substance under federal law.
Providing, distributing, manufacturing, or selling illegal or prescription drugs to another person, or attempting to do so.
Smoking or vaporizing any illegal substance in any College building, which includes but is not limited to one’s residence hall room. Such conduct also violates the Residential Life No-Smoking Policy.
Mixing or compounding drugs, including manufacture of synthetic drugs.
Increasing the alcohol content (proof) of a drink or the potency or purity of a drug.

Respect for the Wellesley College Community by Minimizing the Impact of Alcohol or Other Drug Use Upon Others

Students are entrusted with the responsibility of creating a respectful environment and reducing the risk of harm caused by alcohol and other drug use. Examples of behaviors that violate this Community Standard include, but are not limited to:

Possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage in public/common areas or on the grounds of the College or causing odor, vapor, or smoke to enter a public or common area or another resident’s room. Common areas include:
- Any area within a residence hall other than a resident’s room.
- Any outdoor area.
- Any other College building or facility

Engaging in hazardous or disruptive conduct, which may include, but is not limited to, any of the following acts:
- Drinking games or contests involving the consumption of alcohol or other drugs.
- Coercing others, even subtly, to consume alcohol or other drugs.
- Encouraging others to misuse alcohol or other drugs, or to otherwise violate this policy.
- Damaging or destroying College property or another person’s property.
- Engaging in physically or verbally abusive behavior.
- Engaging in physically dangerous behavior.
- Engaging in behavior that involves alcohol or other drugs and constitutes hazing. Such conduct also violates the Wellesley College Hazing Policy.

Care for One’s Own Health and Well-being

Alcohol and other drug use can have serious, harmful health consequences. Effects can be immediate and unpredictable, such as alcohol overdose, cardiac arrest, or death, or more subtle and long term, leading to addiction, chronic illness or permanent disability. Tolerance for a particular drug varies from person to person and is dependent on many factors, including the strength of the drug and the condition of the person taking the drug. Self-care requires informed decision-making and safe practices regarding the use of alcohol or other drugs. Examples of behavior that may violate this Community Standard include, but are not limited to:

Use of alcohol or other drugs to the point of intoxication, the signs of which may include a diminished ability to walk or stand, vomiting, loss of consciousness, verbal or cognitive incoherence, or aggressive or violent behavior.
Consuming drugs and alcohol together when such use is contraindicated.
Use of prescription drugs other than as prescribed.
Use of illegal drugs.

Prevention of Harm and Seeking of Assistance and Support for Self or Others

The fourth community standard establishes the circumstances in which an Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violation may be waived.

Students are expected to be educated, empowered, and engaged in preventing and responding to harm related to alcohol or other drug use. In particular, students are expected to learn about alcohol and other drug use on college campuses, acquire skills to prevent harm from alcohol or other drug use as active bystanders when reasonable to do so, and respond effectively to potential harm from alcohol or other drug use.

Responsible Action Clause

Students should call Public Safety (on campus) or 911 (off campus) when alcohol or other drug use requires prompt medical attention. The Honor Code Administrator generally will waive an Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violation for a student seeking medical treatment or for assisting another person in obtaining medical treatment for an alcohol or drug-related emergency.

A student for whom an Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violation is waived is required to meet with a Residence Life Professional Staff member. If a student is involved in multiple alcohol or other drug related incidents, the student may also be required to attend counseling at the Stone Center Counseling Service, and/or to enter into a care agreement specifying what resources and supports the student will engage, the duration of the agreement, and the consequences for failure to successfully complete the agreement terms. Repeated waivers may be indicative of concerns sufficiently serious as to require additional response from the Dean of Students, including, but not limited to, residential probation or loss of College privileges.

Parental Notification and Waiver Requests

Students are expected to participate in any notification process; however, a student can petition for a waiver of parental notification by submitting a written request to the Honor Code Administrator.

A student petitioning for waiver of parental notification will be required to meet with the Director of Counseling Services or their designee within 5 days of making the request, and to sign a release permitting the Director of Counseling Services or their designee to share her findings and recommendations with the Honor Code Administrator.

In reviewing the request, the Director of Counseling Service or their designee will consider any non-confidential information available to the Honor Code Administrator and any additional information provided by the student during the required meeting.

The Director of Counseling Services or their designee will share her findings and recommendation with the AHonor Code Administrator, who retains the discretion to decide whether to contact a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s).

Absent extenuating circumstances, the Honor Code Administrator will notify a student petitioning for waiver of parental notification of the decision in writing before taking any action.

Required Consultations and Sanctions

All students involved in a potential violation of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy, whether or not they are charged with a violation, must meet with a Residential Life Professional Staff and participate in a health education session.

