Alcohol Policy
It is the College’s intention to provide a nurturing environment that fosters student development and autonomy. This can best be accomplished by providing latitude for individual choice with regard to personal use of alcohol. However, that freedom of choice exists with the understanding that students will comply with federal and state law and College policies, take full responsibility for their conduct, and ensure that their behavior does not impinge upon the rights and needs of others. Freedom of choice also requires knowledge of the impact of alcohol abuse on one’s health. Illegal possession, use, or distribution of alcohol is prohibited on College property.
The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act
The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act requires each institution of higher education to certify that it has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees. Failure to comply can result in the loss of funds and any other form of financial assistance under any Federal program, including participation in any federally funded or guaranteed student loan program.
The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act further requires the College to inform faculty, students, and staff about:
- the College’s standards of conduct prohibiting unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol use and the sanctions that may be imposed on students who violate these standards;
- applicable legal sanctions under local, state, and federal laws for the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol;
- the health risks associated with the use of illicit drug and the abuse of alcohol; and
- available counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation or re-entry programs in place that address substance abuse
Campus and College-Owned Properties
As an academic community, the College is committed to providing an environment in which learning and scholarship can flourish. The College is a community where individuals respect one another and the environment. Students are expected to know and abide by the following policies and rules, which are in place to support the community’s shared values. The College enforces these policies, as well as state and local laws.
Consumption of alcohol is permitted in the College Commons, Campus Village, and College-owned or provided houses by residents who have reached the legal drinking age (21 or older) (see Fraternity/Sorority Life section of this Handbook).
Upper Class Residence Hall (Denver, Marble and Friends) residents are permitted to have alcohol in their rooms, provided that each resident of the room has reached the legal drinking age. Alcohol may be consumed in the resident’s specified room with the door closed. This privilege can be revoked as a result of violating the Student Code of Conduct.
Consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited outside the resident’s private room/apartment. This includes building common areas, balconies, Village courtyard, Commons patios, etc.
- No kegs, beer/party balls, or mixing of large quantities of assorted alcohol is permitted anywhere on campus, unless authorized by the President of Wilmington College.
- Alcohol is prohibited at athletic events.
- The sale of alcohol is prohibited on campus.
- Alcohol marketing/advertising practices are prohibited on campus.
- Alcohol may not be given as a prize for any contest.
- No open or empty containers of alcohol are permitted anywhere on campus except inside designated apartments (open alcohol containers are not allowed anywhere outside on campus grounds), consistent with the rules set forth above. Open containers of alcohol are defined as any container that has had its original seal broken. Alcohol poured into a container other than its original container is considered an open container.
- On campus, no student shall knowingly be present during the illegal use of alcohol or where there are containers of alcohol in violation of College policy.
- Drinking games involving alcoholic beverages, such as “beer pong,” that contribute to high-risk drinking behavior, are prohibited.
Off-Campus Events Funded by Student Activity Fees
- No Wilmington College student activity fee money can be used to purchase alcohol or equipment used to dispense alcohol.
- Student activity fee-funded events where alcohol is present may only be held at locations that have a liquor license. If the location’s primary business is selling alcohol, then admission must be limited to Wilmington College students and their guests. Only the licensed vendor may sell the alcohol, and no other alcohol is permitted.
- No student activity fee or departmental budget-funded events at which alcohol is present may be held on fraternity or sorority house property.
- Consumption of alcohol is only permitted within the approved area designated for the event. All those consuming alcohol must be of legal drinking age.
- Nonalcoholic beverages must be available and featured as prominently as alcoholic beverages.
- Promotional materials, including advertisements for any College event, shall not make reference to alcohol, “BYOB”, or a cash bar. All advertising must be approved by the Vice President, Chief Student Affairs Officer Office and Dean of Students and must be in compliance with the College Posting Policy.
- The sponsoring organization must provide reasonable amounts of food.
- The sponsoring organization(s) is encouraged to provide transportation from the event by non-drinkers. Student activity fee money or departmental budgets may be used to rent vehicles for this purpose. Rentals must be made from a dealership or transportation company.
- Alcohol is prohibited while being transported in College vehicles.
