DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM (DAAPP)

WAU COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND POLICIES

Washington Adventist University is committed to creating a community that demonstrates belief in the Word of God. In our community, we believe the Word of God establishes the principles that are to guide personal development and govern behavior. These principles include, but are not limited to, the responsibility to do the following:

• Love God (Matthew 23:37; Ephesians 4:17-6:18).  This involves a wholehearted commitment to know and obey God’s Word as it applies in both thought and action, and thoughtful stewardship or management of our intellect, abilities, sexuality, relationships, financial resources, and time.
• Love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39).  This involves an unselfish commitment to understand and help others as we serve in love (Galatians 5:13, 14). 
• Love enough to handle the challenging issues according to the Word of God (Matthew 18:15-17; Colossians 3:13).

Even though every student may not have personal convictions as outlined above, all students are responsible to know and abide by all community standards, policies, and regulations of Washington Adventist University. This policy is distributed in writing to students annually in the Student Handbook and is distributed annually to employees by the Employee Handbook.

The rules of any community grow out of a particular tradition. Washington Adventist University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution and, as such, adheres to the tenets and traditions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We hold in high esteem the following characteristics: honesty and integrity; thoughtfulness in social relationships and entertainment; respect of the rights, opinions, and property of others and respect for and obedience to the laws of the city, state, and federal government; Therefore, all students are expected to abide by the following standard for use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol:

WAU is a drug-free campus. The University recognizes that the use of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages presents a danger to personal health. Use of these products by members of the WAU community is prohibited. No member of the community may use, possess, or distribute tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drug products on or off campus. Students whose off-campus behavior reflects negatively on the University community, or who return to campus under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, will be subject to disciplinary action. 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY

(see Substance Abuse Policy  in the Health, Wellness, Safety and Student Conduct section for further details) 

Washington Adventist University is committed to providing a drug-free environment to help students attain the highest level of mental, physical, moral, and spiritual health. This will allow students to be truly free and in control of their lives. Because of this commitment, Washington Adventist University is an alcohol-, drug-, and tobacco-free campus. Each citizen of the University community is expected to remain drug-free, abstaining from the use of alcoholic beverages and/or containers, tobacco products, illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia. This policy has been established to educate, to provide a means for counseling and rehabilitation, and to outline a discipline process. If you, as a student have a substance abuse problem, please notify the Campus Counselor or a residence hall dean for immediate help.
Washington Adventist University reserves the right to investigate students where reasonable suspicion exists of drug or alcohol involvement. This includes the right to search offices, lockers, on-campus vehicles, residence hall rooms, cases, and bags, and the right to require an appropriate drug test and confirmation by retest. If a search is to be made, it must be authorized by a residence hall dean, Director of the Department of Safety and Security, Vice President, or President of the University. Initial identification of a problem may be made by a supervisor, faculty member, colleague, concerned other, or by self-referral.

FEDERAL LAWS REGARDING POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

All WAU students, faculty and staff at Washington Adventist University are subject to federal, state, and local laws for the possession and distribution of illegal drugs and for drinking and obtaining alcohol.

WAU/DAAPP - PROGRAM COMPONENTS

(see Substance Abuse Policy  in the Health, Wellness, Safety and Student Conduct section for further details) 

1. All students; freshmen, new students, and returning students must sign this statement. Each year all students sign for their Student Handbook that has information in it. Students also sign a separate Drug and Alcohol Awareness form with the possible support given at the University.  (This document). Each semester new students follow the same procedure as at the beginning of the year.
2. Each semester a drug & alcohol awareness presentation is made during the required worships and convocations.  The Drug, Alcohol and Prescription video is presented each year during one of the required convocations.
3. Each year, a three-part orientation video is presented to the freshmen and new students about drug & alcohol use and abuse, Prescription drug use and abuse and available support. This video is presented at the freshmen/new student orientation.
4. Flyers and posters are placed in academic spaces, residence halls and common areas yearly.
5. Each residence hall has drug & alcohol use and abuse presentations for worship (twice a semester). The “Drug and Alcohol presentation made every semester during required worship sessions may include oral, PowerPoint, video and/or discussions.
6. Part of the General Education required courses for all enrolled students include all aspects of Drug and Alcohol use, abuse, prevention and support services available on and off the campus.  Health Science (HLSC 110), First year Experience (INTD 105)
7. A discipline policy is in place to discourage use or abuse of drugs and alcohol.

