Alcohol and Drug Policy

Alcohol Policy

The College of Mount Saint Vincent seeks to uphold all local, state and federal statutes regarding the use, sale, service or manufacturer of alcohol. Students under the age of 21 are not permitted to possess, purchase, or sell, nor are they at any time permitted to consume, alcoholic beverages on College of Mount Saint Vincent property or at College of Mount Saint Vincent sponsored events. Students 21 years of age and older are legally permitted to purchase alcohol and to consume alcohol in areas designated for this use. Use of alcoholic beverages and possession of open containers of alcohol are prohibited in all public areas of campus buildings and campus grounds unless expressly approved by a professional member of the Student Activities staff in conjunction with the Dean of Students, or the senior administrator of a respective division of the College.

Standard of Conduct
No alcohol is permitted inside the residence halls where the majority of the residents are under the age of 21.

Resident students 21 years of age and over are permitted to possess and consume alcohol in the privacy of their rooms as long as no one under 21 is present in the room. Kegs and beer balls are not permitted in residence halls. Visitors to campus who, in the judgment of College Security or administrative staff, appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and exhibit behavior that represents a threat to the safety or well-being of the College community, may be banned from the campus or any facility thereof.

Alcohol and Social Events
Policies on the use of alcohol beverages at student, faculty or staff functions are described in the relevant handbooks. Additional information, specific criteria and conditions for permission to serve alcohol are available from the Dean of Students and the Human Resources Department.

Drug Policy

Standard of Conduct
Any possession, use, sale, manufacturer or distribution of illegal or controlled substances on College of Mount Saint Vincent property is considered to be a violation of this policy. Likewise, students who are knowingly present where illegal substances are kept or deposited or who are in the company of any person, knowing said person is in possession of illegal or controlled substances or drug paraphernalia are also in violation of this policy.

The College maintains an interest in the off campus behavior of its students, to the extent that the behavior reflects upon the reputation and safety of the institution itself. The College, therefore, reserves the right to institute disciplinary action whenever a matriculated students off campus behavior results in an arrest and/or conviction for an alleged violation of criminal law regarding illegal drug usage, sale or manufacture of illegal drugs.

Legal Implications
The College seeks to uphold all local, state, and federal laws regarding illegal substances.

Education, Counseling, and Treatment

Students seeking assistance with drug or alcohol dependency or related problems should contact the Counseling Center for evaluation and referral.

The College Counseling Center will assist students confidentially with evaluation of treatment options and assist students in obtaining treatment appropriate to their needs. The student remains responsible for financial arrangements for care; however, the College makes available an independent health insurance option. The College also offers ongoing educational programs related to drug and alcohol use, including but not limited to the College’s First Year Experience (FYE) Course. There are also residence hall and commuter programs as well as online educational workshops.