Responsible Office: Intercollegiate Athletics
Responsible Area: President's Office
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Policy
1201: Intercollegiate Athletics: Alcohol and Drug Policy Responsible Office: Intercollegiate Athletics Responsible Area: President's Office |
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to make student-athletes and the public aware
of the existence of the Longwood University Intercollegiate Athletics Alcohol and
Drug Education Program.
II. DEFINITION
A. Policy Violation: A violation of the policy is that which includes but is not limited to a reportable offense (violations outlined in the Longwood University Student Handbook) by the Town of Farmville, Longwood University, a team coach, or the Director of Athletics.
III. POLICY
A. Philosophy: The Department of Athletics at Longwood, coaching staff, athletic trainers, and administrators strongly believe that the abuse of alcohol and use of other drugs (excluding those prescribed by a physician to treat specific medical condition) is detrimental to the physical and mental well-being of its student-athletes, no matter when such use should occur during the year.
Additionally, use or abuse of alcohol and use of other drugs can seriously interfere with the performance of individuals as students and as athletes and can be injurious to student-athletes and their teammates, particularly when participating in athletic competition or practice.The Department of Athletics at Longwood strongly believes in the positive deterrence of student-athletes from using various forms of alcohol and other drugs. It is the Department's desire to encourage all student-athletes to take the responsibility for actions made while a member of any athletic team. Student-athletes should take pride in promoting healthy choices for healthy lives. Various forms of alcohol and other drugs have worked their way into practically every segment of modern society, and athletics are not immune to this phenomenon. Student-athletes can keep alcohol and other drugs out of the athletic environment through awareness, education, and self-responsibility.
In light of health, safety, and social concerns, the Athletic Department at Longwood has implemented a mandatory program of alcohol and other drug education to assist and benefit the men and women student-athletes at Longwood.
B. Purpose of the Program: The purpose of the Longwood Intercollegiate Athletics Alcohol and Drug Education Program is to inform and help student-athletes at the University. This program is based on the Athletic Department's policy that alcohol abuse and drug use are detrimental to the student-athlete and are a violation of team rules.
C. Specific Goals of this Program:
1. To educate Longwood student-athletes about the associated problems of alcohol abuse and other drug use and abuse.2. To discourage any alcohol abuse or other drug use by Longwood student-athletes.
3. To identify any student-athlete who may be abusing alcohol or other drugs and to identify the drugs.
4. To educate any student-athlete identified about how such usage may affect the student-athlete and his or her team and teammates.
5. To see that any chronic dependency is treated and addressed properly.
6. To provide reasonable safeguards that every student-athlete is medically competent to participate in athletic competition.7. To encourage discussion about any questions the student-athlete may have, either specifically or generally, about use and abuse of alcohol or other drugs.
IV. PROCEDURE
A. Implementation of the Alcohol and Other Drug Education Program: At the beginning of the academic year, a presentation will be made to all intercollegiate student-athletes at Longwood to outline and to review the Intercollegiate Athletics Alcohol and Drug Education Program, its purpose, and its implementation. Copies of this program will be mailed to each student-athlete and to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the first-year student-athlete. A parent or legal guardian as well as the student-athlete is required to sign a form acknowledging receipt and understanding of the policy.
First-year student-athletes will also be expected to attend and complete the required sessions of On Campus Talking About Alcohol (OCTAA) with their Longwood Seminar group. OCTAA is a research-based, nationally-recognized, risk reduction model. The program addresses the issues of mixed messages, under-age use of alcohol, and how abstinence and other low-risk choices can improve academic and athletic performance.
We hope that no Longwood student-athlete has a problem with alcohol or other drug abuse; however, alcohol and other drugs touch all occupations and age groups. The Alcohol and Drug Policy is intended to enhance the feeling of trust among student-athletes and their teammates.
B. Alcohol and Drug Policy-Description:
1. The use of National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) banned drugs or street drugs is prohibited at all times.2. When a violation of the policy does occur and the student-athlete is found responsible, he/she will be placed on a probationary period to be determined by the Athletic Director. If the student-athlete has recurring offenses during the probationary period, Part II (offense during the student-athlete's probation period) of the sanctioning for positive alcohol or drug tests will be applied. Should a student-athlete no longer be on the defined probationary period and commit another offense, the student is subject to follow sanctioning of the "first offense during the student-athlete's four (4) year NCAA eligibility."
Revised and approved by the Board of Visitors, September 7, 2002.