Student Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy FAQs

Dear undergraduates,

This has been a year for many transitions, including our revised Student Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy, first shared through this message in May, with our most recent follow-up being this message in December. We have been listening and learning with you. Thank you for your feedback, engagement and conversations with us.

We want an accountability system that is clear, consistent, educational and prioritizes your health and well-being. The questions we’ve received from you indicate that you want the same. Today, we’d like to share short answers to a few common questions (details are posted below the message), along with positive updates about social life options on campus.

Questions and answers

1. Will an alcohol or other drugs violation become part of my permanent record? Most violations under the alcohol and other drugs policy won’t result in a formal disciplinary record. For example, the consequences for the first, second, and third incidents of underage drinking are all educational and not disciplinary.
2. What happens if I experienced or witnessed sexual violence while I was drinking? Students who report experiencing sexual violence or are witnesses who aid in any report of a SHARE Title IX sexual violence concern will not be subject to any reporting or disciplinary action with respect to their alcohol or drug consumption in connection with the reported incident. The university will offer such students support and resources.

3. What happens if I report experiencing sexual violence, or begin serving as a witness aiding in the reporting of a SHARE Title IX sexual violence concern, after I’m referred for drinking? Any ongoing alcohol violation process will be halted; and if a process has been completed, any finding or consequences will be rescinded. This is premised on an individual acting in a manner that protects against or responds to sexual violence. It is not intended to offer protection for someone who is accused of or found responsible for perpetrating sexual violence.
4. Why are alcohol and other drug violations reported to the university at all? Put simply, we need to follow the law and our policies and practices need to reflect that. Reporting also allows Stanford to intervene to help students stay safe and be healthy.

Social life updates

We know you’re looking for opportunities to socialize, have fun, and if you’re over 21, consume alcohol, but at events and activities where there’s more to do than consume alcohol. Before and during the pandemic, we worked with students on piloting The Arbor (the outdoor pub at Tresidder) and Farm Days (food trucks on the Row). Other events coming soon include the Winter Performing Arts Festival Feb. 24. Additionally, the Well House is hosting weekly substance-free events and these will be expanding in the future. Fill out this form to be added to the “Friends of the Well” mailing list. We’ll be sharing more news soon about alumni and student-led efforts to bring more social life to campus for everyone. At the same time, we’re providing funding to each neighborhood for local events outside your front door. So, keep an eye out for all of this. We’re looking forward to working with as many of you as we can!

Sincerely,

Susie & Mona

Susie Brubaker-Cole
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Mona Hicks
Senior Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students

Detailed responses

Do alcohol and other drugs violations become a part of a formal disciplinary file? Does it go onto my academic record and impact my ability to get into graduate school?

Pursuant to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and the Judicial Charter of 1997, Stanford does not release disciplinary information outside the university about a student without prior written consent. That said, many graduate programs and some employers (such as certain government agencies), and institutions that provide professional certification (such as State Bars) do require prospective applicants to sign consent forms as a part of the application process. When such consent is given, the university follows a specific “Dean’s Certification” process. In this process, a letter is provided that discloses a student’s formal disciplinary record, which contains only findings of responsibility under the university’s Honor Code, Fundamental Standard, and/or Title IX Process. For OCS matters adjudicated under the Judicial Charter of 1997, a finding of responsibility occurs when a student formally accepts responsibility through the Early Resolution Process, or was found responsible beyond a reasonable doubt by 5 out of 6 panelists at a judicial panel hearing.

Most violations under the alcohol and other drugs policy are not referred to the OCS and are therefore not included in Dean’s Certification letters. For example, as stated in the policy, the consequences for first, second, and third incidents of underage drinking “are intended to be educational in nature and will not result in a formal disciplinary record.” (Section II(D)(2)). However, students who fail to participate in the assigned educational consequences will be referred to the OCS, which could result in a formal disciplinary record. Students who distribute controlled substances will also be referred to the OCS.

How does the alcohol and other drugs policy apply to witnesses or victims of sexual violence?

Students who report experiencing sexual violence or are witnesses who aid in any report of a SHARE Title IX sexual violence concern will not be subject to any reporting or disciplinary action with respect to their alcohol or drug consumption in connection with the reported incident. The university will offer such students support and resources. Thus, when a report is made by a student who experienced or witnessed sexual violence when the event occurs concurrently with what would otherwise be an alcohol and other drugs policy concern, the alcohol and other drugs process will be forborne and the university will focus on investigating and adjudicating the instance of sexual violence. If an alcohol and other drugs policy report is made where the victim or witness does not report any sexual violence related to the report, but it later is reported that sexual violence did occur related to the incident, then any ongoing alcohol violation process will be halted; and if a process has been completed, any finding or consequences will be rescinded. This clause is premised on an individual acting in a manner that protects against or responds to sexual violence, as such it is not intended to offer protection for someone who is accused of or found responsible for perpetrating sexual violence.