Alcohol and Illicit Drug Policy

It is the policy of Mount Aloysius College to uphold all state and federal legislation regarding the possession, use, distribution or consumption of alcohol and other illegal drugs. The possession and/or use of alcoholic beverages or other illegal drugs is not permitted on campus nor is the consumption of alcohol permitted at any College sponsored activity on- or off-campus without prior approval by the President or her designee. This applies to all students regardless of age. Programs and workshops are sponsored annually by various Student Affairs departments regarding alcohol and drug abuse prevention.

Alcohol Policy
The law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania concerning the use of alcoholic beverages is quite specific: “Section 6308. Purchase, Consumption, Possession, or Transportation of Intoxicating Beverages.” “A person commits a summary offense if he/she, being less than twenty-one (21) years of age, attempts to purchase, purchases, consumes, possesses or transports any alcohol, liquor or malt or brewed beverages.”

The College will cooperate fully with civil authorities in the enforcement of the law. If civil authorities are involved, the College will not present disciplinary charges unless the College’s interests as an academic community are directly involved. Decisions to hold a College judicial hearing prior to, simultaneously with, or after criminal proceedings is at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students.

The possession and/or use of alcoholic beverages is not permitted on-campus or at any off-campus college-sponsored activity regardless of age without the permission of the President of the College or her designee. Any student present in the room or area where alcohol is contained will be held responsible for a violation of the College’s alcohol policy.

Alcohol Hosting Policy
An additional charge will be levied to those violators of the alcohol policy who transport alcohol to campus, distribute to other students or have alcohol in his/her contracted residence hall room or automobile.

Students may be referred to the Judicial Process if there is any evidence to indicate that alcohol may be in the possession of the student. A student may be held responsible for an alcohol violation if there is reasonable cause or evidence for the College to believe alcohol has been transported, possessed, or consumed by the student.

State Legislation
Offenses: Pennsylvania law states that a person commits a summary offense if he/she, being less than 21, attempts to purchase, purchases, consumes, possesses or transports any alcohol, liquor or brewed beverages. Anybody who operates a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol and is found guilty will be charged with a misdemeanor of the second degree. Possession, manufacture and delivery of illicit drugs are, at least, a misdemeanor of the third degree. Anyone charged with a misdemeanor must appear in court.
Public Drunkenness

In Pennsylvania, it is against the law for people to appear in public when intoxicated to the extent that they endanger themselves or others. They also may not annoy others or endanger property. If convicted of such public drunkenness — a summary offense — a fine of up to $300 and a jail sentence of up to 90 days, or both, may be imposed. The College reserves the right to pursue disciplinary charges in cases involving public drunkenness.

Open Container Law
In a car: No driver may legally consume any alcoholic beverage in a vehicle in operation on a Pennsylvania highway. This is a summary offense.
On the streets: In Pennsylvania, there is no state law to prohibit open containers of alcohol in public. However, many local governments have enacted such ordinances.

Pennsylvania Lowered DUI Blood Alcohol Level.
Act 24 of 2003, Driving after Imbibing Alcohol or Using Drugs, became effective September 30, 2003. The Act decreased the blood alcohol level for drivers over 21 years of age from .10% to .08%. Drivers with a BAC of .08% and above may be charged. Drivers under the age of 21 are charged if their BAC is .02% or above. Fines and Penalties have also changed. For more information use the following internet address: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/legislation/dui.shtml

Drug Policy
Mount Aloysius College is a drug-free campus and students are prohibited from using illegal drugs and/or having detectible levels of drugs in their system. This policy applies to College-sponsored events and activities on-campus as well as off-site clinical or internship settings.

Many academic programs on-campus require students to undergo random drug screenings prior to entering clinical/field experience sites. Students are expected to test negative on their drug screen to remain in compliance with College policy. College policy states “the use of illegal drugs and/or having detectible levels in the system is prohibited;” therefore, a positive drug test will result in dismissal from the academic program for one year.

If a student is attending an off-site educational experience (including, but not limited to: clinicals, practicum, internships, and externships) and tests positive on a drug screening, the student will receive a failing grade of F for the course associated with that educational experience. In addition, the student will be prohibited from continuing in that program and may not take courses in that major. A student may continue to participate in courses outside the major for the semester in which he/she tested positive.    

In order to continue taking courses outside the major beyond the semester in which the student tested positive, the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students must receive verification that the student completed a certified drug treatment program prior to the start of the next semester’s classes and show proof of a negative drug test. After one year, a student may reapply for admission to his/her original program or another health-related program following the guidelines specified by the program in which they are interested in participating.

Students who participate in a urine drug screen that results in an undetermined or diluted result may be required, at the College’s discretion, to participate in an additional screening procedure, including but not limited to blood, hair, or saliva sampling. The student may be responsible for all retesting costs.

Students who have a positive test have an opportunity to appeal the test within three working days of being notified of the test results. Appeals should be in writing, should list the reason for appeal as noted below, and be sent to the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students for investigation in conjunction with the agency conducting the screenings.

Appeals will only be considered by the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students and the physician responsible for coordinating the screening process under the following circumstances:

1. Standard procedures for collecting urine drug screens were not followed according to institutional guidelines.
2. Legally prescribed drugs (prescribed within the past year) resulted in the drug screening showing a false positive.

A student may not appeal a positive urine drug screen result on the basis that the sanction includes dismissal from the program.

Disciplinary Sanctions
The use or possession of alcohol or the discovery of any student using, possessing or distributing illicit drugs will be considered an infraction. Disciplinary action will be based on the seriousness of the offense, individual circumstances and the best interests of the College community. Possible sanctions include conduct warnings, required counseling sessions, fines or service to the College, probation, suspension and dismissal.

Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention
Prevention resources and information are available in Student Health and Counseling Services. A variety of programs and educational activities are offered annually targeted to both alcohol and other drug prevention and to promote the adoption of adopting a wellness lifestyle.Specifically, guest speakers, alternative activities, and  Safe Spring break activities, along with behavioral counseling interventions are  offered to prevent drug and alcohol use.