Other

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Alcohol Consumption

Title XII Drug-Free Schools Act: In 1989, Congress amended Title XII of the Higher Education Act of 1965. This amendment, the “Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989,” requires that every educational institution, as a condition of receiving funds or any other form of financial assistance under any federal program, certify its adoption and implement programs designed to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees. QCC, in accordance with legal mandates and its commitment to establishing and maintaining a supportive learning and working environment, has established the following policies for students and employees.

As required by the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act and the Clery Act, this information is provided to all enrolled students and current employees of Quinsigamond Community College. Quinsigamond Community College prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and or alcohol on its property or as part of any campus activity. Students under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or having them in their possession, will be sanctioned under the College Code of Conduct.

Federal, state and local sanctions for unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs range from probation and forfeiture of property to fines and imprisonment. For example, the sanctions against an individual for distribution of, or possession with intent to distribute, controlled substances include imprisonment for several years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, with fines up to $4 million. Sanctions can increase for repeat offenders or for offenses resulting in death or serious bodily harm, and can be doubled for each of the following occurrences: distribution to persons under 18 years of age, distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, including the College Campus School, or employing someone under 18 in the distribution. Attempt or conspiracy to commit a crime can be treated as severely as the intended offense. Many of the state and federal statutes that prohibit the illegal distribution of controlled substances provide for minimum mandatory prison sentences. Conviction for violation of any state or federal drug law can lead to ineligibility for any federal benefit, including grants and loans. Thus a student can make themselves ineligible for student loans through drug conviction. Massachusetts makes it illegal to be in a place where heroin is kept and to be “in the company” of a person known to possess heroin. Any person in the presence of heroin, risks conviction of a serious drug offense. Sale and possession of “drug paraphernalia” is illegal in Massachusetts

Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol’s effect on you -- Alcohol goes directly into the bloodstream, physically affecting the whole body. Some illnesses and health problems caused by alcohol include:

• Hangovers. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, aches and pains all result from drinking too much. Drinking to the point of drunkenness makes you sick.
• Weight gain. Alcohol is not water. A beer has about 150 "empty" calories that provide few if any nutrients.
• High blood pressure. Along with being overweight, high blood pressure is associated with many serious health problems.
• Depressed immune system. Impaired immunity makes you more likely to contract viral illnesses such as flu and infections.
• Cancer. 2-4% of all cancer cases are related to alcohol. Upper digestive tract cancers are the most common, hitting the esophagus, mouth, larynx, and pharynx. Women who drink prior to menopause are more likely to develop breast cancer. Your risk of skin cancer doubles if you drink slightly more than "moderate levels." Some studies implicate alcohol in colon, stomach, and pancreas and lung cancer. And let's not forget the liver...
• Liver disease. Heavy drinking can cause fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. The liver breaks down alcohol at the rate of only one drink per hour.
• Alcohol poisoning. Drinking large amounts can result in alcohol poisoning, which causes unconsciousness and even death. Breathing slows, and the skin becomes cold and may look blue. Don't let a person in this condition "sleep it off." Call 911.
• Heart or respiratory failure. Excessive drinking can have serious results. Heart or respiratory failure often means death.

Possession, Use, Manufacture, or Distribution of Drugs

(Consistent with the Code of Conduct) Quinsigamond Community College complies with all state and federal laws with regard to the possession, use, manufacture, and/or distribution of unlawful substances. All such activities are strictly prohibited on all College property, in College vehicles, and at all off-campus College-sponsored events.

Marijuana Policy

Although Massachusetts law permits the use of medical marijuana and the possession, use, distribution and cultivation of marijuana in limited amounts, federal law, including the Federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, prohibits the possession, use, distribution and/or cultivation of marijuana at educational institutions.  Further, as marijuana remains classified as an illegal narcotic under federal law, institutions of higher education that receive federal funding are required to maintain policies prohibiting the possession and use of marijuana on their campuses.  Accordingly, the possession, use, distribution or cultivation of marijuana, even for medical purposes, is prohibited on all Community College property or at College sponsored events and activities.  Also prohibited is the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana on Community College property or at College sponsored events or activities.  Further, this policy prohibits the possession, use, or distribution of all marijuana accessories and marijuana products. Marijuana accessories shall include, but are not limited to, any devise or equipment used for ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing marijuana into the human body.  Marijuana products shall include, but are not limited to, products that are comprised of marijuana and other ingredients and are intended for use or consumption, such as, but not limited to, edible products. Violations of this policy by any student or employee shall result in disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or termination in accordance with applicable College policies or collective bargaining agreements.

