Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol and Drugs

Virginia Peninsula Community College is cognizant of the fact that the misuse and abuse of alcohol is a pertinent health and social problem of major proportion in our society and that it interferes with the goals and objectives of any educational institution. Virginia Peninsula Community College does not condone the misuse and abuse of alcoholic beverages. Members of the college community are responsible for their decisions regarding the use of alcohol as well as the behavior which occurs as a result of these decisions. A hard copy of the policy can be secured from the Office of the Vice President for Academic or the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Controlled Substances

Virginia Peninsula Community College strictly prohibits the illegal use or possession of any controlled substance. The use of illegal controlled substances is in no way compatible with the goals of an academic community. Any student found guilty of possessing, using, distributing or selling controlled substances may possibly face arrest or serious disciplinary action, which may result in suspension and/or dismissal from the college. Any and all violations of State law should be reported to the Virginia Peninsula Community College Campus Police Department for follow-up.

Policy & Procedures

Recent regulations issued by the federal government, combined with the growing number of drug and alcohol related incidents have made us aware of the need for policies which regulate the use or non-use of such substances. Virginia Peninsula Community College, in its Student Code of Conduct, has identified as violations the unlawful use, possession, or distribution of narcotics, hallucinatory drugs, or controlled substances of any nature and the unauthorized use or consumption of alcohol on campus or any off-campus school-sponsored event, activity, or course.

Additionally, the College has:

1. complied with the Higher Education Amendment of 1986, which requires colleges and universities, in order to maintain federal financial aid eligibility for students, to certify that these institutions have drug abuse prevention programs, and
2. become partners with the Virginia Tidewater Consortium for Higher Education to establish a consortium-wide drug-use and alcohol-abuse prevention program.

This policy statement and the procedures that follow are designed to describe the institution's position on the use and/or abuse of drugs and alcohol on campus in accordance with Sections 6.5.4 and 6.5.5 of the Virginia Community College Systems Policy Manual. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, and/or abuse of a controlled substance on the campus of Virginia Peninsula Community College by any student is prohibited.

1. Any student alleged to be in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action as described in Section Ten of the Student Code of Conduct.
2. The Student Activities Coordinator will offer drug and alcohol abuse prevention program for students.
3. Current guidelines for activities where alcoholic beverages are served are available in the Virginia Peninsula Community College Administrative Procedures Manual.