College of Central Florida is committed to providing a campus and workplace environment free from the abuse of alcohol and the illegal use of alcohol and other drugs. In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, the Drug-Free Workplace Act, and the Florida Drug-Free Workplace Program Requirements, the President or the President’s designee will take such steps as are necessary in order to adopt and implement a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by the College of Central Florida students or employees on College premises or part of any College activity. In furtherance of this policy, the President or the President’s designee shall establish procedures for drug and alcohol testing of employees and students.
The following standards of conduct apply to students and employees:
- Students and employees are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, or use of illicit drugs and/or alcohol on College property, CF Foundation properties, and/or during College activities.
- Students are prohibited from attending class while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
- Employees are prohibited from reporting to work while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
- Employees and students shall notify the College of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace or during College-sponsored activities no later than five (5) days after such conviction.
The President or the President’s designee is authorized to impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees (consistent with local, state, and federal law), up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution, for violations of standards of conduct required by this policy. For purposes of this policy, a disciplinary sanction may include completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program.
(Florida Statutes 112.0455, 440.101, 440.102, 1001.02, 1001.64, 1006.62, CF Board Policy 3.19)
Drug-Free Campus Procedure
Purpose: In compliance with the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, the Drug-Free Workplace Act and the Florida Drug-Free Workplace Program Requirements, the following guidelines and procedures are established to implement a drug-free campus and work environment.
Notification of Drug-Free Campus and Workplace
The President or the President’s designee shall make an annual distribution in writing to each employee, and to each student who is taking one or more classes for any type of academic credit except for continuing education units, regardless of the length of the student’s program of study, of:
- Standards of conduct that clearly prohibit, at a minimum, the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on college property or as part of any college activity;
- A description of the applicable legal sanctions under local, state, or federal law for the unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol;
- A description of the health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol;
- A description of any drug or alcohol counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation or re-entry programs that are available to employees or students; and
- A clear statement that the College will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees (consistent with local, state and federal law), and a description of those sanctions, up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution, for violations of the standards of conduct required by this policy. For the purpose of this policy, a disciplinary sanction may include the completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program;
- A clear statement that the College may require a student to submit to a drug test when there is a reasonable suspicion that the student has engaged in illegal or improper use of drugs or alcohol;
- A clear statement that the College may require a student to submit to a follow-up drug test when a student has participated in a drug/alcohol rehabilitation program; and
- A clear statement that the College will consider an employee’s, a primary candidate’s or a student’s refusal to submit to drug testing an unsatisfactory test result.
Review of Drug-Free Campus and Workplace Policy
The President or the President’s designee shall conduct a biennial review by the College of its program to: (1) determine its effectiveness and implement changes in the program if they are needed; and (2) ensure that the disciplinary sanctions described in the policy are consistently enforced.
(Excerpt from CF Administrative Procedure: Drug-Free Campus Procedure)
Student Testing Procedures
A student may be required to submit to a drug or alcohol test any time there is reasonable suspicion that the student is using or has used illegal drugs or alcohol in violation of College policy. A student may also be required to submit to a drug or alcohol test as a sanction for violation of the Code of Student Conduct as determined by either the vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs or a Hearing Panel.
- Reasonable suspicion drug testing means that the testing is based on a belief that a student is using or has used drugs in violation of College policy. Reasonable suspicion may be based on the following:
- direct observation of drug use;
- direct observations of physical symptoms or manifestations of being under the influence;
- pattern of abnormal conduct or erratic behavior in the classroom, during College activities, or while on College or Foundation properties;
- an official incident report from a law enforcement agency indicating an alleged violation of the Code of Student Conduct as related to drug and/or alcohol abuse;
- evidence of tampering with a drug test;
- significant deterioration in course work performance over a period of time; and/or
- evidence that student used, possessed, sold, solicited, or transferred drugs or drug paraphernalia while on the College property.