The Residential Life Professional Staff will also determine sanctions for any student who is charged with and accepts responsibility for an Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violation. Students will be notified of the sanction by email and letter. Such sanctions will be determined in accordance with the severity of the violation. The Honor Code Administrator will determine any sanctions for any student organization that is charged with and accepts responsibility for an Alcohol or Other Drug Policy violation. Student organizations will be notified of the sanction by email and letter. Such sanctions will be determined in accordance with the severity of the violation.

Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Restorative action, which may include restitution for damages, community service, or an educational assignment.
Residential Probation, the duration of which will be determined on a case by case basis. During the probationary period, any further violation of a College policy will jeopardize the student’s housing privileges.
Modification, suspension or loss of College privileges
Suspension, dismissal or expulsion from the College.

If a student or student group fails to comply with any requirements or sanctions imposed for violations of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy, the student or student group may be charged with an Honor Code violation. When a student or student group has been charged with an Honor Code violation related to an Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violation (including without limitation, a charge for failure to comply with sanctions or requirements), the Honor Code Administrator will inform the Honor Code Council regarding the student’s Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violation to assist the Council in the determination of sanctions.

If students or student groups do not accept responsibility for an Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violation, they may contest the charge before a Hearing Panel. A student or student group wishing to contest a charge of violating the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy must notify the Honor Code Administrator in writing within 5 business days of receiving notice of the charge.

Conduct in violation of the Honor Code that involves alcohol or other drugs may result in separate Honor Code and Alcohol and Other Drug Policy charges.

Conduct in violation of the Residential Life No-Smoking Policy that involves alcohol or other drugs will result in automatic imposition of residential probation, the duration of which will be decided by the Honor Code Administrator. Any other College policy violation during the period of residential probation may result in the loss of College housing privileges in addition to other sanctions.

Law Enforcement Proceeding

Local, state and federal laws make the illegal use of alcohol and other drugs a serious crime. Disciplinary action taken by the College for violations of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy does not preclude criminal prosecution or lawsuits by others. Conviction for violation of state and federal alcohol and drug laws can lead to imprisonment, fines, and assigned community service. Felony and certain other convictions for drug offenses can prevent eligibility for federal benefits, including, but not limited to, student loans. Please see the overview of legal sanctions for alcohol and drug use in Appendices A and B for more information. The overview of sanctions in these Appendices is not comprehensive but provides a summary of the type of criminal penalties students may expect when convicted for the illegal use of alcohol or drugs.

Records & Disclosures

The Honor Code Administrator for the Office of the Dean of Students will maintain the records of Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violations. Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violations and Honor Code violations that include an Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violation will be disclosed according to the guidelines set forth in the Honor Code Procedures.

Graduate programs sometimes require applicants to disclose any alcohol or drug policy violations as part of the application process. The Health Professions and Pre-Law advisors may submit to the Honor Code Administrator the names of students or graduates who have applied for support from Wellesley in the application process to graduate programs in medicine and law. The Honor Code Administrator will identify the Health Professions and Pre-Law advisors applicants who were found responsible for a violation of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy. The Honor Code Administrator will not disclose to the Health Professions and Pre-Law advisors the specific violation or sanction imposed.

In addition to providing information to graduate programs as referenced above and as permitted by applicable law, the College will also generally provide information about Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violations as requested by release authorizations executed by students and former students.

Resources

The College strongly encourages students to use the following resources and supports available for addressing alcohol and drug related concerns.

Alcohol and Other Drug Resources

Department/Resource	Contact	Notes
Campus Police	781-283-5555 (Emergency) 781-283-2679 (Non-Emergency)	Available 24/7/365
Health Service (Confidential)	781-283-2810	Available M-F business hours; on call 24/7/365
Stone Center Counseling Services (Confidential)	781-283-2839	Available M-F business hours; on call 24/7/365
Office of Student Wellness	781-283-2821	Available M-F business hours
Residential Life Professional Staff	781-283-5555 (Emergency) 781-283-2679 (Non-Emergency)	Staff in residence; on call 24/7/365
SMART Recovery	www.smartrecovery.org	Off-Campus Resource
Alcoholics Anonymous	www.aa.org	Off-Campus Resource
Narcotics Anonymous	www.na.org	Off-Campus Resource
Moderation Management	www.moderation.org	Off-Campus Resource

Appendices: Local, State, and Federal Laws

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Appendix A: Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Town of Wellesley Liquor Laws

Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Town of Wellesley Liquor Laws

M.G.L.c.138, §34c. "Persons under 21 years of age operation of motor vehicles containing alcoholic beverages". §34c. States in part [Whoever, being under 21 years of age and not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, knowingly possesses, transports or carries on his person, any alcohol or alcoholic beverages, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $50 for the first offense and not more than $150 dollars for a second or subsequent offense. A police officer may arrest without a warrant any person who violates this section. A conviction of a violation of this section shall be reported forthwith to the registrar of motor vehicles by the court, and said registrar shall thereupon suspend for a period of ninety days the license of such person to operate a motor vehicle.]

