Below is a brief summary of University Policy 711, Program to Prevent Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol Abuse. Visit legal.uncc.edu/policies/up-711 for a full version of that policy.
In keeping with efforts to maintain an environment that supports and encourages the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge, it is the policy of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte to consider the use of illegal drugs or alcohol abuse by students, faculty and staff or by others on premises under University control to be unacceptable conduct that adversely affects the educational environment.
To remind students, faculty, and staff of their responsibilities for maintaining a drug-free environment, this Policy will be distributed throughout the University community each year. Further, the University considers a sound awareness, education, and training program indispensable in combating illegal use of drugs and alcohol abuse, both as a preventive measure and as a remedy. The scope of the University program addresses the awareness needs of students, faculty, administrators, and other staff members and includes the following minimum components.
- The health hazards associated with the use of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse.
- The incompatibility of the use of illegal drugs or abuse of alcohol with maximum achievement of personal, social, and educational goals.
- The potential legal consequences (including both criminal law and University discipline) of illegal drug use and alcohol abuse.
- The effective use of available campus and community resources in dealing with illegal drug use and alcohol abuse problems.
It is the responsibility of all students, faculty, and staff to conduct themselves in a way that contributes to an environment free of illegal drug use and abuse of alcohol. In addition, students, faculty and staff are responsible, as citizens, for knowing about and complying with the provisions of North Carolina law that make it a crime to possess, sell, deliver, or manufacture those drugs designated collectively as “controlled substances” in Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the North Carolina General Statutes, as well as federal law (Drug Free Workplace Act), which prohibits unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance in the workplace of any employer receiving federal grant funds.
The Director of the Center for Wellness Promotion is responsible for designing and carrying out a program of awareness education and training for students on the subject of preventing the illegal use of drugs and abuse of alcohol. The Center also coordinates a collegiate recovery program, which provides consultation and referral to appropriate facilities in the community for students who may be in need of treatment for substance use disorders and support to students in recovery from chemical dependence.
The Director of the Counseling Center shall, within the limits of available resources, provide services and programs to students seeking assistance with problems of illegal drug use or alcohol abuse. In cases in which the treatment needs of such students exceed the resources of the Center, the Center shall provide referral to appropriate facilities in the community.
The University’s program emphasizes collaboration with local resources, including the Center for Prevention Services, Dilworth Center for Chemical Dependency, Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center, McLeod Addictive Disease Center, Carolinas Medical Center Behavioral Health Services, Eastover Psychological and Psychiatric Group, The Insight Program, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Nar-Anon. To this end, the University shall participate in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Drug Free Coalition and will work with local advisory boards to further collaborate between the University and the Charlotte community.
The University’s awareness, education, and training efforts stress prevention. The goal of these efforts is (1) to encourage non-users of illegal drugs and alcohol to continue to be non-users, (2) to encourage users of alcohol to do so safely and responsibly, and (3) to encourage users of illegal drugs to stop such use.
The use of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol are considered by the University to be problems that can be overcome. Therefore, the educational and rehabilitative services cited above are available on a confidential basis. However, the possession, sale, delivery, or manufacture of illegal drugs will not be tolerated on campus or off campus in the event that the interests of the University may be affected.
The University will cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies and will apply appropriate disciplinary procedures should a student violate criminal statutes with regard to illegal drugs or alcohol abuse. Violations may subject a student to prosecution and punishment by civil authorities and to conduct action by the University.
When a student has been charged by the University with a violation of policies concerning illegal drug use or alcohol abuse, they may be suspended from enrollment before initiation or completion of regular disciplinary proceedings if the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee concludes that the student’s continued presence within the University community would constitute a clear and immediate danger to the health or welfare of other members of the University community. If such a suspension is imposed, an appropriate hearing of the charges against the suspended person shall be held in accordance with the Code of Student Responsibility.