- Irresponsible drinking behavior while representing Wilmington College in any capacity is prohibited.
- Individual departments of the College may choose to prohibit alcohol at their off-campus activities.
- No alcohol is permitted in any College owned/leased vehicle.
Privately Funded Off-Campus Events
- The possession, use, and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages while on Greek organization premises, at any event, or in any situation sponsored or endorsed by any recognized organization, must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the state, county, city, and College.
- No organization members, collectively or individually, may purchase for, serve to, or sell alcoholic beverages to any minor (i.e., those under legal drinking age).
- The possession, sale, and/or use of any illicit drugs at any organizational activity or organization-sponsored event is strictly prohibited.
- No alcoholic beverages shall be associated in any manner or form with organizational member recruitment activities (i.e., Greek organization rush).
- The new-member initiation process/program (i.e., pledging) shall not require, force, or coerce the consumption of alcohol.
- Social events hosted/sponsored at off-campus locations where alcohol is present and is sold or there is an admissions charge to participants must adhere to the following procedures (Does not include social events hosted at a tavern; “tavern” defined as an establishment generating more than half of its annual gross sales from alcohol):
- Must complete an Event Guest List Form that all participants of the event must sign prior to entry into the event and submit the completed form to the Vice President, Chief Student Affairs Officer within 24 hours of the ending time of the event, or the following Monday after an event that begins on a Friday or a weekend.
- Must have a minimum of two contracted security guards* present during the duration of the event. Participants of the event must present a valid ID at the entrance to the event and sign the Event Guest list. Participants 21 years and older must display the proper color wristband to purchase or consume alcohol at the event. (*Contracted security guards must be from a properly licensed and insured security company that has provided documentation to the Vice President, Chief Student Affairs Officer. Documentation must be updated annually.)
- Must secure an “F” temporary liquor permit issued by the State of Ohio and display it on the premise of the event. A copy of the F permit must be submitted to the Dean of Student’s Office prior to the event and the completed Event Guest List Form after the event.
- Event servers of alcohol must have completed the College’s approved Server Training Program.
- The sponsoring organization(s) must provide reasonable amounts of non-alcoholic beverages.
- Open social events that allow unrestricted access to non-members of the organization without specific invitation and where alcohol is present are prohibited.
- The possession, sale, and/or use of any illegal drugs at any organizational activity sponsored event is strictly prohibited.
Off-Campus Events, Regardless of the Source of Funding
Such events as study/service trips, departmentally sponsored student trips, music trips, and athletic trips may be funded with a combination of student activity fees, College funds, and private contributions. Regardless of the source of the funds, an event or trip sponsored by some part of Wilmington College is subject to the alcohol policy in this section.
As is indicated above, the sponsors of any off-campus College event may prohibit any use of alcohol during the activity, regardless of the age of the students participating. If this rule is to be applied to the event, information about the rule will be provided to the participants in advance.
Students are always subject to the laws of the state or country they visit, and are expected to inform themselves about local laws restricting the use of alcohol.
Sanctions for Alcohol Policy Violations
Students who use alcohol a way that violates this policy will be subject to the judicial process described in this Handbook. Consistent with state and federal law, the College may impose sanctions up to and including expulsion or termination, or referral for prosecution.
College employees supervising the activity are subject to the alcohol and drug policies in the Administrative and Support Staff Handbook or Faculty Handbook.
Alcohol and the Law
In addition to health risks, legal risks must also be considered. The use of alcohol by an underage person, the misuse of alcohol, or the abuse of alcohol raise the possibility of arrest and/or fines. The following is a brief summary of select laws concerning alcohol.
- Underage Consumption. In Ohio, a person must be 21 years old to drink beer, wine, mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor. No person under 21 years of age shall order, pay for, share the cost of, or attempt to purchase or possess or consume beer or intoxicating liquor in any public or private place.
- Misrepresentation (Fake ID). No person shall knowingly furnish any false information as to the name, age, or other identification of any person under 21 years of age for the purposes of obtaining or with intent to obtain beer or intoxicating liquor.
