The goal of The College of St. Scholastica is to create an environment in which both the responsible use and nonuse of alcoholic beverages are respected and in which the lines existing between responsible drinking, problematic drinking and abuse are recognized. Within the Benedictine tradition of hospitality, the College seeks to foster a healthy environment and one in which all people can pursue healthy, respectful relationships with oneself and others, and are able at all times to embrace and live the value of Love of Learning. The College supports those who choose a lifestyle free of chemicals and offers support to those in recovery through our CLEAN program and WELLU via support groups on campus as well as ongoing programming.
Students who are 21 years of age are, by state law, allowed to drink alcoholic beverages; however, we grant that right on our campus only to those who also adhere to and uphold the Benedictine values of Community, Hospitality, Respect, Stewardship and Love of Learning.
As an independent educational institution, The College of St. Scholastica extends the same right to members of the campus community who are of legal drinking age under strict conditions. Minnesota statutes section 340A.101 (2) and Duluth City Code Division 2, subdivision 1, section 8-13 defines "alcoholic beverage" as any beverage containing more than one-half of 1 percent alcohol by volume.
Inappropriate behavior usually falls into a violation of one of the Benedictine values: a failure to live well in community, a violation of hospitality, respect, stewardship, or a hindrance on the ability to learn well. This includes actions both on and off campus that violate the rights or property of others as defined by the Jurisdiction statement in the Code of Conduct in this handbook. Behavior after consumption of alcoholic beverages that violates College policy and/or state law will be considered an offense subject to review by the Code of Conduct for Students.
The College is committed to providing resources, counseling, education and other opportunities for responsible use to all students. On-campus counseling, support and information regarding alcohol or other drug concerns for oneself or a friend are available through the Student Center for Health and Well-Being in Tower 2150, (218) 723-6085. The RESTORE (Reinforcing and Empowering Students to Overcome Restricted Experiences) team is available on campus to provide additional support and guidance to navigate through the choices of college life. Contact with the RESTORE program can be made through the CLEAN Program.
Every student is responsible to be familiar with the CSS Student Code of Conduct and the statement of sanctions in the Student Handbook.
Possession and consumption of alcohol by those not of legal drinking age and consumption by those of legal drinking age that results in behavior that endangers or is detrimental to self or others are a violation of the College alcohol policy. Other violations involving alcohol not expressly stated here, but that violate the rights or property of member(s) of The College of St. Scholastica community, will be considered violations of this policy. Violations that are violations of city and/or state law may also be referred to the proper city and/or state authorities in conjunction with or in addition to any College sanctions that may be imposed.
Specifically, operating a vehicle in a manner that would result in a DUI or DWI citation is considered a very serious offense as it endangers not only the driver, but other members of the community, and the risk of serious injury and death are quite high. Therefore, the college takes this very seriously. A student who is found driving on campus intoxicated (DUI or DWI) is likely to face serious sanctions such as a semester or more suspension from the College. (See N and T in the Student Code of Conduct.)
The College of St. Scholastica students involved in an incident where alcohol is present and are under the legal age to consume alcohol, have the option of taking a breathalyzer test. Although it may be offered, it is the student's responsibility to request the breathalyzer test at the time of the incident if they want to demonstrate sobriety. The results will be shared with the student and sent to the Dean of Students or designee. If a breathalyzer is taken, the following are possible results:
a. Students under the age of 21 with a positive result (detection of any alcohol) are subject to a consumption violation.
b. Students under the age of 21 with a negative test result (blow a zero) will not be subject to an alcohol violation. The student's presence in the situation may be noted in the record, but unless there are corollary, related or concurrent violations, no citation will be issued.
c. Residents and students under the age of 21, who choose not to take the breathalyzer test, will be assumed to have consumed alcohol and will receive a consumption violation.
First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense | |
Category A: Underage Consumption Underage Possession |
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Category B: Hosting Public Intoxication Container Policy |
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Category C: Dangerous Consumption |
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All appeals of alcohol violations will follow the process outlined in the general Code of Conduct.
