Alcohol and Other Drug Policy

Effective Date

August, 2025

Office of Primary Responsibility

Office of Student Life

Purpose

The living/learning component of a residential college is an important part of the Allegheny College experience. The goal of the College is to create a supportive community conducive to academic success, personal growth, and healthy lifestyles. Hence, the misuse of alcohol and controlled substances significantly interferes with the Mission of the College and can adversely affect students’ ability to learn in the Allegheny community. Allegheny College considers all of its members – faculty, staff, students, and visitors – to be mature persons and, accordingly, the decision to use alcohol legally and responsibly is an individual one. The College, through its emphasis on wellness, will educate members of the community regarding responsible use and the dangers of problematic use, and seeks to teach students how to live healthy and balanced lives.

All possible violations of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The facts of each case are reviewed individually and contribute to different outcomes and/or different sanctioning.

Restorative sanctions by service or education to the community may be utilized as an option to address behaviors related to the misuse of alcohol and/or other drugs. Examples of restorative sanctions include, but are not limited to: referral to online educational programs, requiring reflection papers, community service, meeting with parent/guardian or athletic coach, participation in an off campus alcohol treatment program, off campus counseling, or removal from residence hall.

Statement of Principles

The College recognizes explicitly that students are adults, and they are expected to obey the law and take responsibility for their behavior.
Students should understand that being under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances in no way lessens their accountability to the College community, or their obligations under local, state and federal laws.
Students will be held accountable if their use of alcohol violates applicable laws and/or College policy; threatens to create disorder, public disturbances, danger to themselves and others, or property damage; or interferes with the rights of other persons.
Participation in student groups can result in additional accountability because of that organization’s own policies concerning alcohol use. If an event is sponsored by an organization that is affiliated with a national organization with its own risk management policies and event guidelines, the group is expected to be in full compliance with the policies and guidelines of that national organization, as well as College policy. Students will be held accountable for violations of those risk management policies.
While it is not the intent of the College to police the personal lives of its students, the College does reserve the right to investigate suspicious circumstances.
The College disclaims any intention to assume duties to protect its students from their own abuse of alcohol.

Good Samaritan Policy

Consistent with our commitment to encourage proactive bystander intervention, students who seek assistance for another student in need of help for drug or alcohol intoxication/poisoning or who seek help for a student who has been a victim of assault or other form of violence will not be subjected to punitive sanctions (i.e. probation, suspension, etc.) by the College for a drug or alcohol violation, nor will the student in need of assistance. However, students may still receive educational sanctions (i.e. required education about alcohol or drug abuse). In order for this policy to apply, the intoxicated/impaired student(s) must agree to timely completion of educational recommendations, medical assessment, and/or plan made by Residence Life or Dean for Student Life (or designee) . Serious or repeated incidents will prompt a higher degree of concern. Failure to complete recommended follow-up will result in disciplinary action. Likewise, organizations involved in an incident must agree to take recommended steps to address concerns.

Additionally, students who report being a victim of physical or sexual assault while intoxicated through voluntary or involuntary means will not receive disciplinary sanctioning by the College for an alcohol violation even if they are underage.

Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of this policy is covered under JURISDICTION in the COLLEGE AUTHORITY section.

Examples relevant to the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy include:

The College expects all students to observe these regulations, including those living and gathering on and off campus and any student representing the College in both formal terms (for example, athletic teams and traveling music groups) and informal terms (for example, students attending a party off campus).
Allegheny students participating in GL Travel Seminars (during summer or other semester breaks) are expected to follow Allegheny policies as stated in the GL Travel Seminar:
Students studying away (summer, semester, or academic year programs) are expected to follow all alcohol-related laws of their host countries.
The College requires that all visitors to campus follow the College’s Alcohol and other Drug Policy. Students are responsible for the conduct of any of their guests on campus.
Students gathering in off campus locations are expected to observe these regulations.