M.G.L.c.138, §34 provides that supplying alcohol to a person under the age of 21 years may be punished by a fine up to $2,000 or imprisonment in jail for not more than one year or both. (Note: this includes dispensing alcohol at private house parties).

M.G.L.c.90, § 24 "Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants" provides for a loss of license of persons under 21 with an alcohol level of .02. An alcohol level of .08 is considered legally intoxicated. Refusal to submit to a breath test if under 21 years equals a loss of license for no less than three years.

If the person found to have been drinking is under 17 years of age, then the person responsible can be charged with M.G.L.c.119, § 63 (Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor). Conviction can mean a fine of up to $500 or jail for not more than 1 year, or both.

M.G.L.c.272, § 53 provides in part [keepers of noisy and disorderly houses may be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of not more than $200, or by both such fine and imprisonment.]

Possession of False Identification. M.G.L.c138, § 34A provides that any person who attempts to purchase alcohol, or misrepresents his/her age, or falsifies, or defaces his/her identification offered as proof of age to purchase alcohol faces a fine of $300 and a 180 day loss of license. (This includes anyone making arrangements to have alcohol purchased for them.)

Note: If a person leaves a resident's home after consuming alcohol, and is injured, or causes another to be injured, or causes property damage, then the home owner, and/or the person who let that party leave the home in that condition, could be held responsible under the criminal laws as well as held liable in a civil action.

Town of Wellesley By-Laws - Article 49. Police Regulations

49.19 Possession and Use of Alcoholic Beverages. No person shall consume an alcoholic beverage as defined by General Law Chapter 138, Section 1, as amended, or possess an opened container of such beverage, within the limits of any park, playground, public building or any public land (but not to include a public way) owned and under the control of the Town of Wellesley except with written permission of the Board of Selectmen, nor shall any person consume an alcoholic beverage, as defined in said Section 1, on any public way or way to which the public has a right of access as invitees or licensees, including an person in a motor vehicle while it is in, on, or upon any public way or any way to which the public has a right of access as aforesaid, within the limits of the Town of Wellesley; and no person shall consume any alcoholic beverages, as previously defined, in, on, or upon any private land or place without the consent of the owner or person in control of such private land or place.

Any person who violates this section may be arrested by a police officer without a warrant.

All alcoholic beverages being used in violation of this sentence may be seized and held until final adjudication of the charge against any such person or person has been made by the court. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine not exceeding fifty (50) dollars for such offense.

Appendix B: Federal and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Drug Laws

Federal and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Drug Laws

Federal Drug Laws

Under federal law, distribution of drugs to a person over the age of 18 to a person under the age of 21 is punishable by up to twice the normal penalty, i.e., a mandatory one-year prison term; a second conviction is punishable by up to three times the normal penalty. A first offense for distribution of drugs in or within 100 feet of a college or school is also punishable by up to twice the penalties otherwise authorized for distribution or manufacture. A second offense for distribution of drugs in or within 100 feet of a college or school is punishable by up to three times the penalties otherwise authorized for distribution or manufacture. Federal law sets heightened prison sentences for manufacture and distribution of drugs if death or serious injury results from use of the substance.

Penalties for federal drug trafficking convictions are governed by the Controlled Substances Act and vary according to the quantity of the controlled substance involved in the transaction. If death or serious bodily injury results from the use of a controlled substance that has been illegally distributed, the person convicted on federal charges of distributing the substance faces a life sentence. Convictions on charges of drug trafficking within 100 feet of an educational institution result in penalties of prison terms and fines which are twice as high as the regular penalties for the offense, with a minimum prison sentence of at least one year. See 21 U.S.C. 21 §§ 801 et. seq.

Penalties for Violations of the Controlled Substances Act

Penalties for federal trafficking of Schedule I, II, III, IV, and V controlled substances, some of which include fines up to $10 million or imprisonment for life. Additional information regarding the substances regulated by the federal Controlled Substances Act and the criminal penalties for the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance is available on the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control website.

Massachusetts Drug Laws

For additional information concerning Massachusetts law regulation of controlled substances, please review the Massachusetts Controlled Substances Act, Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 94C.

Massachusetts Law and Heroin

The sale and possession of drug paraphernalia as defined by statute is illegal in Massachusetts. Massachusetts law makes it illegal to be in a place where heroin is kept and to be in the company of a person known to possess heroin. Anyone in the presence of heroin risks a serious drug conviction. Additional information about the penalties imposed for violations of Massachusetts law preventing the illegal use of drugs can be found on the Massachusetts legislature website.

Updated September 2025