Disciplinary Sanctions
A description of the College of Charleston disciplinary actions that may be taken associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol.
Source: http://deanofstudents.cofc.edu/honor-system/studenthandbook/index.php
Alcohol Policies, printable pdf on the Student Handbook web page
- See Section on: Alcohol-Related Violations
- Section on: Procedures for the Use of Alcohol on Campus or During College Sponsored Events
- Section on: Sanctions.
Drug Policy. printable pdf on the Student Handbook web page
- Section on Sanctions.
For Students
Sanctions: Alcohol-Related Violations
Source: Student Handbook: Alcohol Policies, 2. Alcohol-Related Violations.
ALCOHOL-RELATED VIOLATIONS (possession, use, public intoxication, possession of multiple empty alcohol containers, etc.). The College of Charleston will impose on students the following sanctions and other sanctions for proven violations of its alcohol policies.
Responses from incidents that originate within the Residence Halls, On Campus or Off Campus.
2.1 FIRST VIOLATION
(Resolution by Residence Life and Housing staff/Student Affairs official)
Sanctions may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Receive a probation period or be placed on residence life probation for a set amount of time if a residential student and incident occurs within the residential system;
(b) Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation;
(c) Participate in an alcohol risk reduction program and/or assessment at Counseling and Substance Abuse Services. Fees will be charged and/or educational activities.
Failure to complete first offense sanctions will result in a fine ($150.00 or more) and other sanctions.
2.2 SECOND VIOLATION
(Resolution by official/Conduct Body)
Sanctions may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Be placed on probation, residence life probation or deferred disciplinary suspension (one more violation and student is suspended from enrollment) and possibly moved within or removed from residence life housing for a minimum of one semester, depending on the specific circumstances;
If a student is removed from residence life housing for disciplinary reasons full payment of the contract is due if a residential student and incident occurs within the residential system;
(b) Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation;
(c) Participate in an alcohol risk reduction program and/or assessment at Counseling and Substance Abuse Services or through an off-campus provider. Fees will be charged.
Failure to complete second offense sanctions will result in a fine ($200.00 or more) and other sanctions unless student is on deferred suspension.
2.3 THIRD VIOLATION
(Resolution by Student Affairs official/Conduct Body)
Sanctions may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Be removed from residence life housing with full payment of the contract due if a residential student and incident occurs within the residential system;
(b) Be placed on disciplinary suspension from the College for a minimum of one semester;
(c) Have re-admission to the College dependent on successful completion of a pre-approved substance abuse counseling program; and
(d) Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.
Sanctions: Use of Alcohol on Campus or College Sponsored Events
Source: Student Handbook. Procedures for the Use of Alcohol on Campus or During College Sponsored Events, Sanctions.First Violation Sanctions may include, but not limited to:
- Group is on social/event suspension for minimum of one month. The exact time period is to be determined by the Director of Student Life or Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
- Social/event suspension remains in place until meeting and plan are completed.
- Failure to comply with sanctions for the first offense may result in sanctioning as imposed under a second violation.
- Loss of campus privileges including access to the organization account for a minimum of three months, excluding summer months.
- Entire organization must attend a 6-hour alcohol risk reduction seminar (deadline to be set by the disciplinary administrator).
- Must pay a $500.00 fine to the Office of Student Life or Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life or plan an alcohol-free social event for the entire student body on a weekend.
- Letter of notification to be sent to the national organization, sponsoring agency or academic department.
Third Violation:
The sanction for a third violation is suspension of recognition by the College for a time period consistent with the level of infraction up to a permanent suspension from the College of Charleston campus. This will be determined by the Director of Student Life or Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life in conjunction with the Dean of Students and/or Executive Vice President for Student Affairs.
Sanctions: Drug Violations
Source Student Handbook, Section 18. Drug Policy. Section 4. Sanction.
The College of Charleston will impose on students the following sanctions and other sanctions for proven violations of its drug policies.
The College considers any violation of the drug policy to be a serious offense. The College will respond to all reported violations of this policy in accordance with the disciplinary procedures published in the Student Handbook. Residential students will be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for resolution. The sanctions imposed by the College for students found responsible for drug-related violations follow:
4.1. Distribution, dispensation, trafficking, or manufacturing illegal drugs and/or controlled substances
A. Prior to hearing -- Because acts such as the manufacturing, distributing, dispensing and trafficking of illegal drugs and controlled substances are threats and dangers to both the health and safety of the community, when there is reason to believe, based on available facts, that the student represents an immediate threat to the safety, health, or welfare of herself/himself, other persons, or property, the College may immediately suspend alleged offenders prior to a hearing, in accordance with policies as published in the Student Handbook.