Quinsigamond Community College recognizes the medical evidence that indicates that smoking is a serious health hazard, and that this health hazard extends to non-smokers subject to second-hand smoke. The College recognizes its responsibility in providing a healthful working and learning environment. As a result, QCC’s Board of Trustees voted to institute a SMOKEFREE campus policy as September 3, 2013. This student-driven initiative was established to create a campus culture of wellness and promote a tobacco-free future.

Smoking Policy

This policy pertains to all staff, students, and visitors on QCC campuses, in QCC facilities and in vehicles owned, operated and controlled by QCC. Definitions: “Smoking” or “smoke”. Possessing a lighted tobacco product or the lighting of a cigar, pipe or other tobacco product. The usage of E-cigarettes and Vaporizers is also included under this definition. Smoking is prohibited within the confines of college grounds, any college building, or college vehicles (smoking is only to be permitted in private vehicles on campus). This includes usage of E-cigarettes and vaporizers.The sale of tobacco products on campus is prohibited.

Tools to Quit

To help make the transition as easy as possible, the college will offer tools and resources for students, faculty and staff affected by the policy. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 70 percent of adult smokers want to quit and 40 percent try to quit every year. QCC is committed to helping you achieve this goal.

Tools to help you quit successfully may include:

• Smoking cessation classes
• Nicotine cessation products
• Counseling

Resources

• www.cancer.org
• www.lung.org

Information, Training, and Assistance

The College annually sponsors a variety of alcohol and drug education programs for students. The Office of Health and Wellness and the Counseling Office maintain a comprehensive list of support services in the community.

Notification to Families for Campus Alcohol Policy Violations

Consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act/Buckley Amendment, the campus may notify the parents or legal guardians of students under twenty-one years of age each time they have been determined to be in violation of the campus alcohol policy.

Children on Campus Policy

While Quinsigamond Community College is an open and welcoming campus, it is primarily an educational institution. As a general rule, children will not be permitted in the classroom, or in any other areas of the College where their presence may interfere with the learning or work environment. Students, visitors and staff need to be aware to the following parameters that the College has established concerning children on campus:

• A parent, legal guardian, or a responsible adult must supervise children at all times on the QCC campus.
• Children may be allowed in the classroom only with prior approval of the faculty member and not on a reoccurring basis.

Prior written approval must be obtained from the appropriate facility manager before a child can utilize campus facilities such as the Fuller Student Center, Math Center, Subject Tutoring Center, Writing Center or the Athletic Complex. The parent, legal guardian, or a responsible adult must be present at all time.

• The staff in the Campus Children’s School supervise only children who are enrolled in the Campus Child Care program.

Quinsigamond Community College employees cannot be responsible for the care and supervision of children.

Electronic Communications

The college uses Microsoft (Student email) as an official means of communication with students.  All students are expected to read their college email regularly and respond appropriately. If students choose to forward their email to another email provider, they are still responsible for receiving all college communications.  The college also has an Emergency Alert text messaging system. Students can choose to sign up for this service through The Q, the college’s student and faculty portal.