- The vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs will direct the student to provide a urine sample using a reputable preliminary screening test. The Director of Athletics and Wellness will coordinate the screening process.
- Before and after testing, the student will be given the opportunity to confidentially report the use of prescription or non-prescription drugs which may affect test results. This information is to be reported to the testing facility and will be kept confidential along with the testing results.
- Refusal to submit to testing will be treated as an unsatisfactory result for purposes of discipline and may result in the student’s suspension or expulsion.
- If the preliminary screening test sample is negative, no record will be placed in the student’s confidential file. If the testing is positive, the student may accept the accusation of the appropriate violations of the Code of Student Conduct. Or, the student may exercise the option to be transported immediately by a College official to a certified laboratory near the College campus for a second screening. If the student selects this option, he or she will bear the cost of the second drug screening. At the time of the visit to the certified laboratory, the student may consult with a medical review officer or laboratory official about technical information regarding prescription and non-prescription medications.
- If the sample is confirmed positive, the student will be charged with the appropriate violations of the Code of Student Conduct if violation has not already been determined.
- For students who are required to undergo random drug testing as part of the sanctions imposed for violating the Code of Student Conduct, confirmed positive testing will result in expulsion.
(CF Administrative Procedure: Drug-Free Campus Procedure)
Dangerous Effects of Alcohol and Drugs
- Alcohol dangers include:
- a. loss of concentration and judgment leading to dangerous or problem behavior;
- b. loss of work time or lateness, increasing the workload and stress on others; and
- c. inability to deal realistically with problems, often hiding them until they are almost impossible to solve.
- Drug dangers include:
- making you feel able to handle tasks that are too much for you, or making you careless and likely to forget important safety steps you need to take;
- throwing off your sense of time, space and distance; causing lateness and absenteeism, increasing the workload of others;
- causing crime, including theft of your personal belongings or College property, to finance someone else’s drug habit; and
- causing major errors in work, risking harm to others along the way.
- Dangers of specific drugs:
- Marijuana (grass, pot, weed) slows your physical reflexes, cuts your mental powers, makes you forgetful, throws off space and judgment. Personal dangers include damage to lungs, reproductive organs, and brain functions.
- Cocaine (coke, crack, freebase, rock, snow) causes a temporary feeling of almost superhuman power, impairing judgment and decision-making ability; it causes emotional problems, mood swings and lack of dependability. It is expensive and often the cause of crime. Personal dangers include damage to the respiratory and immune systems, malnutrition, seizures, and loss of brain function. Lower-cost forms such as crack are especially addictive, making all other effects worse.
- Heroin (H, horse, junk) causes total disinterest in safety, or in anything else except drugs, making a person dangerous and a weak link in any team; high cost of addiction leads to crime; dirty needles and other paraphernalia spread disease. Personal dangers include damage to personal productivity and relationships, overdose-caused coma and death. Heroin is addictive, even in small amounts, and withdrawal is painful and difficult.
- Hallucinogens (designer drugs, ecstasy [MDMA], LSD, PCP) vastly distort what is seen and heard, so that dangerous situations are caused or overlooked; bring about sudden, bizarre changes in behavior that can include attacks on others. Rebound effects such as loss of concentration and memory or behavior problems can occur even when the dose has worn off. Personal danger due to frequent use can be the permanent loss of mental function.
- Legal drugs, dangerous if abused:
- Amphetamines (speed, uppers) can make you rush around wildly and carelessly, pushing yourself beyond your physical capacity.
- Sedatives (downers) slow your mental processes and reflexes and are very dangerous in any position requiring alertness. Personal dangers of abusing these “legal” substances, including alcohol, range from disrupting family relationships to serious health problems, including liver and kidney damage.
