COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
SYSTEM PROCEDURE

Drug Free Schools


SP 19-30

EFFECTIVE: October 1, 1990
RETITLED: September 14, 2000
RETITLED: August 25, 2001
REVISED: March 27, 2015

REFERENCES: Board Policy on Drug Free Schools, BP 19-30; Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989

APPROVED:

/ Nancy J. McCallin /
Nancy J. McCallin, Ph.D.
System President

Application

This procedure applies to all the Community Colleges within the Colorado Community College System (CCCS).

Basis

Board Policy (BP) 19-30 provides that all Community Colleges within CCCS must comply with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989.

Procedure

Each College shall adopt and implement a program to prevent the abuse of alcohol and use of illegal drugs by students and employees.

  1. The program shall consist, at a minimum, of the following:
    • Develop, implement and annually distribute the College’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program (Program) to all students and employees (see attached Sample Program). Distribution requirement may be satisfied by inclusion of the Program in class schedule(s), catalog(s), direct mail bill(s), College issued email(s), or any other method that will accomplish notice. Additionally, the program information can be posted on the web with notification made to students and staff using the exact web address as to the location of the information. Colleges must have a plan to distribute the Program to new students and employees who enroll or are hired after the annual notification. The Human Resources and Student Services offices shall keep records, in order to document distribution to all employees and students.
    • Review the Program biennially in every even-numbered year to determine its effectiveness, implement necessary changes, and ensure that sanctions are consistently enforced. The report should be complete and made available by October 1st of every even-numbered year.
  2. Keep records documenting compliance with the law for a minimum of three years after the federal fiscal year in which the record was created.

Revising this Procedure

CCCS reserves the right to change any provision or requirement of this procedure at any time and the change shall become effective immediately.

ATTACHMENT

DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM

(Sample)

[COLLEGE NAME] is a Community College governed by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (Board). Board Policy 19-30, Drug Free Schools, requires the College to comply with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Amendments of 1989 (PL 101-226 in federal law). The College has adopted the following Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program:

Standard of Conduct

In compliance with the federal Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, [COLLEGE] prohibits the unlawful manufacture, dispensation, possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance (illicit drugs and alcohol) of any kind and in any amount including marijuana. These prohibitions cover any individual’s actions which are part of any College activities, including those occurring while on College property or in the conduct of College business away from the campus.

Legal Sanctions for Violation of the Standards of Conduct

Any student or employee who is convicted of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, use/abuse of illicit drugs or alcohol is subject to criminal penalties under local, state and federal law. A single federal drug offense can carry a fine of up to $4,000,000.00 and/or life in prison. At the state level, the most serious single drug offense carries a fine of up to $1,000,000.00 and up to 32 years imprisonment and the least serious single drug offense carries a fine of up to $5,000.00 and/or up to 18 months imprisonment.

State laws regulating the production, dispensation, possession, and use of alcohol are in Titles 12 and 18 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. A person under the age of 21 who possesses or consumes alcohol may be subject to a fine of $100.00 and/or mandated substance abuse education for a first time offense. Provision of alcohol to any person under the age of 21, a visibly intoxicated person, or a known alcoholic may be punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00 and a one-year jail sentence. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor can result in a $500,000.00 fine and an eight-year imprisonment.

Under Title 42 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs can be subject to a $1,000.00 fine, up to one year in jail, license revocation, and community service for a first time offense.

Finally, depending on where the College is located, local ordinances may also impose a variety of offenses for drug and alcohol violations. More information can be found at: https://library.municode.com/co

Penalties Which May be Imposed by the College

Students and/or employees who violate the above standard of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to the applicable employee and student disciplinary policies and procedures. The sanctions may include, but are not limited to, a requirement to complete an appropriate rehabilitation or re-entry program, discipline up to and including expulsion for students and termination for employees, and/or referral to authorities for prosecution.

Health Risks Associated With Use of Illicit Drugs and Alcohol Abuse

Health risks associated with drug and alcohol abuse include, but are not limited to:  malnutrition, brain damage, heart disease, and pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, mental illness, death, low birth weight babies, and babies with drug addictions.

Available Counseling, Treatment, Rehabilitation or Re-entry Programs

Information on available counseling, treatment, rehabilitation or re-entry programs is available at [CAMPUS OFFICE NAME] or the Colorado Department of Health.