- Open Container. It is illegal for any person to possess an open container of beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor in any public place or to consume such substances in a motor vehicle anywhere in the state of Ohio.
- Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence. No person shall operate any vehicle if the person is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or alcohol and a drug of abuse.
For detailed information on the laws of the State of Ohio, see the Ohio Revised Code at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/.
Health Risks Associated with the Abuse of Alcohol
Researchers estimate that 1,519 College students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related, unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. Another 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking. About one in four college students report academic consequences from drinking, including missing class, falling behind in class, doing poorly on exams and papers, and receiving lower grades overall.
(See https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/statistics/consequences.aspx).
Short-term effects of alcohol include slurred speech, drowsiness, headaches, impaired judgment, decreased perception and coordination, distorted vision and hearing, vomiting, breathing difficulties, unconsciousness, coma, and blackouts. Long-term effects of alcohol include toxic psychosis, physical dependence, neurological and liver damage, fetal alcohol syndrome, vitamin B1 deficiency, sexual problems, and cancer.
Education on reducing high-risk drinking behaviors that lead to mental and physical health problems is available free of charge through the Wilmington College Health Center Counseling Office. Evaluations are non-judgmental, with the primary concern being to help each student make their own responsible, healthy choices.
Campus and Community Resources
Wilmington College has a variety of prevention and education alternatives available to students, as well as sanctions designed to assist individuals determined to reduce alcohol or other substance abuse problems. Initial screening/assessment interactions and initial counseling sessions are available both on a voluntary basis and through the alcohol policy’s sanctioning process. However, the most effective means of addressing positive change is the willingness of members of the community who know and care for each other to face issues such as these and address concerns, values, and expectations to one another.
Anyone experiencing problems with their own or someone else’s use of alcohol should consult available resources, both on campus and in the local area. Screening, evaluation, and intervention for any student using drugs or impacted by another’s drug use is available on a free and confidential basis in the Wilmington College Counseling Office. Evaluations are non-judgmental, with the primary concern being to help each student make their own responsible, healthy choices.
Phone numbers are listed below, and printed information is available in the Student Health Center.
On Campus:
- Director of Health Services – (937) 481-2217
- Director of Counseling Services – (937) 481-2272
- Campus Safety – (937) 382-0100
- Housing and Residence Life – (937) 481-2312
Wilmington and Clinton County:
- Mental Health and Recovery Center of Warren and Clinton Counties – (513) 695- 1695
- 24/7 Crisis Help: If you or someone you know is in a mental health and/or alcohol/drug crisis, please call the crisis hot line 1-877-695-6333 or text “4hope” to 741741.
- Mental Health and Recovery Center of Clinton County – (937) 383-4441
- Wilmington Police – (937) 382-3833
- Clinton County Sheriff – (937) 382-1611
- State Highway Patrol – (937) 382-2551
Alcohol abuse among college students is a public health concern across the county. While this issue is not unique to the College, the College remains concerned about the ways in which high risk drinking impacts the campus and surrounding community. Wilmington College recognizes that addressing the important issue of alcohol misuse should be a college-wide effort.
To address alcohol abuse on campus, the College observes the prevention framework recommended by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the U.S. Department of Education. The prevention framework uses a broad, integrated approach to addressing alcohol use on campus that is supported by research. The main components of this prevention framework include:
- Individual-level strategies. These strategies are designed to change the students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to alcohol so that students drink less, take fewer risks, and experience fewer harmful consequences. Individual strategies include education and awareness programs, cognitive-behavioral skills-based approaches, motivation and feedback-related approaches, and behavioral interventions by health professionals.
- Environmental-level strategies. These strategies are designed to change the campus and community environments in which student drinking occurs and to educate the student body as a whole.
A mix of strategies and the greatest chance for creating a safer campus will likely come from a combination of individual and environmental-level interventions that work together to maximize positive effects. More information about these recommendations can be accessed at www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov.
Drug Policy
As an academic community, Wilmington College is committed to providing an environment in which learning and scholarship can flourish. The possession or use of illicit drugs, or the abuse of those which may otherwise be legally possessed, seriously affects the College’s environment, as well as the individual potential of our students. The College enforces all applicable federal, state, and local laws and College policies.