(REVISED EFFECTIVE 1/20/15)
Drug abuse on campus is a danger and a detriment to all members of The College of St. Scholastica community, including students, faculty, and staff. It is therefore the intent of this policy to maintain a drug-free campus.
This policy covers the unlawful manufacture, purchase, sale, distribution, possession, or use of an illegal drug or controlled substance. All of these are prohibited on The College of St. Scholastica property and as a part of any activity sponsored by the College. Violations include, but are not limited to:
unlawful manufacture, purchase, sale, distribution, possession, or use of an illegal drug or controlled substance
being in the presence of illegal drug use, sale, or distribution
possession of drug paraphernalia
any involvement in the exchange of money, goods or services for an unlawful drug or controlled substance
reasonable suspicion of unlawful drug use (odor, behavior, environmental factors) that in the judgment of College officials constitutes a preponderance of evidence.
Drug use can be characterized as but is not limited to the following: smoking, swallowing, snorting, intravenously ingesting, or otherwise consuming illegal drugs or excessive or wrongly administered use of legal drugs. All of the aforementioned behaviors will be considered violations of the drug policy, and those not listed but relevant as decided through the discretion of College staff will be considered violations.
Please note:
Legal or Prescribed Drugs
It is a violation of College policy and Minnesota Statute 152.11 to distribute, manufacture, or advertise legal or prescribed drugs and substances in a manner that may be considered excessive or wrongly administered. Substances such as prescription drugs may not be sold or distributed. Each student is expected to maintain possession and to be the sole consumer of their lawfully prescribed medication.
Synthetic Drugs
Students found to be in possession of, distributing, manufacturing, consuming, or advertising synthetic marijuana also known as K2, spice, or bath salts will be found in violation of The College of St. Scholastica's drug policy and Minnesota Statute 152.027 subdivision 6.
Drug and Alcohol-Related Support Services on Campus
Drug counseling and recovery support for students is available through Recovery Services and more specifically the CLEAN Program, RESTORE, and SCHAWB. Students interested in further information, counseling, and/or support services are urged to refer to the drug and alcohol counseling resources.
Students found to be in violation of the drug policy will receive College issued sanctions at the discretion of the Dean of Students and, in many cases, will be held accountable to local, state, and federal law as well.
Possible College sanctions include but are not limited to the following:
These are a general guideline for sanctions, but are not limits, minimums or requirements. Sanctions for each case will be determined according to the facts and circumstances of the particular case, the needs of the individual(s) involved and the community impact.
Violation Category | Class D or E Small Quantity |
Class D or E Large Quantity |
1st Violation |
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2nd Violation |
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3rd Violation |
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Violation Category | Class A, B, or C Small Quantity |
Class A, B, or C Large Quantity |
1st Violation |
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2nd Violation |
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3rd Violation |
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The following are examples of drugs in each class. It is at the discretion of the Dean of Students or the Dean's designee to determine the classification of drugs not listed, what constitutes a large or small quantity, or for violations involving more than one drug.
Class A: Heroin, Bath Salts, K2
Class B: LSD, Cocaine, MDMA/Ecstasy
Class C: Mushrooms
Class D: Marijuana
Class E: Non-prescribed use of prescription drugs, miscellaneous pharmaceuticals
The priority and hope of The College of St. Scholastica with regard to alcohol and other drugs is the safety and health of students, staff, and faculty. The College is committed to providing education, support services, and the availability of both campus and community resources to encourage and assist students in making responsible decisions. Students are expected to comply with campus policies outlined in the student handbook and code of conduct, and also local, state, and federal laws in their behavior surrounding alcohol and drug use.
Nevertheless, the College acknowledges that occasional medical emergencies arise as a result of excessive or hazardous drinking/drug use (alcohol poisoning, overdose, and other adverse reactions and effects). Students are expected to call for help when such emergencies occur (Residential Life staff, 911, Duluth Police Department). To encourage responsible action and the utilization of assistance when needed, the College has a Medical Amnesty policy that applies to the following:
For information purposes, please know that Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 340A.503, subdivision 8 provides immunity from legal prosecution under state law if that "person contacts a 911 operator to report that the person or another person is in need of medical assistance for an immediate health or safety concern, provided that the person who initiates contact is the first person to make such a report, provides a name and contact information, remains on the scene until assistance arrives, and cooperates with the authorities at the scene. The person who receives medical assistance shall also be protected from prosecution. ‘The aforementioned immunity' also applies to one or two persons acting in concert with the person initiating contact provided that all the ‘aforesaid' requirements are met."
