Community Welfare and Student Conduct Policies

As a Catholic center of higher education, the University of Dallas is concerned about the moral development of its students and recognizes and accepts its obligation to abide by the laws of our society.

Alcohol and Illegal Drug Policy

The University takes a firm stand on illegal drugs and drinking. The University handles violations of the Student Code of Conduct concerning illicit drug and alcohol use through the campus judicial system, education, and counseling. University judicial officers address issues involving substance abuse and in addition to sanctions may refer or mandate students to a counselor for evaluation and counseling.

The University of Dallas has the right, in accordance with the amended Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, to notify the parents of students under the age of 21 who violate University policies or civil laws pertaining to alcohol or drugs.

Drugs

The University strictly prohibits the use, possession, sale, or offering for sale of illegal drugs. Beyond action taken by civil authorities, the University will handle alleged violations of the illegal drug policy through its established disciplinary channels. Possession and/or use of illegal drugs may result in suspension or expulsion from the University. The consequence of selling, providing, or distributing illegal drugs normally consists of expulsion from the University.

Persons convicted of drug possession under State or Federal Law may not be eligible for federal student grants and loans for up to one year after the first conviction and five years after the second. The penalty for distributing drugs is loss of benefits for five years after the first, ten years after the second, and permanently after the third conviction.

Any items associated with the use of illegal drugs are prohibited and will be confiscated upon discovery. This includes but is not limited to bongs, hookahs, water pipes, roach clips, blow tubes, and dugouts. In cases where drug paraphernalia is found with illegal substances, a minimum fine of $500 an item will be assessed in addition to other appropriate sanctions.

Alcohol

Students are expected to abide by the University of Dallas Alcohol Policy as well as all applicable laws. Enforcement is a community wide responsibility, which is shared by University of Dallas Police Officers, Office of Student Affairs and Residence Life Staff, faculty, administrative staff, student leaders, and the student body in general. To ensure that UD students arrive on campus well informed about the risks and dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, all incoming undergraduate students are required to take an on-line alcohol education course called AlcoholEdu for College before they arrive on campus.

The University of Dallas wishes to establish a healthy climate on campus regarding alcohol, one in which students feel free not to drink and understand the importance of drinking moderately. Underage and immoderate drinking is not tolerated.

University of Dallas Alcohol Policy

The general provisions governing alcoholic beverages are in compliance with the laws of the state of Texas. These provisions are as follows:

1. Students of legal drinking age are permitted to drink in moderation and store alcoholic beverages in their own residence hall rooms or in their student apartment if all other residents and guests of that room or apartment are of legal drinking age. Students of legal drinking age must store alcohol in an inconspicuous manner (i.e. in the refrigerator or closet). If one roommate is of legal drinking age and the other roommate is not of legal drinking age, no alcohol can be possessed, consumed, or stored in the room or apartment. Students of legal drinking age are not permitted to consume alcohol in the rooms of underage students. Underage students may not be present in a room where students who are of age are consuming alcohol.
2. Immoderate drinking by any student or drinking by students under the legal drinking age is prohibited. Immoderate drinking is defined as the use of alcohol, on or off campus, in a manner that results in intoxication or in behavior judged to be abusive, offensive, disorderly, unlawful, or dangerous to others. Student Affairs or University of Dallas Police staff will make the decision as to whether or not a student has been consuming alcohol immoderately.
3. Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited. Evidence of DUI/DWI will lead to severe penalties.

Specific Provisions Related to the Use of Alcohol On Campus

1. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and the possession of open containers, except at University approved events (see Hosting Guidelines below), are restricted to the Rathskeller and the residence hall rooms and student apartments of students of legal age, in which all residents of the room or apartment and guests are of legal drinking age.
2. Residence hall and student apartment residents who are of legal drinking age who host a social event in their room or apartment are responsible for seeing that persons under legal drinking age are not present and that there is no immoderate drinking at the event. The residents assigned to the room/apartment are also responsible for the behavior of their guests, damages, and cleanup. (See Social Host Responsibility Policy below)
3. Authority for the interpretation of the Campus Alcohol Policy rests with the Office of Student Affairs.
4. Alcohol, kegs, taps, and alcohol containers in violation of University policy will be confiscated and will not be returned. Serving alcohol from an open source is prohibited. Beer bongs and beer balls are not permitted. Spiked punch and Jell-O shots, no matter what the alcohol content, are strictly prohibited. The possession of empty or open containers in the presence of underage students implies consumption and is prohibited. Collections of empty containers are prohibited on campus. The contents of open containers will be poured out in the presence of a University official.

 SOCIAL HOST RESPONSIBILITY POLICY

Student(s) hosting a party (either on or off campus) will be held responsible for the actions of or injuries to their guests arising from the negligent distribution of alcohol or illegal substances at the event.

OFF-CAMPUS CONDUCT POLICY

The University of Dallas expects students to conduct themselves in accordance with the law. Student behavior off the premises of the campus that may have violated any local, state, or federal law, or yields a complaint from others alleging law violations or student misconduct will be reviewed by the University. Upon receipt of a complaint alleging off-campus student misconduct, the Director of Student Affairs or his/her designee will review the allegations to determine the appropriate course of action by the University.

HOSTING GUIDELINES

Organizations wishing to sponsor an event with alcohol must submit an Event/Program Alcohol Registration and Permit Form to Student Affairs at least ten days prior to the event. Specific policies for events requiring a permit are detailed on the Alcohol Event Permit Form. If it becomes apparent that these guidelines cannot be met before or during an event, the host is required to cancel the event.

If the University learns that organizations or individuals are planning to have sponsored activities that violate state law or policies of the University, regardless of where held, the University may respond through administrative and/or judicial actions.