College Requirements

In accordance with state law, students under the age of 21 are not permitted to possess, transport, and/or consume alcohol. Alcohol is permitted only in rooms/houses in which at least one person living in the room/ house is of the legal drinking age.
No person or organization may furnish alcohol to persons under the age of 21.
Alcohol & campus locations
1. Regardless of a student’s age, alcoholic beverages are prohibited in any non-residential building, outside, and in any public areas of residential buildings including porches, corridors, lounges, study rooms, and bathrooms except when written approval is received in advance from the Dean for Student Life
2. Open containers, carriers, or cups of alcohol are strictly prohibited outside of residential rooms/houses or approved events.
Please visit the Allegheny College Tailgating Policy (housed in Athletics) for information about alcohol use at Robertson Athletic Complex and Wise Performance Arena.
Public intoxication by persons of any age is prohibited. If a student is intoxicated and College staff view the person as unable to care for themselves, the staff may choose to have the student transported to the hospital. This action will be taken to protect the student and the community and will be the financial responsibility of the student.
The College maintains the right to dispose of alcohol in instances when a person under 21 is consuming, even if a person of legal drinking age is present, or if there is a health and safety concern.
All forms of alcohol present on campus must comply with Pennsylvania State Law.
Common sources of alcohol (e.g., kegs, punch bowls, shared containers), empty or full, are prohibited. Exceptions may be made for approved College functions. Contact the Dean for Student life.
In accordance with state law, alcoholic beverages may not be sold on campus except by licensed vendors. Selling includes, but is not limited to: cover charges, charging for cups, or “passing the hat.”
In accordance with Pennsylvania statute 18 § 6310.1.b law and with the approval of the Spiritual and Religious Life Office, a reasonable amount of wine may be served as an integral part of a religious service or ceremony.
In compliance with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, illegal substances, including marijuana, are not permitted on campus. Students found to be under the influence of illegal substances will be referred to the Student Conduct Office.

Violations of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy will be referred to the College student conduct system and may be referred to the criminal justice system

Event Registration

Any student organization or campus-sponsored event on campus property with alcohol present must be registered no later than 48 hours before the start of the event. Students must provide water and food at events where alcohol is provided. Students should designate one ‘sober member’ to ensure that all College policies are being enforced, and to reach out to Public Safety and/or medical personnel should a need arise. Students are responsible for upholding all College policies and complying with the occupancy limits of the space.

Spiritual and Religious Life

In accordance with Pennsylvania statute and with the approval of the Spiritual and Religious Life Office, a reasonable amount of wine may be served as an integral part of a religious service or ceremony. The Office of Spiritual and Religious Life may approve the service of alcoholic beverages at official campus religious events as part of religious rituals. In such cases, underage consumption of alcohol will be sanctioned for religious purposes only.

Pennsylvania State Alcohol and Drug Laws

As residents of Pennsylvania, students have a responsibility to observe state laws regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs. A copy of the relevant sections of the Liquor and Crimes Codes of Pennsylvania is on file in the Office of Public Safety.

Penalties for the use and possession of illicit drugs, along with illegal use of prescription drugs, vary greatly. Possession of a larger amount of a drug will typically result in charges of distribution, leading to much stiffer penalties.

The Alcohol Policy is housed within the Student Life Office and reviewed every two years as required by the Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act.

Sanctions

Allegheny College utilizes a range of sanctions to respond to drug and alcohol violations. The length and severity of these sanctions is ultimately at the discretion of the Student Conduct Officer or the Student Conduct Board.

In situations where a student takes a leave of absence, the sanction period could be paused until the student is approved to return to the community. If a student does not complete sanctions assigned by their designated date, their case will be referred back to the Student Conduct Officer or Student Conduct Board for further sanctioning.

Educational Sanctions : Students may be assigned a date/time for participation in an Alcohol-Drug Education course. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will return to good standing with the college and no sanction is placed in the student file. The incident is still documented in the student’s file for instances where future violations may occur.

Disciplinary Sanctions

Parents/guardians, academic advisors, class deans, and athletic coaches may be notified of violations of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy and the student may face disciplinary sanctions, including but not limited to, restrictive sanctions (probation, suspension), community service, restitution, and restrictions from athletics, fraternity and sorority life, and/or student organizations. The severity of the incident and previous instances will be taken into consideration determining sanctions.