Notes & Definitions

Educational Programs & Counseling:

It is important that educational programs and counseling assessments be completed immediately following the assignment of sanctions. Letters from the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities will note the type of educational/counseling program the student is assigned and the date that it should be completed.

• Second Look - CHEERS peer educators facilitate a 1 ½  hour program that gives participants the opportunity to examine attitudes and perceptions and how these influence behavior. Students are given strategies to reduce risks.
• BASICS - This is a two part program with one group meeting and one individual meeting with Counseling Services. The program provides students with the opportunity to assess their substance use, to set goals, and to get support for effecting positive change in their lives.
• Counseling Assessment - Students participate in a confidential individual assessment of their alcohol and other drug use by Counseling Services staff. This usually involves attending two, one hour sessions. The counselor then shares the written assessment and recommendations with the student.
• Expectations for Participation:
  • Second Look and BASICS - Students are expected to attend the session they are assigned, which will take place at least 2 weeks from the date of the sanction letter. If students have a scheduling conflict then they should contact the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. If students do not attend their first scheduled meeting then they will be reassigned and they will forfeit their "point forgiveness" point for the following semester. If they fail to attend their second scheduled meeting then they will incur a fine, and will have an academic hold placed on their record which limits registration and transcript release. The academic hold will be lifted after they attend their assigned meeting.
  • Counseling Assessment - Students are expected to complete their first appointment within 2 weeks from the date on the sanction letter. If students do not meet this expectation, they forfeit their "point forgiveness" point for the following semester. If they continue to fail to schedule and attend their first appointment then they will incur a fine, and will have an academic hold placed on their record which limits registration and transcript release. The academic hold will be lifted after they attend their assigned meeting.

DEFINITIONS AND NOTES:

Advisor notification: Advisors for student organizations of which the student is a member may also be informed of violations -

• When the student conduct administrator hearing the case believes that this would be helpful to the student
• When the advisor requests such information

Alcohol and Drug Required Leave

A key component of Gettysburg College's mission is to provide a safe environment where students are able to pursue their academic and social goals.  The College may require a student to take a leave of absence if a student illustrates that he or she is repeatedly unable to make sound and safe decisions about alcohol and drug use, or the student engages in drinking or drug use that threatens the life, health and safety of one's self or others.  This term of Alcohol and Drug Required Leave will be invoked for significant or repeated violations of the terms of the College's Alcohol and Drug Policy Points System.

The Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students will determine the terms of the Alcohol and Drug Required Leave.  If a student violates the terms of the Alcohol and Drug Policy Points System by reaching or exceeding ten points, the terms of the Alcohol and Drug Required Leave will normally include a provision for the student to receive care (medical, psychiatric, psychological, counseling, or therapy) while on leave.  Our procedures will follow the protocol outlined in the Medical Leave of Absence and Withdrawal Policy on page 5 of the Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities. The Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students may identify additional criteria in order to return to campus.  The Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students, in consultation with Health and Counseling Services, will determine if all criteria have been met and if the student is eligible to return.  If a student is required to leave during the fall semester, normally the leave will be extended to the entire spring semester as well.

A student returning from Required Leave will have 5 points on their record upon return.

A student that accumulates 10 or more points for a SECOND time during their Gettysburg career will be referred to the Student Conduct Review Board for consideration of suspension/expulsion, along with any sanctions assigned through the point system process.

Instances of any of these behaviors, whether alcohol-related or not, could also be referred to the Student Conduct Review Board for consideration of possible suspension or expulsion (along with other sanctions, as detailed in the Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities).  Note on Suspension: students who are suspended from the College during an academic semester normally do not receive any refund on their tuition or housing fees for that semester.

BAC testing:  Is done only by Public Safety and the local Police, at the discretion of the officer addressing the situation.  RAs will not administer breathalyzer tests.  Security may ask students to take a voluntary breathalyzer test in order to demonstrate that they have not been drinking.  Security may also ask students to take a breathalyzer test to help assess the need for medical treatment.  

Engaging in drinking practices or activities that seriously threaten one's health and life   - second occurrence:  The Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students will convene the Student Behavioral Assessment Committee to review each individual case. The committee includes the Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students and representatives from the following offices: Student Rights and Responsibilities, Residence Life, Counseling, Public Safety, and Academic Advising. The committee will assess the student's ability to safely manage the college environment in relation to alcohol/other substance use.  This committee will, as part of this assessment, determine whether an Alcohol and Drug Required Leave is an appropriate response to the situation in question.

Medical Amnesty: To receive medical amnesty, the student seeking assistance for the sick student must

• Be the first person to contact Public Safety to report that a person needs medical assistance due to alcohol consumption
• The calling student must provide his/her own name to Public Safety when they call
• The student calling must remain with the person needing medical assistance until Public Safety arrives and the need for their presence has ended

Multiple violations in one incident:  The student will be assigned the point value of the most serious violation.

Other Potential Sanctions:  In addition to the sanctions listed here, Hearing Officers/the Student Conduct Review Board may also assign other sanctions, depending on the specific circumstances of the situation.  These sanctions include, but are not limited to:   reflective essays, educational activities, anger management assessment, service hours, restriction/loss of parking privileges, residence hall separation, counseling assessment, alcohol education programs, requirement to submit to breathalyzer test in the event of future incidents, apology, financial reparations.  See the Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities for a complete list of possible sanctions.

Point Forgiveness:

• For each semester that a student is not involved in any violations of College Policy, (including for example residential guidelines, network use policy, etc.) ONE point will be removed from their record. 
• To qualify for the removal of one point from their record, as described above, students must meet the scheduling expectations for educational programming and counseling sessions at the time of the initial violation (see the Educational Programming and Counseling section above for more details).  
• Students that successfully complete an optional alcohol education program (through Counseling Services) have ONE point removed from their record.
• No more than 3 points can be forgiven for a student in one academic year; no more than 2 points can be forgiven for a student in one semester.
• Points cannot be forgiven for a previous violation if a student is being investigated for (or has been charged with) a new violation, until the new violation has been fully adjudicated.
• If a student accumulates 9 points and is able to drop their point total to 6 through point forgiveness and educational programming (includes a year without any policy violations), he/she can petition the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for authorization to participate in a specially designed point forgiveness program with Counseling to drop down to 5 points and therefore be eligible for off-campus study.