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Home / Student Rights and Responsibilities / Alcohol and Other Drugs

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Georgia Southwestern State University accepts a responsibility to educate its students on the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and to adopt policies and procedures designed to minimize the incidents involving the high-risk use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.  Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug education programs are coordinated through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities in conjunction with the Task Force on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD), Health and Counseling Services, and the iHelp Peer Educators.

Violations

Any student violating any policy of the Student Code of Conduct that relates to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs or that the use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs contributed to or was related to that student’s violation will be assigned sanctions as outlined:

  • First offense: The student will be sanctioned through the disciplinary student conduct process, which may require attendance in Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) education program and/or workshops presented by Health and Counseling Services or the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
  • Second offense: The student will be required to repeat all sanctions described as part of the first offence and subject to additional sanctions. The additional sanctions may include a clinical assessment, community service hours, additional probation, restitution and/or suspension from the institution.  If the student is under the age of 21, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities may choose to notify the student’s parents of this second violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

  • Third offense: The student will be suspended for a minimum of one semester. The completion substance abuse assessment is required to determine the necessity of addiction counseling and/or other treatments. Only after providing verification of completion of clinical assessment, treatment recommendations or written letter from qualified professional denying the necessity of treatment may the student return to university. In addition, the student may be required to complete Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) education program and/or workshops upon their return to the university.

    *Additional sanctions may be determined by the circumstances of the case and the student’s prior record, including the conditions of probation from any prior record.

Guideline Details

This is the plan created by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Task Force as a guideline for the minimum amount of student conduct sanctioning and educational support to be provided for a student for any violation of the Student Code of Conduct as it relates to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco.  It does not supersede a student’s judicial status when the student is on a probationary status for any previous violations.

GSW Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Task Force

Georgia Southwestern State University is committed to support and comply with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226, Section 22, subpart B) as an Institution of Higher Education. The law under this act now covers both drugs and alcohol, and relates to faculty, staff and students. Therefore, the entire campus community of Georgia Southwestern State University is under the mandate to comply.  This committee has been charged with ensuring compliance with the aforementioned federal mandates.

The Task Force on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Committee is a standing committee of Georgia Southwestern State University. The Task Force shall focus on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug education, prevention and intervention for the GSW campus community. The Task Force shall:

  • Provide continual guidance and support to ensure that the 1989 amendments (Part 86) to the "Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act" regulations are being followed;
  • Develop a strategic plan for GSW on ATOD issues. This will include the assignment of sub-committees to accomplish strategic plan tasks;
  • Make recommendations or modifications to any current GSW drug, alcohol, or tobacco policies;
  • Establish and assess programs to educate and provide interventions to students who violate current GSW alcohol, tobacco, and other drug policies as well as any federal, state or local laws;
  • Oversee the general education of the campus community in relation to policies, laws, and risks associated with ATOD issues including programming, classes, seminars, and workshops;
  • Collaborate with GSW's iHelp Peer Educators to provide quality educational programming in the areas of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for the campus community;
  • Provide training for task force members and peer educators on ATOD issues;
  • Provide financial support for GSW education and prevention programs;
  • Assess the university environment surrounding perceptions and use of survey; and
  • Collaborate with members of the community to ensure a community approach to ATOD education.

Department Contact

Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Success Center
Third Floor, Room 3437

229-931-2329
student.rights@gsw.edu