Alcohol and Other Drug Policy

Purpose                            

The Alcohol and Other Drug Policy demonstrates compliance with Title IV requirements, the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, Public Law 101-226, Executive Order 12564, Public Law 100-71, and subsequent regulations including the Drug-Free Workplace Act. This policy also aligns with the University of Louisiana System regulations regarding alcohol and other drugs.

The Office of Student Services coordinates the University’s alcohol and drug prevention programming in partnership with the Office of Human Resources and Student Employment, University Police, and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.

Annual Notification of Code of Student Conduct and Substance Abuse Health Risks

McNeese annually notifies students and staff regarding the Code of Student Conduct and the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy. The notification includes applicable federal, state, local, and institutional sanctions regarding violation of the Code of Student Conduct and University policies, a description of the long and short-term health risks of substance abuse, and a list of prevention and treatment programs available to students, staff, and faculty. The annual notification for students is conducted through the University electronic communication digest and coincides with the official census dates for each term. The annual notification for employees is conducted through the Office of Human Resources and Student Employment and the University electronic communication digest. 

Further information is available online in the Annual Security Report (ASR) in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The ASR contains policy statements, resources regarding alcohol and drug prevention, health risks, and sanctions for violation of related policies.

General Overview of Alcohol Use on Campus

1. The University prohibits the unlawful use or sale of alcoholic beverages and the possession or consumption in any form on the University campus except in those areas or instances where the president or the president’s designee has authorized in writing the serving or sale of legal beverages in accordance with the provisions of state and local law and ordinances and prescribed University regulations.
2. The University may authorize alcoholic beverages on campus for properly registered/sanctioned events, which demonstrate compliance with state and local law. (Student events must be registered with the Office of Student Services; faculty/staff/alumni/visitor events must be registered with the President’s Office and Facilities Use Committee). Specific requirements for gaining approval to serve alcoholic beverages include, but may not be limited to, the following:
   1. When alcohol is served, alternate non-alcoholic beverages and food must be served and displayed in equal prominence along with alcoholic beverages.
   2. Only appropriately licensed personnel may be authorized to sell alcoholic beverages.
   3. Alcohol may not be served to underage persons. To prohibit underage drinking, proper identification is required to be shown when alcohol is served.
   4. The purchase, sale, and delivery of alcoholic beverages without proper administrative written permission and approval by the President’s Office is prohibited.
   5. The University or its representatives reserve the right to refuse to serve alcoholic beverages to any patron whose behavior is disorderly. Additionally, the event itself may be terminated if safety is endangered due to disorderly conduct or the presence of inebriated attendees.
   6. Any approved advertising of alcohol shall promote responsible and legal use of the products represented.
   7. Other restrictions may apply. 

Related Policies and Protocols

Policy	Access	Who receives?
Recognized Student Organizations Handbook	https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/student-organizations-handbook/	Students involved in student organizations
McNeese Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy	https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/drug-and-alcohol-testing-policy/	All state employees
McNeese Policy Awareness Acknowledgement Statement	https://www.mcneese.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/POLICY-ACKNOWLEDGMENT-STATEMENT-2.pdf	All employees, including student workers
Student Handbook/Code of Student Conduct	https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/student-handbook/	All students
Student Rights and Responsibilities	https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/student-handbook/ and Academic Catalog	All students
Housing Regulations	Housing office on campus/Hoffpauir Management Company	All students who sign a lease with housing
University of Louisiana System PPM: Alcohol and Illegal Controlled Substances	https://www.ulsystem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/S-II.XXVII_.-1-Alcohol-and-Illegal-Controlled-Substances.pdf	Available to all

It is the responsibility of every student and employee of McNeese State University to comply with all federal, state, local, institutional, and University of Louisiana System regulations regarding alcohol and other drug use.

Applicable Laws

McNeese complies with and upholds federal, state, and local laws that regulate or prohibit possession, use, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs. 

The following is a summary of certain Louisiana laws: 

1. It is unlawful to falsify or permit someone else to use one’s driver’s license or other identification document to obtain or attempt to obtain any alcoholic beverages.
2. It is unlawful for any person under 21 to purchase or publicly possess any alcoholic beverages.
3. It is unlawful for any person, other than a parent, spouse, or legal guardian, to purchase on behalf of a person under 21 any alcoholic beverages.
4. It is unlawful for any person under 21 to purchase alcoholic beverages or be in possession of alcoholic beverages.
5. It is unlawful to sell to or share any alcohol beverages with any person under 21.
6. The possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances or illegal drugs is unlawful and strictly prohibited on campus and in campus housing.

Amnesty Program

The University maintains an amnesty program for the reporting of crimes that focuses upon the safety of victims first. Under the University’s amnesty program, the following persons reporting to McNeese officials will not be subject to conduct violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of sexual violence, or the seeking of assistance for severe intoxication of alcohol or drugs: 

• a bystander reporting sexual violence in good faith;
• a victim/survivor reporting sexual violence;
• a bystander in good faith seeking medical assistance for someone else with significant intoxication of alcohol or other substances; or
• a victim seeking medical assistance for themselves for significant intoxication of alcohol or other substances.

Refer to the Sexual Misconduct Policy for additional information.

Educational and Prevention Programs

The McNeese Counseling Center, in coordination with the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, administers the CORE Institute’s National Drug and Alcohol Survey to students on a biennial basis. The survey data is used to understand the drug/alcohol rates for the McNeese campus and to inform future educational programming needs. Other data gathering surveys or tools may be used as needed.

Drug and substance abuse educational and prevention programs are offered through the unit of Student Health and Development (Counseling Center and Health Services) to foster a healthy campus community. Programs include screening events, awareness/educational tabling events, classroom presentations upon request, and professionally contracted speaking engagements available to the entire student body. Additionally, various other on- and off-campus resources are invited to collaborate on educational events for the campus community. 

Annual Educational Campaign for Substance Abuse

The University maintains an annual educational campaign for students and employees coordinated through the Office of Student Services, which consists of activities that include distribution of educational materials to new students; participating in and presenting information and materials during new employee orientation; and the delivery of ongoing awareness and educational programs to all employees and students throughout the year. The University offers the following primary alcohol and drug prevention and awareness programs for all incoming students:

Program	Timeline	Location
Student Orientation	Fall & Spring semesters	Bulber Auditorium
Housing/Resident Student Orientation	Fall & Spring semesters	Bulber Auditorium
Campus Safety Month Wellness Wednesday	1st week of September	Student Union
Homecoming Week Safety	October	Quad/Student Union
Mid-Semester Prevention (Pre-Mardi Gras Prevention)	March	Quad/Student Union

Enforcement

All University employees and students are responsible for adhering to the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy. Faculty and staff members who violate this policy are referred to the appropriate unit administrator. Students are referred to the dean of student support and advocacy for disciplinary action. The University president and designees are the ultimate authorities responsible for enforcing this policy. Student employees may be held to the standards set for employees of the University.

The University will impose sanctions for violations of state and federal laws, Code of Student Conduct, and University policies. Violators may be punished by sanctions including referral to counseling and/or a designated rehabilitation program, referral for prosecution, expulsion, disciplinary action, and/or termination of employment.

Communication

This policy is distributed via the University Policies webpage.