Dear KU Faculty and Staff –
This morning, the University of Kansas announced important new policies related to alcohol abuse. At the end of this message, I am providing an email that was distributed to all KU students from the Provost, as well as a copy of the news release that was issued.
Among these important initiatives is a parental notification policy that allows the University to contact parents of students under 21 who have violated federal, state or local laws, or University policies related to alcohol or other drugs. Additional details are provided in the materials provided below.
Please let me know if I may provide any additional information about these important new initiatives.
Sincerely,
Marlesa Roney
Vice Provost for Student Success
roney@ku.edu
Dear Jayhawks,
As you know, we have experienced alcohol-related tragedies on or near our campus this spring involving two KU students. While their deaths are by no means common occurrences, the sad fact is that on a fairly routine basis some students are putting themselves and others at risk by consuming toxic amounts of alcohol.
These incidents may not receive the same public attention, but they carry the same risk. That is why KU is taking a series of actions to address this problem, two of which I wanted to tell you about today.
First, effective immediately, KU is implementing a parental notification program for alcohol and drug violations by students under 21 years of age. This is not meant to be punitive. It is designed to ensure parents and guardians are part of the discussion when a student has committed a drug or alcohol violation.
Parents and/or legal guardians will be notified after the first known violation of university policy or state law regarding drugs, or after the first known violation involving alcohol that endangered the health or welfare of the student and/or another person.
Notification will also be given following a known drug or alcohol violation that results in the cancellation of a student’s housing contract, or if the student has been referred for alcohol assessment. Notification for all other offenses involving alcohol will occur after the second known violation.
Full details of this new policy are available at https://documents.ku.edu/policies/Student_Success/VPSS/Parent_Notification_Policy.htm
Another change is that KU will provide amnesty from alcohol-related university and student housing polices to students who seek immediate medical assistance for persons experiencing alcohol-related emergencies.
We have heard from some students that even when they think that a friend has had too much to drink and needs help, they’re reluctant to seek help because they’re afraid of being punished themselves or drawing unfavorable light to their campus living group.
While that should never stop you from getting help for a friend in trouble, eliminating the threat of being written up takes away that reason to not seek help.
These are just the first in what we expect will be a series of actions KU will take to stem the tide of underage and irresponsible drinking. We want students to be involved in this discussion and encourage you to make your thoughts heard, either through your elected student representatives or by contacting the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success, http://www.vpss.ku.edu.
Sincerely,
Richard Lariviere
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
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