Prohibition of Illicit Drugs
Wilmington College prohibits the unlawful use, possession, sale, manufacture, or distribution of illicit drugs on College property and as part of any College activity. Students must comply fully with all federal, state, and municipal regulations regarding the use, cultivation, manufacture, sale, distribution, and/or possession of illicit drugs or controlled substances. In addition, the misuse of substances which present physical or psychological hazards to individuals is prohibited.
Violations of the Drug Policy include, but are not limited to:
- Knowing possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Misuse of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications.
- The use, cultivation, manufacture, sale, distribution, and/or possession of illicit drugs or controlled substances in violation of federal, state, or municipal laws is prohibited by the College and is not permitted in the residence halls or on any College property.
- Failure to report the use, cultivation, manufacture, sale, distribution, and/or possession of illicit drugs or other illegal substances on any College property to a College official.
- Being knowingly present during the use of illicit drugs or the misuse of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or other substances which present physical or psychological hazards to individuals.
Sanctions for Drug Policy Violations
Students who use, possess, or distribute illicit drugs will be subject to the judicial process described in this Handbook. Consistent with state and federal law, the College may impose sanctions up to and including expulsion or termination, or referral for prosecution.
College employees supervising the activity are subject to the alcohol and drug policies in the Administrative and Support Staff Handbook or Faculty Handbook.
Illicit Drugs and the Law
In addition to health risks, legal risks of illicit drugs must be considered. Federal, state, and local laws strictly prohibit the use, possession, and distribution of illicit drugs. Penalties vary depending on the specific drug and the quantity involved. For detailed information on the laws of the State of Ohio, see the Ohio Revised Code at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/.
Medical Marijuana
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3796 legalized medical marijuana in Ohio. Although students with a medical marijuana card may now legally may possess and consume certain quantities of marijuana in Ohio, doing so is prohibited on the College’s property or at college-sponsored events (either on or off campus) pursuant to federal law.
The College is subject to the Controlled Substances Act, the Drug Free Communities and Schools Act, and the Drug Free Workplace Act. Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug. The use, possession, cultivation, or sale of marijuana violates federal law.
The College may make accommodations to the on-campus housing requirement for students who are legally recognized Ohio medical marijuana users. Students who have a medical marijuana card and who wish to obtain an accommodation should contact the Director of Disability Services’ office at accessibility@wilmington.edu or (937) 481-2444 and follow the accommodation process outlined in the Disabilities Policy herein in order to request an exemption to the housing and meal plan policies herein.
Health Risks Associated with Illicit Drug Use
Illicit drug use causes varied and severe threats to the physical, mental and emotional health of students. The impact of illicit drug use on all life areas makes it virtually impossible to maintain the level of healthy functioning required to thrive and succeed in the academic world.
Campus and Community Resources
Wilmington College has a variety of prevention and education alternatives available to students, as well as sanctions designed to assist individuals determined to reduce substance abuse problems.
Anyone experiencing problems with their own or someone else’s use of illicit drugs should consult available resources, both on campus and in the local area. Screening, evaluation, and intervention for any student using illicit drugs or impacted by another’s illicit drug use is available on a free and confidential basis in the Wilmington College Counseling Office. Evaluations are non-judgmental, with the primary concern being to help each student make their own responsible, healthy choices.
Phone numbers are listed below, and printed information is available in the Student Health Center.
On Campus:
- Director of Health Services – (937) 481-2217
- Director of Counseling Services – (937) 481-2272
- Campus Safety – (937) 382-0100
- Housing and Residence Life – (937) 481-2312
Wilmington and Clinton County
- Mental Health and Recovery Center of Warren and Clinton Counties – (513) 695- 1695
- 24/7 Crisis Help: If you or someone you know is in a mental health and/or alcohol/drug crisis, please call the crisis hot line 1-877-695-6333 or text “4hope” to 741741.
- Mental Health and Recovery Center of Clinton County – (937) 383-4441
- Wilmington Police – (937) 382-3833
- Clinton County Sheriff – (937) 382-1611
- State Highway Patrol – (937) 382-2551