Note that this bill applies to an act relating to public safety; providing immunity for underage possession or consumption of alcohol for a person contacting 911 to seek assistance for another. This bill does not protect an individual who has violated any other campus policy, local, state, or federal law such as those pertaining to sexual or physical assault; drugs or controlled substances; filing a false police report or acts of perjury; probation violations; or otherwise disrupting the safety, property, or well-being of the College and its community.
While The College of St. Scholastica supports Medical Amnesty and adheres to state law, amnesty implications differ from those outlined in state law. The College of St. Scholastica has determined that a student who seeks medical attention for self or another will be recognized as having exhibited responsible behavior in doing so. Therefore, the student for whom the medical attention was sought and the caller will be absolved of alcohol consumption and possession related fines (see alcohol policy and corresponding fine and other sanctions). However, the student for whom the medical attention was sought and quite possibly the caller will still be required to partake in an educational experience as delegated by a designee of the Dean of Students, and may be subject to other sanctions depending on the situation.
It will be determined by the Dean of Students or her designees whether or not the caller will be found in violation of other campus policies and code of conduct; nonetheless, the responsible action and good judgment of reporting the health or safety concern will be taken into account. In times of serious health and well-being concerns, parental notification and an educational experience still apply as sanctions for alcohol and drug violations; amnesty applies to sanctioned fines only. If it is determined by the Dean of Students or designee that medical amnesty appropriately applies to a situation, the person(s) involved will not have their future housing placement affected.
It is important to note that this policy does not protect students who repeatedly or deliberately violate campus policy and code of conduct. If a student has received amnesty in the past and is involved in a successive incident, it will be at the discretion of the Dean of Students to determine whether or not that individual is again eligible for amnesty from college-sanctioned fines in a subsequent incident.
Lastly, The College of St. Scholastica's Medical Amnesty policy is not exclusively applicable to individuals under the age of 21, although alcohol consumption and possession violations most often apply to said demographic. Individuals of any age are subject to both amnesty from fines issued by the college and the required restitution mandated by the Dean of Students. State law regarding Medical Amnesty does however apply only to individuals under the age of 21 who have broken laws of alcohol consumption or possession. If the incident involves other infractions including but not limited to sexual or physical assault, property damage, or unlawful distribution of prohibited substances, this policy is not applicable.
From the Mayo Clinic website https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354386
Alcohol poisoning symptoms include:
It's not necessary for all of these symptoms to be present before you seek help. A person who is unconscious or cannot be roused is at risk of dying.
When to see a doctor: If you suspect that someone has alcohol poisoning - even if you don't see the classic signs and symptoms - seek immediate medical care. In an emergency, follow these suggestions:
If the person is unconscious, breathing less than eight times a minute or has repeated, uncontrolled vomiting, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Keep in mind that even when someone is unconscious or has stopped drinking, alcohol continues to be released into the bloodstream and the level of alcohol in the body continues to rise. Never assume that a person will "sleep off" alcohol poisoning.
Be prepared to provide information. If you know, be sure to tell hospital or emergency personnel the kind and amount of alcohol or other substances the person drank or ingested, and when.
Don't leave an unconscious person alone. While waiting for help, don't try to make the person vomit. Alcohol poisoning affects the way your gag reflex works. That means someone with alcohol poisoning may choke on his or her own vomit or accidentally inhale (aspirate) vomit into the lungs, which could cause a fatal lung injury.
Even if you do not observe the signs and symptoms of overdose, alcohol poisoning, or other health concerns, err on the side of caution and seek assistance so that you and/or the individual may receive proper medical attention. If you suspect yourself or the individual to be in a life-threatening situation, call 911 immediately.
