Alcohol and Drug Policy

Student/Employee Conduct:

Students

Students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct applies to any College activity, function, or event on or off campus or in a college-owned vehicle. Violation of College policy and/or the Student Code of Conduct is considered a serious matter and may result in disciplinary measures. In accordance with Rule 5 of the Student Code of Conduct, students are prohibited from the following:

1. No student shall distribute, dispense, possess, use or be under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, malt beverage or fortified wine or other intoxicating liquor or unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, use or be under the influence of any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, anabolic steroid or any other “controlled substance” before, during, or after school hours on College premises, at any other College locations, or at College sponsored events or activities.  
   A student’s legal use of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs is not a violation of policy only if such use does not endanger the student or others and it does not interfere with student learning or participation in student-related activities. Students shall be held strictly accountable for their behavior while under the influence of prescribed drugs or over-the-counter drugs.
2. A student shall not knowingly possess an instrument of drug paraphernalia for the purpose of ingesting a controlled substance
3. Any student who possesses, uses, sells, gives, or in any way transfers a controlled substance or manufactures a controlled substance while on College premises or as part of any College-sponsored activity will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion and referral for prosecution, and possible legal sanctions.
4. Instructors have the discretion to determine whether a student may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  If the instructor suspects a student is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the instructor has the authority to contact campus security to remove the student from the classroom. Instructors must notify the Vice President of Instruction and Student Support or designee of this alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct as soon as possible.

Employees  

Employees of the College are expected to adhere to the Alcohol and Drug Policy as a condition of employment at the College. Employees found in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary sanctions, up to and including expulsion or termination, for engaging in any of the following prohibited conduct: 

1. Engaging in the unlawful or unauthorized manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, sale, purchase, or use of any illicit drug or alcohol while on the College campus, while at work or during working hours, at a College-sponsored event, while engaging in College business, while representing the College away from the College campus, or while participating in College activities.
2. Being under the influence of any illicit drug or alcohol while on the College campus during work activities, in a College vehicle, while using College equipment, at a College-sponsored event, while engaged in College business, while representing the College away from the campus, or while participating in College activities. The reasonable use of alcohol may be permitted in a business/social setting, provided the individual is of legal age. Employees are expected to use good judgement with regard to the amount of alcohol consumed. 
3. Manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing, selling, purchasing, or using an illicit drug away from the College campus in a manner that adversely affects the employee’s performance, personal safety or the safety of others at work, or the College's regard or reputation in the community.
4. Storing any illicit drug or alcohol in a desk or other property owned by the College or located on the College campus without prior authorization from appropriate College officials.
5. Failing to report to the College a conviction for violation of any criminal drug or alcoholic beverage offense (whether entered into upon a verdict or a plea, including a plea of no contest) within five calendar days after the conviction.

Disciplinary Sanctions:

Students

Students who engage in the unlawful manufacture, possession, selling, use, or distribution of alcohol or illicit drugs, or who abuse alcohol or other drugs will be subject to disciplinary sanctions by Carteret Community College.  The disciplinary sanctions may include warnings, disciplinary probation, or in severe cases, expulsion from Carteret Community College and referral to the local authorities for prosecution.  Students should be aware that their actions are also subject to all local, state, and federal laws relating to drug and alcohol abuse.  The College will bring unlawful acts to the attention of proper law enforcement authorities.

Employees

Commission of any of the above violations will result in disciplinary sanctions by the College against the offending employee that are consistent with federal, state, and local law.  Sanctions may include a written warning, suspension from employment without pay for up to one semester or its equivalent, or termination from employment. Any illicit drugs or alcohol found in or on College property will be turned over to the appropriate authorities, and the College will assist in any resulting criminal prosecution. The College reserves the right to refer violators of this Policy to appropriate authorities for prosecution. 

Likewise, at its sole discretion and in lieu of or in addition to taking disciplinary action, the College may refer the offending employee to a substance abuse professional approved for such purposes by a federal, state, or local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency, for evaluation and possible assistance. The employee will be expected to comply with any assistance or rehabilitation program prescribed by the substance abuse professional as a condition of continued employment, as applicable. Participation in any assistance or rehabilitation program will be at the employee's own expense.  Additionally, participation in such programs will be subject to appropriate professional confidentiality associated with therapeutic treatment and personnel records.

Initial reports of suspected violations under this Policy shall be reported to the individual’s immediate supervisor, the appropriate Vice President, or the Human Resources Director.  The individual receiving the report shall immediately involve the Human Resources Director who will lead the investigation of the allegations.  While every effort shall be made to protect confidentiality of both the reporter and the affected employee, proper notice shall be shared in the appropriate college chain of command as well as with other individuals deemed vital to proper and through investigation and resolution.

Employees convicted of violations under any criminal drug or alcoholic beverage offense are required to self-report such conviction to the Human Resources Director.  Such notice must be provided in writing within five (5) days of the conviction.  Failure to do so will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.  To the extent required by law, the College will provide written notice, including an employee's position title, to the federal Department of Education or any other federal granting or contracting agency within ten days after receiving notice of the employee's conviction for violation of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.  Appropriate disciplinary sanctions will be taken against the employee within 30 days after receiving the notice of conviction.

Policy Enforcement:

1. Distribution: The College is committed to enforcing this Policy and to making sure that students and employees understand its contents and requirements. For this reason, the Policy will be made available to all students and employees along with other policies and procedures of the College.  Additionally, new employees will be required to sign written receipt of the Policy as a part of orientation.
2. Review: The College will review its Alcohol and Drug Policy and Prevention Program biennially or as otherwise required by the acts to determine their effectiveness and implement any changes as needed, and to help ensure that the disciplinary sanctions described in this Policy are enforced consistently. 
3. Other Applicable Laws: All applicable laws pertaining to alcohol consumption, including laws relating to the sale to, purchase by, or use by underage persons of alcohol, will be enforced on the College campus. Similarly, all applicable federal, state, and local drug laws will be enforced on the College campus. 

Counseling, Treatment, Rehabilitation, and Re-entry Programs:

Those faculty, staff, or students who seek assistance with a drug-related problem shall be provided with information about drug counseling and rehabilitation services available through community organizations.  Those who voluntarily avail themselves of counseling services offered through Carteret Community College shall be assured that applicable professional standards of confidentiality will be observed.

The Student Services Office maintains a list of public and private treatment agencies, many of which are listed in the Alcohol and Drug Policy Prevention Program brochure. Individuals may contact College counselors or the Human Resources department for more information on these services.

 Requirements for College and Third Party Events when Alcohol is Sold or Served:

Approval in writing is required by the President for all College-sanctioned activities where the lawful consumption and possession of alcohol is manufactured, possessed, used, distributed, sold, served, and/or consumed for academic, continuing education, social, or other purposes consistent with the College’s policies, procedures and applicable legal requirements. For more information on obtaining approval, please refer to the Facilities Rental Manual or by contacting the Facilities Rental Coordinator.