VIOLATION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY

(see Violation of Substance Abuse Policy in the Health, Wellness, Safety and Student Conduct section  for further details)

WAU will impose sanctions on students consistent with existing law and WAU will report anyone who possesses, uses, or sells alcoholic beverages, who purchases alcohol illegally, or who publicly consumes alcohol in prohibited areas or who possesses, uses, or sells illicit drugs in accordance with applicable law. Because substance abuse seriously jeopardizes the attainment of life goals, a person who is found to be involved in substance abuse or to be using, distributing, or possessing illegal drugs will be subject to the following WAU procedures:

1. Persons found distributing illegal and/or prohibited substances will be subject to immediate dismissal from WAU and notification of government authorities. (See Legal Sanctions below.)
2. Persons found in possession of, using, or under the influence of an illegal substance will be referred to a drug-abuse counselor, and immediate disciplinary action will be taken.

If a student is convicted of drug distribution or possession, eligibility for the Title IV student financial aid is subject to suspension or termination. 

CONFIDENTIALITY

All persons involved in any aspect of this substance abuse program will maintain confidentiality except in those instances where governmental authorities or the Conduct and Guidance Committee must be notified. Counselors will respect the individual’s right to privacy at all times.

COUNSELING SERVICES

(see Counseling Services in the Health, Wellness, Safety and Student Conduct Section  for further details)

If a student has a substance abuse problem, please notify the Vice President of the Center for Student Life, ext. 4110; University Chaplain, ext. 4112; or a residence hall dean, ext. 4177, 4043, 4178, or 4045. 

Free Substance Abuse and Alcohol counseling is also available in the following areas:

• Personal Counseling: Available virtually through Uwill, which may be accessed through your WAU app.
• Counseling Hotlines/Organizations providing drug and alcohol assistance

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

(see Disciplinary Procedures in the Health, Wellness, Safety and Student Conduct Section  for details)

Redemptive and restorative discipline is at times necessary. Individuals assume certain responsibilities for upholding and maintaining the standards and expectations of the community to which they belong. Acceptance to WAU is a voluntary commitment to uphold the University’s standards. Therefore, WAU expects students to comply with God’s law, civil laws, and University regulations. Students that violate these laws and regulations may receive disciplinary action.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES APPEALS PROCESS

(see Disciplinary Procedures Appeals Process in the Health, Wellness, Safety and Student Conduct section  for details)

A student may appeal disciplinary actions imposed by the Conduct and Guidance Committee. To appeal a decision, the student must submit a written appeal to the Vice President of the Center for Student Life within 24 hours of the committee’s decision. If the student feels that the stated appeals process has not been followed, the student may appeal, in writing, to the President of the University, requesting a review of the process.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

(See Disciplinary Actions in the Health, Wellness, Safety and Student Conduct section  for detailed description)

The following disciplinary actions are adopted by WAU with the intent to provide flexibility to the disciplinary process. They include, but are not limited to:

Warning, Community Service, Fines, Restitution, Restriction, Probation, Suspension, Removal from residence halls, Dismissal and/or Expulsion.

HOW TO OBTAIN DAAPP

Upon request a copy of the DAAPP and related information shall be made available to the public along with any results from the biennial review. WAU shall retain records pertaining to the above DAAPP and any other records reasonably related to WAU’s compliance with the drug prevention program certification for a period of three (3) years after the fiscal year in which the record was created.

ANY STUDENT WHO IS FOUND GUILTY OF USE OF ANY DRUG OR ALCOHOL WILL ALSO RESULT IN:

Loss of Federal Aid Eligibility Due to Drug-Related Convictions 

Under the Higher Education Act (HEA), WAU students may become ineligible for federal and state student aid funds upon conviction of offenses (including conspiring to sell drugs) involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs while receiving Title IV Federal Aid and state financial aid. According to the United States Department of Education, a student convicted of a drug offense after receiving federal aid must notify the Student Financial Services office. Penalties for drug convictions include:

The penalties for the possession of illegal drugs are:

• First Offense Ineligible to receive federal aid for 1 year from the date of conviction
• Second Offense Ineligible to receive federal aid for the 2 years from the date of conviction
• Third and Subsequent Offenses Indefinite ineligibility to receive federal aid from the date of conviction 

The penalties for the sale of illegal drugs are:

• First Offense Ineligible to receive federal aid for 2 years from the date of conviction
• Second and Subsequent Offenses Indefinite ineligibility to receive federal aid from the date of conviction 

To regain eligibility for financial aid funds after being denied for an indefinite period by successfully completing one of the following: 

1. Completing a qualifying Federal, State, or local government rehabilitation program that includes two unannounced drug tests. The student must pass the two unannounced drug tests. 
2. The reversal, setting aside, or removal of a drug conviction from a record which results in fewer than two convictions for the sale or three convictions for the possession of drugs.

If you have any other questions about the possibility of losing your financial aid because of a drug conviction or regaining your aid after a drug conviction, you may contact the Financial Aid Office at 301-891-4005 or by e-mail at finaid@wau.edu.