Without written permission from the Dean of Students, no student or student organization may promote or advertise alcohol, alcoholic brands, illegal drugs, paraphernalia, or their use. Neither is it permissible for a student or student organization to promote or advertise an event that mentions or implies alcohol and/or drugs or controlled substances will be served or present. This includes College affiliation or promotion of bars, distributors or brands of alcoholic beverages on T-shirts, posters, cups, etc. unless approved by the Dean of Students. Questions should be referred to the Dean of Students. Any alcohol-related advertising for student publications (such as the student newspaper, The Script) must also be approved by the Dean of Students.
A federal or state drug conviction can result in lost eligibility for federal grants, loans, or work-study assistance as a result of penalties under 484(r)(1) of the Higher Education Act. Convictions only count against a student for aid eligibility purposes (FAFSA question 23c) if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Federal Student Aid-they do not count if the offense was not during such a period, unless the student was denied federal benefits for drug trafficking by a federal or state judge. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record does not count, nor does one received when she was a juvenile, unless she was tried as an adult.
A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for FSA funds. The student self-certifies in applying for aid that he is eligible. The College is not required to confirm this unless The College has conflicting information.
The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)
Possession of Illegal Drugs |
Sale of Illegal Drugs |
First Offense 1 year from date of conviction |
First Offense 2 years from date of conviction |
Second Offense Two years from date of conviction |
Second Offense Indefinite Period |
3 + Offenses Indefinite Period |
- - - - - |
If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period. Schools must provide each student who becomes ineligible for FSA funds due to a drug conviction a clear and conspicuous written notice of his loss of eligibility and the methods whereby he can become eligible again.
A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when he successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program or passes two unannounced drug tests given by such a program. Further drug convictions will make him ineligible again.
Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain it after successfully completing a rehabilitation program (as described below), passing two unannounced drug tests from such a program, or if a conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record. In such cases, the nature and dates of the remaining convictions will determine when the student regains eligibility. It is the student's responsibility to certify to the College that she has successfully completed the rehabilitation program; as with the conviction question on the FAFSA, The College is not required to confirm the reported information unless The College has conflicting information.
The Family Educational Right to Privacy Act, (FERPA), by the U.S. Department of Higher Education states that it is permissible for The College of St. Scholastica to notify the parents/guardian of a student when there is a concern for the health or safety of the student regardless of disciplinary status. This means that if the College has deep concern for the health and safety of a student due to overconsumption (i.e. trip to hospital or detox) or a repeated pattern or single event of high risk behavior, the College will likely contact the parents or guardians.
The Parental Notification Policy will be utilized at the discretion of the Dean of Students or designee.
The purpose of this document is to describe the College's Tobacco Free Policy and to provide guidelines for its implementation. The policy covers all campus facilities, grounds, College-owned or leased vehicles, and personal vehicles, and applies to all persons, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, outside contractors, vendors and the general public. This policy does not apply to the practice of cultural activities by American Indians that are in accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 USC, sections 1996 and 1996a. All ceremonial use exceptions must be approved in advance by the Facilities Services Department.
The use of tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products) by students, faculty, staff, contractors, vendors and visitors is prohibited on all College properties at all times including but not limited to:
Smoking: The burning of any type or lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or any other smoking equipment, whether filled with tobacco or any other type of material.
Smokeless Tobacco Products: Smokeless tobacco consists of the use of snuff, chewing tobacco, dissolvable tobacco, smokeless pouches, or other forms of loose leaf tobacco.
Education and Awareness: The implementation of this policy will be augmented by an education and awareness
campaign that may include but not be limited to:
To support students and employees of the College who wish to reduce and/or quit using tobacco products, a variety of tobacco cessation resources and services are available at: http://www.css.edu/wellu/students/tobacco-free-campus.html
It is the responsibility of all faculty, staff and students in the College to contribute to an environment that is free of tobacco. Should violations of this policy occur, the student or employee shall be informed of the CSS Tobacco Use Policy. Should that person continue to violate the policy, the aggrieved party should contact the appropriate office: for College employees, the person's immediate supervisor; for students, to the Office of Student Affairs; and for those not associated with the College, Campus Security. Continued violation may result in disciplinary consequences.