Disciplinary Sanctions for Drug and Alcohol Abuse
College of Central Florida Sanctions:
The College will impose sanctions on students and employees for any violation of the College’s Drug-Free Institution Policy consistent with state and Federal law. Possible sanctions include suspension, termination, expulsion, participation in a drug rehabilitation program, referral for prosecution, or other such action the College deems appropriate. Primary candidates who test positive for the illegal use of drugs will be ineligible for employment at the College for a minimum of six months following the College’s receipt of the confirmed positive test results. Refusal to submit to a drug/alcohol test will be treated as a confirmed positive test result for purposes of employment and employee discipline. The following minimum penalties shall be imposed for the particular offenses described.
Manufacture, Sale or Delivery of Illicit Drugs: For the illegal sale, delivery or possession with the intent to deliver, of any controlled substance identified in Schedules I and II of Chapter 893.03 of the Florida Statutes (including but not limited to heroin, cannabis, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], opium, cocaine, amphetamine, and MDA [ecstasy, methaqualone] any student shall be expelled and any faculty member, administrator or other employee shall be discharged.
For the illegal manufacture sale or delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver, of any controlled substance identified in Schedules III through V of Chapter 893.03 of the Florida Statutes (including, but not limited to steroids, diazepam and Phenobarbital) the penalty may include suspension from enrollment or employment. For a second offense, any student shall be expelled and any faculty member, administrator or other employee shall be discharged.
Possession, Sale or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages: Possession, sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus or at off-campus, College-sponsored activities is prohibited unless specifically authorized. Alcoholic beverages include, but are not limited to, beer, wine, distilled spirits, wine coolers and liqueurs.
Students, faculty and staff in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary actions as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct, or according to College disciplinary procedures.
Illegal Possession of Drugs: For a first offense involving the illegal possession of any controlled substance identified in Schedules I or II of Chapter 893.03 of the Florida Statutes, the minimum penalty for students and employees shall be suspension.
For a first offense involving the illegal possession of any controlled substance identified in Schedules III through V of Chapter 893.03 of the Florida statutes, the minimum penalty shall be probation for a period to be determined on a case-by-case basis. A person on probation must agree to participate in a drug education and counseling program, consent to follow-up drug testing, and accept other conditions as the College deems appropriate.
For refusal or failure to abide by the terms of probation or for subsequent offenses involving the illegal possession of drugs, progressively more severe penalties shall be imposed, including expulsion of students and discharge of employees. These penalties will be imposed in accordance with College disciplinary procedures.
State of Florida Sanctions:
Drinking Age: The legal drinking age in Florida is 21. Selling, giving or serving alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 is unlawful. The possession of alcoholic beverages by persons under 21 is unlawful. It is unlawful for a person under 21 to misrepresent his or her age in order to obtain alcohol. This includes the manufacture or use of false identification. It is unlawful to use altered identification for the purpose of procuring alcoholic beverages. Possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under the age of 21 may also result in the curtailment of driving privileges.
DUI (Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs): Possible penalties include mandatory driver’s license suspension, fines, community service and imprisonment.
Drug Related Offenses: Under state law, it is a crime for any person to possess or distribute controlled substances/drugs as described in Section Florida Statutes 893.03, except as authorized by law. Punishment for such crime ranges from first-degree misdemeanors (up to one year imprisonment and up to a $1,000 fine) to first-degree felonies (up to 30 years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine). The driving privilege may also be affected if any of these crimes are committed. Convictions on drug-related charges may result in forfeiture of federal financial aid.
Trafficking (distributing specified large quantities of various controlled substances) is punishable by a prison term of 3 to 25 years and a fine of $25,000 to $500,000 depending on the particular illicit drug and the quantity involved.
Federal Sanctions:
Possible federal sanctions for illegal possession of a controlled substance or drug trafficking range from 1 to 20 years in prison and between $1,000 and $8 million in fines depending on the particular substance and quantity involved, whether death or serious bodily injury resulted and the number of previous felony drug convictions. Additional sanctions may include forfeiture of personal and real property, denial of federal benefits and loss of eligibility to receive or purchase a firearm. Drug possessors may also be subject to a civil fine of up to $10,000.
(CF Drug-Free Campus and Workplace Policy, CF.edu/campussafety)
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