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Alcohol Policy in Residence Halls The residence hall community at the University of Maryland is made up of talented, active, and engaged students who have come to the University to pursue their degrees, to benefit from living with fellow scholars, and to enjoy their experiences. The behavior of each individual does not occur in a vacuum, and has an impact on others, for better or worse. The improper and excessive use of alcohol may negatively affect the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff, and the ability of residents to contribute positively to the community. The University of Maryland, in compliance with state law, prohibits the use and possession of alcoholic beverages by persons under the age of 21 and restricts their use by persons over the age of 21. In our experience at Maryland, we have seen that when students make poor decisions regarding alcohol use, there can be negative results, such as assault, harassment, vandalism, and noisy, disorderly, and/or disruptive behavior affecting others' ability to sleep, study, or be present in one's own room or residence hall. Students have the right to rest and study in their own residence hall rooms, and the responsibility to behave in a manner that respects other student's rightful place in the halls and conduct themselves in accordance with our Community Living Principles and the Residence Hall Rules. Statistics Over the years, national researchers have concluded that about 20% of college students do not drink at all, that close to 40% drink occasionally and moderately, and that more than 40% engage in high-risk (sometimes called "binge") drinking or drinking for the purpose of getting drunk. A study of University of Maryland students performed in cooperation with the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (2012) indicated that 22% of Maryland students do not drink at all, that 11% drink but have not done so in about a month, and that, over the past 30 days, 63% have consumed alcohol on nine or fewer days. Only 16% of students reported using alcohol more than 10 days in a month, and only one-third of Maryland students reported drinking more than five drinks in a sitting within the past two weeks. The issues associated with alcohol consumption by college-aged people are of utmost importance. Of particular concern are the negative consequences of alcohol misuse or abuse. For example, research summarized by the National Institutes of Health (NIAAA, 2012) suggests that alcohol use by students ages 18 through 24 may be responsible each year for as many as 1,825 deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 97,000 cases of sexual assault and date rape. About 25% of students experience academic problems including missing class, falling behind in coursework, doing poorly on exams and papers, and receiving lower grades. Alcohol Policy in Residence Halls
State of Maryland Law
Space Reservation approval will not be granted for group activities that involve the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Resident Life acknowledges, however, that students of legal drinking age may choose to consume alcohol in their room, apartment, or suite. If found in possession of any open container of alcohol anywhere else in or around the residence halls, ALL students will be instructed to pour it out in the nearest appropriate receptacle. Violations will result in administrative and/or disciplinary sanctions. Serious or repeated violations may result in the responsible residents having their on campus terminated. Alcohol PoisoningIn the event a student requires transport to a hospital emergency room solely due to excessive alcohol consumption, Resident Life staff may take the following actions:
Promoting Responsible Action in Medical EmergenciesThe health and safety of University students is of paramount concern. With that priority in mind, students are encouraged to take responsible action in any situation where there is doubt about a person's physical welfare. Students who summon help for themselves or others in a medical emergency will normally be relieved of disciplinary and administrative housing action for possession or use of alcohol and will apply to both the student who summons help and the recipient of assistance. In lieu of disciplinary or administrative charges students will usually be required to complete an evaluation and alcohol intervention program through the University Health Center (at the student's expense). For the full text Promoting Responsible Action in Medical Emergencies policy please visit: http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/docs/V-100J.pdf. Advice for Students
In addition to visiting the websites shown on these pages, seek out other sources of information. Students working as CHOICES Peer Educators in the University Health Center are a great resource. You have accepted a responsibility as a citizen of the University of Maryland community to know and abide by the University's rules and regulations. This concept includes not permitting others to knowingly violate those rules and regulations and watching out for the safety and wellbeing of others. Our expectations with regard to alcohol use relate primarily to your personal safety, and secondarily to enforcement of rules and regulations. Rules and regulations regarding alcohol are summarized in these pages and posted online in the Community Living Handbook You have choices to make – to choose to drink or to not drink; to choose how much or how little to drink and how often; to choose your own behavior and not have the behavior influenced or belittled by others; and, to choose your activities and companions. Make informed choices, and behave in a safe and responsible manner. Be especially watchful and caring of friends who choose to drink. Know the symptoms of alcohol poisoning. It could save someone's life. Websites Especially for Students
