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.
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. (See Legal Sanctions section and Appendices A-D.) 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 alcohol 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, except for events where alcohol has been ordered through the Office of Student Involvement in compliance with Appendix A.
- Non-compliance with the requirements of the Procedures Pertaining to the Use of Alcohol at Student Events Held in Common Spaces on Campus (Appendix A) by a student group.
- 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.
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, except at registered events (See Appendix A) 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.
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.
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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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. In cases involving alcohol or cannabis, the student will also be required to complete an online education program. 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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity.
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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity.
In reviewing the request, the Director of Counseling Service or their designee will consider any non-confidential information available to the Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity, who retains the discretion to decide whether to contact a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s).
Absent extenuating circumstances, the Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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:
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Restorative action, which may include restitution for damages, community service, or an educational assignment.
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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.
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Modification, suspension or loss of College privileges
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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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity in writing within 5 business days of receiving notice of the charge. (See Appendix D: Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy Contested Charge and Appeals Process).
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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity. 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 B and C 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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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 Associate Director of Residential Life & Coordinator of Community Standards and Integrity 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.