Information Systems Policy

1. Introduction -- The Quinsigamond Community College Information System has been designed and developed to support and enhance information resources for the students, faculty, and staff of Quinsigamond Community College in their college related activities. This is accomplished by providing computing facilities including electronic mail capabilities, Internet access, and appropriate data access for on-campus use of the college community. The intent of this policy is not to limit usage but to ensure stability of both the academic and the computing environment. As such this policy is a dynamic document that will be modified as needed. This policy applies to all members of the College community and refers to all electronic resources at the College. Resources provided as part of the College’s Information System, including, but not limited to, electronic mail capabilities, Internet access, and appropriate data access, may be used only for college business, and/or for purposes specifically authorized by the College. Any person who uses the College Information System consents to all of the provisions of this policy and agrees to comply with all of its terms and conditions and with all applicable state, federal, and international laws and regulations. Violators of College policies are subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to loss of computer and network access privileges. All actions may be appealed by the user according to the established college appeal process.
2. Disclaimer
   1. All systems hardware, software, and data are the property of Quinsigamond Community College and are subject to audit by the College and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
   2. Quinsigamond Community College may, at its own discretion, examine, move, or delete files, including electronic mail.
   3. The school makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the services it is providing.
   4. The College will not be responsible for any damages suffered while on this system, including loss of personal data due to system outages or irresponsible use.
   5. Quinsigamond Community College is not responsible for offensive material obtained by any user using college information systems.
3. Information System Acceptable Use Policy
   1. Copying material bearing copyrights or patents without proper licensing or authority is prohibited.
   2. Accessing material or data belonging to other QCC information systems users without proper authority is prohibited.
   3. Using college information systems for political lobbying (see Appendix A) or commercial purposes is prohibited.
   4. To copy or remove software from College microcomputers is prohibited.
   5. Installation of system hardware or software by unauthorized personnel is prohibited.
   6. Use of college information systems that is offensive or harassing is prohibited. (see Appendix B)
   7. Use of college information systems which violates ANY college policy is prohibited.
   8. Viewing or transmission of any material that violates any state, federal, or international law is prohibited.
   9. Use of college information systems to gain unauthorized access to any system or data is prohibited.
4. Electronic Mail Policy
   1. The College does not guarantee privacy or confidentiality of any electronic mail.
   2. Use of electronic mail to violate this or ANY College policy is prohibited.
   3. Any use of electronic mail which does not respect the image and reputation of the college is prohibited.
   4. The user bears sole responsibility for all transmissions using his/her assigned e-mail address.
   5. Concealment or misrepresentation of names, addresses, or affiliations in electronic mail is prohibited.
   6. Use of electronic mail for commercial purposes is prohibited.
   7. Use of electronic mail that is threatening or offensive or intended for harassment purposes is prohibited. (see Appendix B)
   8. Electronic mail is part of the business record of the college and may be inspected or subject to discovery in litigation and Freedom of Information Act requests.
5. Prohibition on Viewing or Distributing Obscene Materials -- A user may not access, download, store, or transmit obscene materials through the college’s computer network system.
6. Acceptance of Personal Responsibility -- The user is solely responsible for all materials viewed, stored, or transmitted from QCC-based computers. QCC expects, however, that users will comply with all College rules and state and federal laws related to Internet use. Failure to do so may result in the suspension or revocation of a user’s access privileges and disciplinary measures, including the possibility of civil and/or criminal liability as described in Appendix C.

Information Systems Acceptable Use Policy (appendices)

Appendix A

Pursuant to Massachusetts Campaign Finance Laws, no governmental resources (including computers, fax machines, modems, printers, and/or copy machines) may be used by any person (including a public employee, whether during work hours or otherwise) in order to promote or oppose a political candidate or ballot questions or for the purpose of disseminating materials that advocate a particular vote on a ballot question or a political candidate. Further, in addition to the prohibition of any type. A user may not access, download, store, or transmit obscene materials through the College’s computer network system.

Appendix B

No member of the community, under any circumstances, may use Quinsigamond Community College’s computers or networks to libel, slander, or harass any other person. The following shall constitute computer harassment: (1) using the computer to annoy, harass, terrify, intimidate, threaten, offend, or bother another person by conveying obscene language, pictures, or other materials, or threats of bodily harm to the recipient or the recipient’s immediate family; (2) using the computer to contact another person repeatedly with the intent to annoy, harass, or bother, whether or not any actual message is communicated, and/or where no purpose of legitimate communication exists, and where the recipient has expressed a desire for the communication to cease; (3) using the computer to contact another person repeatedly regarding a matter for which one does not have the legal right to communicate, once the recipient has provided reasonable notice that he or she desires such communication to cease; (4) using the computer to disrupt or damage the academic research, administrative, or related pursuits of another; and (5) using the computer to invade the privacy, academic or other- wise, of another, or the threatened invasion of privacy of another.

Appendix C

Any user that violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Further, inappropriate use, whether intentional or not, may result in civil and/or criminal liability, and/or a violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Laws, defamation, copyright and/or trademark infringement laws and/or sexual harassment and discrimination laws.

Appendix D

Authority to perform audit and discovery procedures can only be given by the President or the President’s designee. Occasionally, to preserve system security and stability, it is necessary to perform actions that result in the loss of data or the removal of software. Whenever possible, the user will be notified prior to any action taking place. However if system security or stability is at risk, the action will be performed first and the user will be notified at the earliest possible convenience.

Pluralism

The Community Colleges have historically been a major contributing element to the emergence of our nation as one of the most technologically and economically advanced societies of the world. The important role that the Community Colleges can play is profoundly dependent upon the extent to which they may draw from the full collective of intellectual resources within each College’s community of scholars, students, and administrators. Any condition or force that impedes the fullest utilization of the human and intellectual resources available represents a force of destructive consequence for the development of our Commonwealth and, ultimately, our nation.

Community college students, faculty, staff and visitors must be free from conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s academic or professional performance and creating and intimidating, hostile or demeaning educational or employment environment. Therefore, the Community Colleges establish a policy of unequivocal condemnation of all forms of ethnic, religious, cultural, or racial intolerance within the fifteen college communities.