B. Following the hearing – For students found responsible for manufacturing, distribution, dispensing, or trafficking of illegal drugs (including marijuana) and/or controlled substances, the College’s response will likely be:
i) At a minimum disciplinary suspension for two years or more and at a maximum expulsion in accordance with disciplinary procedures as published in the Student Handbook.
ii) Removal from residence life housing with full payment of the contract due, if a residential student and incident occurred within the residential system.
iii) Have re-admission to the College dependent on successful completion of a pre-approved substance abuse counseling program.
iv) Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.
4.2. Possession with intent to distribute
For students found responsible for possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs (including marijuana) and/or controlled substances, the College’s response will likely be:
A. At a minimum disciplinary suspension for one year and at a maximum disciplinary suspension for two years or more in accordance with disciplinary procedures as published in the Student Handbook.
B. Removal from residence life housing with full payment of the contract due, if a residential student and incident occurred within the residential system.
C. Have re-admission to the College dependent on successful completion of a pre-approved substance abuse counseling program.
D. Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.
4.3. Possession and/or use of illegal drugs and illegal possession and/or use of controlled substances
For students found responsible for the possession/use of illegal drugs (including marijuana weighing one ounce or more) and/or illegal possession/use of controlled substances (including the illegal possession/use of prescription medications and certain synthetic drugs), the College’s response will likely be:
A. Placed on disciplinary suspension from the College.
B. Removal from residence life housing with full payment of the contract due, if a residential student and incident occurred within the residential system.
C. Have re-admission to the College dependent on successful completion of a pre-approved substance abuse counseling program.
D. Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.
4.4. Possession and/or use of marijuana –weighing under one ounce –
For students found responsible for only the possession and/or use of marijuana, for a first offense the College’s response will likely be:
A. Placed on deferred disciplinary suspension from the College for not less than one semester. Deferred suspension means that the disciplinary suspension is held in abeyance as long as all other sanctions are completed by stated deadlines, all illegal substance screens/tests are negative, and there are no other violations.
B. Participate in a drug and alcohol risk reduction program and/or assessment at the Counseling Center. Fees will be charged.
C. Participate in periodic drug and alcohol testing at the student’s expense for not less than one semester.
D. Educational activities.
E. Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.
4.5. Possession and/or use of marijuana –weighing one ounce or less—
For students found responsible for only the possession and/or use of marijuana, for a second offense the College’s response will likely be:
A. Removal from residence life housing with full payment of the contract due, if a residential student and incident occurred within the residential system.
B. Placed on disciplinary suspension from the College.
C. Have re-admission to the College dependent on successful completion of a pre-approved substance abuse counseling program.
D. Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.
4.6. Possession and/or sale of drug paraphernalia --
For students found in violation for the possession and/or sale of drug paraphernalia, the College’s response will be:
A. Determined on a case-by- case basis in accordance with disciplinary procedures as published in the Student Handbook.
4.7. The manufacture, intent to distribute, distribution, dispensation, trafficking, possession, or use of imitation (“look alike”) or synthetic substances including but not limited to substances such as K2, Spice, etc., the College’s response will be:
A. Determined on a case-by- case basis in accordance with disciplinary procedures as published in the Student Handbook.
4.8. The manufacture, intent to distribute, distribution, dispensation, trafficking, possession, or use of psychoactive plant which produces hallucinogenic effects including but not limited to substances such as Salvia, the College’s response will be:
A. Determined on a case-by- case basis in accordance with disciplinary procedures as published in the Student Handbook.
4.9. Eligibility for Financial Aid
Students found in violation of the drug laws jeopardize their ability to receive federal financial aid, College of Charleston scholarships and South Carolina Scholarships for which they might otherwise be eligible. Students can regain their eligibility to receive federal financial aid. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs for further information.
4.10. Drug-Free Workplace Policy
The Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of illegal drugs in the workplace and provides for sanctions against faculty, staff, and the student employees, permanent or temporary, who violate this policy. Pursuant to federal and state law, the policy also requires grant or contract employees to notify the employer of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five days after the conviction. Any student employee who violates the drug-free workplace policy is subject to prosecution and punishment by civil authorities, as well as to disciplinary procedures by the College and may also be terminated from his or her position of employment by the supervising department.
Employee Disciplinary Sanctions
- Employee Drug and Alcohol Abuse http://policy.cofc.edu/documents/9.1.6.pdf