Help Is Available

The University of Dallas is committed to a caring relationship among its students, staff, faculty, and administrators: a relationship characterized by understanding, forgiveness, and respect for individuality. UD's disciplinary procedures are intended to be constructive and redemptive. Complete confidentiality will be strictly observed to the limit of the law for students who seek help for substance-abuse problems. Insofar as federal and state statutes and professional ethical standards permit, no professional on the UD counseling or health center staff will in any way notify the administration of the name of a specific student who comes for assistance for substance abuse or any other type problem, and no records will be forwarded to the administration regarding the services or the problem.

A student who voluntarily seeks help for drug or alcohol abuse is not subject to disciplinary action; in fact, University officials will do everything they can to assist the student in obtaining appropriate treatment. A student that continues to use drugs will become subject to disciplinary action.

MEDICAL AMNESTY/GOOD SAMARITAN POLICY

The University recognizes that in an alcohol or other drug-related emergency, the potential for disciplinary action by the University may act as a barrier to students seeking medical assistance for themselves or other students; therefore, the University has a Medical Amnesty protocol as part of our comprehensive approach to reducing the harmful consequences caused by the consumption of alcohol or other drugs. The University's main concern is the well-being, health, and safety of its students.

Medical Amnesty represents the University's commitment to increasing the likelihood that community members will call for medical assistance when faced with an alcohol or other drug-related emergency. Medical Amnesty also promotes education for individuals who receive emergency medical attention related to their own use of alcohol or other drugs in order to reduce the likelihood of future occurrences.

An individual who calls for emergency assistance on behalf of a person experiencing an alcohol or other drug-related emergency will not face formal disciplinary action by the University for the possession or use of alcohol or other drugs. The recipient of medical attention will also avoid formal disciplinary action by the University for the possession or use of alcohol or other drugs if she/he agrees to participate in a recommended referral to the Counseling Center and to comply with any recommendations the counselor prescribes. An individual receiving emergency medical assistance on more than one occasion due to excessive use of alcohol or other drugs will be evaluated in order to provide the student with additional resources and/or sanctions as needed or appropriate.

The Medical Amnesty protocol applies to straightforward cases of alcohol or other drug-related emergencies. The Medical Amnesty protocol does not excuse co-occurring Student Code of Conduct infractions or other incidents related or unrelated to the medical emergency.

PERSONAL AND/OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT

The University of Dallas is committed to promoting an environment which leads to awareness and prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. While a concern of the entire community, the primary initiative lies with the Office of Student Affairs and the University of Dallas Police Office. The University strongly encourages those witnessing a potential sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or harassment to intervene if safe to do so or seek immediate assistance.

Sexual Assault offenses include: the actual or attempted intentional touching of an unconsenting person's intimate parts (defined as genitalia, groin, breast, buttocks, or clothing covering these areas) or forcing an unconsenting person to touch another's intimate parts; rape and forcible sodomy; forcible oral copulation; and forcible sexual penetration, no matter how slight, of another's anal or genital opening with any object.

These acts must be committed either by force, fraud, intimidation, or against the victim's will where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of permanent or temporary mental incapacity and/or even the slightest influence of alcohol or drugs.

Students are encouraged to report sexual assaults. Reports may be filed with the Director of Student Affairs or the University of Dallas Police Office. Reporting a sexual assault to Student Affairs or University of Dallas Police does not automatically initiate charges. The decision to go forward with charges at the University or with the police rests with the person reporting the assault.

The University physician, counseling service, Campus Ministry staff, and Residence Life personnel are also available to assist a student that has been sexually assaulted.

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination prohibited under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Title VII (as amended) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sexual harassment is defined by the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to limit a student's ability to participate in or benefit from the education program, or to create an intimidating, hostile, or abusive educational environment.

The following types of conduct, when unwelcome, may constitute sexual harassment:

Inappropriate touching, patting, or pinching; physical assault or coerced sexual activity; demands or pressure for sexual favors; obscene phone calls, e-mail, or gestures.

Any student who believes that discriminatory practices based on gender have occurred may discuss their concerns and file a formal or informal complaint with the Title IX Coordinator.

Title IX Coordinator

Inelda Acosta, Ed D., pHCLE
Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Coordinator

iacosta@udallas.edu
Direct: 972-721-5056
Facsimile: 972-265-5712
Haggar Student Center, First Floor 253
1845 E. Northgate Dr.
Irving, TX 75062

Reports of possible violations of the above policy may also be made to:
Russell Greene Chief of University of Dallas Police 972-721-4041

HAZING

Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus committed by one or more persons that endangers another student's mental or physical health or safety. This includes, but is not limited to, actions for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliated with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students.

A student commits an offense if the student:

1. engages in hazing
2. solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in the act of hazing
3. intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permits hazing to occur
4. has firsthand knowledge of the planning or attempt of a specific hazing incident involving a student and fails to report this information to the Director of Student Affairs or other appropriate official

An organization commits an offense if:

1. the organization condones or encourages hazing
2. an officer or any combination of members or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing

Instances of hazing should be reported to University of Dallas Police or the Office of Student Affairs. Beyond criminal or civil penalties, the University will handle alleged hazing policy violations through its established disciplinary channels. The sanction for violating the hazing policy may include suspension or expulsion from the University.

MEDICAL CARE POLICY

In the event of a medical emergency, the University reserves the right for professional staff to demand that a student receive medical attention. This might mean mandating transport by ambulance or other means to an emergency room or urgent care facility. In the event of a mental health crisis, University professional staff may require that a student seek an immediate evaluation. Students who present a danger to themselves or others and/or who refuse to obtain proper care may be separated from the University.