This policy condemns all conditions and all actions or omissions, including all acts of verbal harassment or abuse, which deny or have the effect of denying to an individual his/her rights guaranteed under the law. The policy reaffirms the doctrine of civility, appreciation for pluralism and the pre-eminence of the individual human dignity as preconditions to the achievement of an academic community that recognizes and utilizes the resources of all persons while recognizing and reaffirming the tenets of academic freedom. The Community Colleges recognize their obligation to protect the rights of free inquiry and expression, and nothing herein shall be construed or applied so as to abridge the exercise of rights under the Constitution of the United States and other federal and state laws.

The Community Colleges will vigorously strive to achieve diversity sufficiently reflective of our society. However, diversity alone will not suffice. There must be a unity and cohesion in the diversity which we seek to achieve, thereby creating an environment of pluralism. The Community Colleges bear a responsibility by edict and an obligation  by social morality to promote understanding and acceptance of ethnic, cultural, religious and racial diversity as we strive to create an atmosphere of dignity for all individuals and groups within our system of higher education. The President or his/her designee will take reasonable measures to prevent and discourage harassment and will act positively to investigate alleged harassment and to effect a remedy or resolution when an allegation is determined to be valid.

Solicitation Policy

The College President shall ensure that the following policy guidelines are implemented and administered on her respective campus in a fair, impartial, and uniform manner and without discrimination on grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, age or sex.
In an effort to ensure non-interference with the educational activities and business operations of the College, the College President or his/her designee shall prohibit all private profit and nonprofit organizations, agencies and/or otherwise permitted as follows:

1. The College President or his/her designee may permit federal, state and municipal agency representatives to have access to the campus for any purpose for which said agency representatives are legally authorized to do so; provided, however, the College President or his/her designee retains the authority to regulate the time, place and manner of such access to minimize any interference with the educational activities and business operations of the College.
2. The College President or his/her designee may, upon request, waive the general prohibition against soliciting as stated above upon determination that (a) the purposes of the campus solicitations shall be for the general interest or benefit of the College, students, faculty, or staff; and (b) the proposed solicitation shall not disrupt the continuity of business operations and/or educational activities of the College.
3. The College President or his/her designee shall maintain a record of all on-campus solicitation requests and the disposition of such request.

Student Action Activity Policy

Students wishing to provide information, collect information, or poll the campus community in general are asked to provide a written letter requesting that such activity take place on campus grounds or in campus buildings to the Director of Student Life and Leadership.  The director will provide the requesting student(s) with the Request for Student Action Activity form which must be completed and returned prior to the activity.  This allows the college the opportunity to maintain awareness of these actions and to support the ability of the community to make constructive commentary on issues affecting the student body and the greater community.  It also allows for the thoughtful preparation of presentations on the part of the student(s) involved.

Student(s) organizing such action activities are responsible for upholding the Rules of Student Conduct at all times during the activity.  They are also responsible for removal of all literature or other materials that they may be providing as part of the activity, or to arrange with the Director of Student Life and Leadership for space to have continuing display of their material.  They must also respect the rights of other members of the community to differing opinions on the topic being presented.  Outside speakers must be listed and pertinent to the activity. 

All alleged violations of the Student Action Policy will be referred to the Dean of Students for possible adjudication through the Student Code of Conduct System.

Publicity

On-campus publicity for student sponsored events is coordinated by Student Life. All announcements, signs, posters, and fliers must be approved by Student Life located in Fuller Student Center. Guidelines for posting materials on col­lege bulletin boards by students:

1.  All materials must be submitted to Student Life for approval prior to posting (approved). Items of questionable taste, those which are obscene or libelous, will not be approved for posting. (See General Policy on Solicitation and Sales.)
2. The materials must include the name of an individual or organization and con­tact person. No anonymous material will be approved.
3. Priority for space will go first to recognized or forming campus organizations and individuals affiliated with the College and then to others on a space availability basis.
4. All materials will be stamped with the date of approval and the date the material will be removed.
5. The final date of posting will be determined as follows:
   1. Services: (typing, babysitting, etc.) a mutually agreeable time—not to exceed one month.
   2. Advertising an event—the day after the event.
   3. Others—two (2) weeks from ini­tial date of posting.
6. Materials will be posted only on bulletin boards or other areas designated for that purpose.
7. “For Sale,” services, etc. information should be typed on 3 x 5 cards. The maximum size for a sign should be 8 x 10 inches. Larger posters or banners must be approved by Student Life.
8. Materials not in accordance with these guidelines will be removed.
9. All questions regarding these guidelines should be directed to the Director of Student Life & Leadership, Fuller Student Center.