Handling Alcohol And Drug Violations

Students spend almost two-thirds of their time in the residence hall during the academic year. Should a student encounter an alcohol or drug violation during his or her stay, Housing staff first want to support the student and help them find the needed resources.

"We want parents to know that we want to work with a student who may find him or herself with a violation," said Sue Kelly-Moore, an assistant director of Residence Life. "We try to connect with the student and help him or her look at the choices made, what happened as a result, and how does it all fit with that person's goals and purpose for being at UNL." Residence hall policies are in place to help staff respond to the needs of students, and also to help assure students of safety and security in the residence halls throughout their stay.

"We try to find a balance between a student learning about themselves and how the behavior has affected the residence hall community," Kelly-Moore said. "Staff look at the student's cooperation level, what attitude is displayed, and also the circumstances such as any violence. Responses are then determined by those findings."

Minimum responses to first offense alcohol violations include a behavioral requirement and an Alcohol Skills Training Program. Second offenses include an attempt at parental notification.

Minimum responses to first offense marijuana violations include an attempt at parental notification, behavioral requirement, education, and conduct probation.

Behavioral and educational requirements fit the violation in terms of kind and severity. For example, a student may be required to apologize to residents and custodians affected, spend a Friday night monitoring intakes at Cornhusker Place Detoxification Center, accompany the on-call custodian for clean-up in hall bathrooms, floors and stairwells, or work with staff to do a community education program.

Discretionary responses to both alcohol and marijuana offenses include several hours of community service.

Second offense marijuana minimum responses include Housing contract cancellation and attempt at parental notification. Complete residence hall policies such as consequences of inappropriate behavior, roommate trespassing, self-destructive behavior and others can be found in the Residence Life section.