Advice for Parents and Other Adults in Our Students' Lives
The websites listed on this page are informative and interesting. They also provide useful tips for discussing college drinking with your student. First-year students are most at risk, the experts say, for developing problems that can arise from social pressure and experimentation with new behaviors. Parents have considerable influence on students, and students respect and listen to their parents more often than we give them credit for. Here are some tips for helping to keep your son or daughter safe: Call, email, or talk with your student frequently, especially during the first six weeks of the semester. Ask about academics, roommates or new friends, and social activities. Join your student on campus for Family Weekend (held each year during the fall semester) and ask to meet his or her friends. If you are concerned about your student with regard to alcohol (e.g., academic problems, reluctant to speak with you or return your calls, resists talking about friends and social time), please call on any of the on-campus support resources listed on these pages. Websites Especially For Parents
Notifications to Parents Resident Life staff members do not routinely contact a student's parent(s) or legal guardian when an individual, including a student under the age of 18, is involved in an alcohol incident or is subject to disciplinary and/or administrative action that can result in sanctions up to and including dismissal from the residence halls. In most such situations, the student is strongly counseled to inform his/her parent(s) or other responsible adult (e.g., clergy, teacher, adult friend, etc.). In instances when Resident Life staff members learn that a student under age 18 has been transported to a hospital because of alcohol consumption or that a student, regardless of age, is in serious physical condition following such a transport, parents typically will be contacted by the student himself/herself or by police, hospital personnel or a Resident Life staff member. Whether or not such a contact is made by a Resident Life staff member, within the next business day or so, the student's Community Director will call the parents to inform them of the incident, enlist the family's support, identify campus resources to help the student, and emphasize that a repeat violation of the residence hall rules could result in dismissal from housing. Campus Resources List
Consequences of Alcohol Use There are many ways in which the use, misuse, or abuse of alcohol can result in harm to oneself and/or consequences that affect one's status as a University of Maryland student.
Sanctions for violations of Resident Life alcohol policy are published online at The Office of Rights and Responsibilities website and Community Living Handbook Website . The sanction imposed for violations will depend on the degree of severity and impact (both potential and actual) of the behavior on the residence hall community and may include: Sanctions for violations of University alcohol policies can include: To learn more about the University of Maryland Code of Student Conduct please click here: http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/docs/V-100B.pdf In addition, students may be accountable to both civil authorities and to the University for acts that constitute violations of law and University policy. Breaking the law in the State of Maryland with regard to alcohol possession/use can also have serious consequences, and significant legal costs for attorneys and court fees.
Educational Programming Efforts Regarding Alcohol In addition to confronting violations of the alcohol policy, Resident Life staff members make it a priority to help educate students to the health risks, legal and personal consequences and other dangers associated with misuse or abuse of alcohol. This is done through:
Confronting Alcohol Use/Possession in Residence Halls Residence hall staff members can be expected to:
Students should report suspected violations of the alcohol policy to their RA or the RA on duty. The RA on duty can be reached through a student's 24-hour service desk. Acknowledgments Some of the material used in this document was provided by the University of Maryland's Health Center and information from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) college drinking resources. What percentage of college students report having consumed alcohol?College Drinking Statistics
Roughly 20% of college students meet the criteria for having an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Close to 60% of college students between the ages of 18 and 22 admitted to drinking in the past month. Of those, nearly two in every three engaged in binge drinking.
What percentage of college students reports drinking alcohol at least once in the past month?about what percentage of college students report drinking alcohol at least once within the past month? 60 percent.
What percentage of incoming college students did not drink in the past 2 weeks?About 61% of incoming college students reported not drinking any alcohol during the two weeks prior to taking AlcoholEdu — including students who reported not drinking in the past year.
What percentage of college students report not drinking at all in the past year?What percentage of incoming students report not drinking at all in the past year? Approximately 38% of incoming college students reported not drinking at all in the past year.
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