Listed below is the notification policy for the University of Virginia.
In general, the conditions for notification are: an alcohol or drug arrest
for a student who is under the age of 21 or pattern or serveritiy of abuse.
We encourage the student to make the first contact with their parents and
then the dean on call makes a follow up call.
We do NOT notify for hospitalization unless the student's life is in
danger. We have seen an increase in ER visits over the past few years, but
those treated now have had less severe medical problems than in the past
(e.g., fewer severe head injuries). We believe that this "immunity" from
calling parents has helped more students get their friends to the ER
earlier rather than later.
Susan Bruce
Center for Alcohol and Substance Education
University of Virginia
2400 Old Ivy Rd., Suite C
P.O. Box 800139
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0139
434-924-5276
434-982-3671 (FAX)
www.virginia.edu/case
-------
The University of Virginia's philosophy in dealing with students who commit
major alcohol- or drug-related infractions or who demonstrate a pattern of
substance abuse is to work with them to solve these problems and to focus
on education. The University will continue to rely on the professional
judgment of its faculty and administrators when assessing each student's
situation.
In addition, due to the recent amendment to federal laws giving colleges
the authority to notify parents of students under 21 who violate alcohol or
drug laws, the University is adopting a written Parental Notification
Policy.
This Policy is in addition to the intervention and education programs
already offered students when such infractions are brought to our
attention. Intervention may include one or more of the following: substance
abuse assessment by a trained clinician; psychological assessment by a
trained clinician; substance abuse counseling; enrollment in education
programs.
When parents will be notified:
1. When the Office of the Dean of Students receives notification from law
enforcement officials that a University of Virginia student under the age
of 21 has been arrested during an academic session for a drug- or
alcohol-related violation, a professional staff member in the Office of the
Dean of Students will notify that student's parent or guardian.
The professional staff member in the Office of the Dean of Students will
encourage the student to make the initial call to a parent or guardian. The
staff member ordinarily will follow up with a phone call, unless family
circumstances make a call inappropriate. In such cases, the student will be
encouraged to use the University's professional counseling resources.
Violations that would trigger parental notification include driving under
the influence, public drunkenness, and underage possession.
2. All other drug- or alcohol-related incidents will be discussed with the
student involved. In cases where pattern or severity might be a concern,
the incident also will be evaluated by a professional staff member in the
Office of the Dean of Students--in consultation with other professionals as
appropriate.
When there is reason to believe that a student's health and well being are
in jeopardy, a professional staff member in the Office of the Dean of
Students will notify a parent or guardian.
The professional staff member in the Office of the Dean of Students will
encourage the student to make the initial call to a parent or guardian. The
staff member ordinarily will follow up with a phone call, unless family
circumstances make a call inappropriate. In such cases, the student will be
encouraged to use the University's professional counseling resources.
Pattern or severity includes frequent episodes of drunkenness and/ or binge
drinking.
--On Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:12 AM -0500 Ken Schneck
<kschneck@SARAHLAWRENCE.EDU> wrote:
> Please note!! The following is an AOD Discussion Board Topic. Please post
> a reply on the Discussion Board at
> http://www.naspa.org/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=46 instead of replying back
> to the list-serv. ______________________________________________
>
> One topic on which we always seem to struggle is Parental Notification.
>
> FERPA stipulates that we "may" notify parents/guardians in the event of
> an alcohol and other drug violation. Yet colleges and universities have
> interpreted this "may" to mean anything from calling home with every open
> container of alcohol violation to only letting parents/guardians know if
> their student has been hospitalized for AOD use (sometimes not even
> hospitalized, but only if they're admitted).
>
> There are definitely some great articles on this topic (see
> http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/articles/parentalnotification.html) but I
> wanted to get some feedback on how this plays out on different campuses.
>
> When do you notify parents? Just in alcohol emergencies? With every
> alcohol violation? Somewhere in between or not at all?
>
> How do you notify parents? A call home? Or a letter? Do you give the
> student a chance to let their family know first before you initiate
> contact?
>
> Any great experiences notifying parents? Dreadful ones?
>
> Please post a reply and share!!
>
> http://www.naspa.org/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=46
>
>
> ____________________________________
> Ken Schneck
> Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
> Sarah Lawrence College
> 914.395.2575
*************************************
Susan Bruce
Center for Alcohol and Substance Education
University of Virginia
2400 Old Ivy Rd., Suite C
P.O. Box 800139
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0139
434-924-5276
434-982-3671 (FAX)
www.virginia.edu/case
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