Health and Safety

MCU’s Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program (DAAPP)

The policies and procedures delineated herein are intended to provide governance and guidance for the development, implementation, and enforcement of MCUs drug and alcohol abuse and prevention program.

MCU Policy on Drugs & Alcohol Use for Students: Per the Student Code of Conduct, MCU prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and/or alcohol by students on its property or as part of any of its formal educational activities. Any MCU student that violates this policy will be first referred to the College’s Drug & Alcohol Abuse re-entry program for evidence-based and individualized counseling regarding their use and harm reduction strategies. Repeated violations of MCU’s Policy on Drugs & Alcohol Use, or failure to comply with stipulations set forth by the College’s Drug & Alcohol Abuse re-entry program, are grounds for immediate suspension or expulsion from the College. All MCU students who are convicted of a drug or alcohol-related violation by local, state, or federal authorities must report, in writing, the conviction within 30 days to the President of the College. MCU is obligated by law to report to the US Department of Education any student with a drug or alcohol conviction who also receives federal financial assistance (e.g., Pell grants).

Corresponding Procedures:

Review & Dissemination: This policy will be reviewed annually by a designated committee. This policy will be inserted by MCU into the following documents: the MCU website, the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook & Course Catalog, and the Disclosure Statement.

Violations: These violations will be reported to the President and documented by the Student Support Services Coordinator. The Director of Student Services will be responsible for: documenting the violation in student and institutional records, reporting the violation to the US Department of Education (as applicable), and implementing the Student Code of Conduct violations procedure to determine the appropriate nature of sanctioning, including referral and completion by the student of MCU’s Drug Alcohol Abuse re-entry program (first violation, as appropriate). Director of Student Life, Equity & Access will be responsible for integrating MCU’s Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program information into new student orientation, and the undergraduate Admission Director will be responsible for disseminating MCU’s Disclosure Statement into the Admissions Letter for all newly accepted students.

MCU Policy on Drugs & Alcohol Use for Employees: Per all employee contracts, MCU prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and/or alcohol by employees on its property or as part of any of its formal educational activities. MCU maintains a drug-free campus, in accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. Alcohol at MCU-affiliated events is only allowed if approved in advance by the President, responsible drinking practices are in place, and the event staff abides by all laws, ordinances, and statutes of the locale, including proper permitting if applicable. MCU employees must abide by all local, state, and federal laws regarding the possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances, and illicit drugs are never allowed on MCU property or at any official college-related event. MCU employees who violate this policy will be sanctioned on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the violation, the severity, and any legal ramifications or actions against the employee. Depending on the nature of the violation, sanctions may include: mandated participation in the College’s Drug & Alcohol Abuse re-entry program; temporary or permanent limitations on employee duties; and suspension or termination of employment. All MCU employees who are convicted of a drug or alcohol-related violation by local, state, or federal authorities must report, in writing, the conviction within 30 days to the President of the College. MCU is obligated by law to report to the US Department of Education any employee with a drug or alcohol conviction who also receives federal financial assistance (e.g., a research grant).

Corresponding Procedures:

Review & Dissemination: This policy will be reviewed annually by a designated committee. This policy will be inserted by MCU into the following documents of the institution: the MCU website, the Staff Contract, the Faculty Contract, and the Disclosure Statement. The Staff HR Assistant and Faculty HR Assistant will respectively be responsible for integrating MCU’s Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program information into staff and faculty onboarding processes, including new employee paperwork and orientation.

Violations: Violations will be reported to and documented by the President. The President will be responsible for documenting the violation in employee and institutional records, reporting the violation to the US Department of Education (as applicable), and convening a committee to determine the appropriate nature of sanctioning, including referral and completion by the employee of MCU’s Drug & Alcohol Abuse re-entry program (first violation, as appropriate).

DAAPP DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

For in-depth information about drug and alcohol health risks, abuse prevention, standards of conduct, resources, policies, and sanctions to all students and employees of the institution, please see MCU’s Annual Notification of Drug & Alcohol Abuse and Prevention Information.

MCU’s DAAPP Disclosure Statement will be reviewed, annually, by a designated committee. The Disclosure Statement will be disseminated, annually, to all students and employees by the Financial Aid Department annually. The Disclosure Statement will be distributed to new students and faculty throughout the year using the procedures delineated above, to account for variable hiring and enrollment dates.

DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE RE-ENTRY PROGRAM (DAARP)

The Drug & Alcohol Abuse Re-entry Program (DAARP) will be administered by the Director of Student, Life, Equity & Access. The Director of Student Life, Equity & Access will be responsible for: maintaining and implementing the program; documenting usage and completion rates of the program, including required versus voluntary participation; and reporting program enrollment to the Student Finances office so the appropriate program fees can be charged to the student or employee’s account.

BIENNIAL REVIEW & REPORT

The Biennial Review will be conducted by a qualified person, as appointed by the President of the College. The person may be internal to the institution or may be an externally hired evaluation expert. The lead evaluator will develop and conduct the evaluation in conjunction with an identified team of their choosing. The lead evaluator should be appointed no later than February 1st of the biennial year, and the team convened by March 1st. Evaluation should occur between March through May of the biennial year with the final report being delivered to the President by June 15th. The review and subsequent report, as a minimum, must cover: assessment and data collection methods for the evaluation; effectiveness of the institution’s drug & alcohol abuse and prevention program; number and type of violations as well as sanctions; and recommendations for improvement and change. The report must be approved by the institutions President, Chief Executive, and/or Board. The President will determine the timing and nature of all the recommendations identified in the report. The Leadership Team of the institution will also review the Biennial Report and will be responsible for integrating recommendations strategically into College operations, as well as otherwise identifying opportunities for further integration of and ongoing improvement to College processes throughout each academic year.