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Drug, Alcohol, and Smoke-Free Campus

516.01  Drug, Alcohol, and Smoke-Free Campus

Sauk Valley Community College is committed to providing and maintaining an environment for faculty, staff, and students that is drug-free, healthy, safe, and secure. To this purpose, and in compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226), the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-690). the Illinois Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1986 (PA 86-1459), the Illinois Smoke-Free Campus Act, and the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act the following procedures exist to prevent the unlawful use of controlled substances and abuse of alcohol by students and employees.

  1. For the purpose of this policy, a “controlled” substance is any one or more of the following: (1) that which is not legally obtainable as defined by the Schedules of Controlled Substances (21 USC 812); (2) that which is legally obtainable but is being used in a manner different from that prescribed; or (3) that which is legally obtainable but has not been legally obtained.
  2. The unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in campus buildings, on campus grounds, in College vehicles, at College-sponsored activities, or in any other workplace designated for College employees.
  3. In accordance with the Illinois Smoke-Free Campus Act, effective July 1, 2015, smoking is prohibited everywhere on campus, including both outdoors and indoors.
  4. Smoking is defined as (1) lighting or burning any type of matter or substance that contains tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, water pipes, or other smoking devices; (2) lighting or burning of non-tobacco plants or marijuana; (3) using electronic cigarettes; and (4) using smokeless tobacco.
  5. This policy applies to any individual on campus property, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, other employees, contractors, subcontractors, volunteers, visitors, and members of the public. This policy applies to all College-owned vehicles at all times.
  6. Employees, as a condition of employment, are required to notify the College of any criminal drug conviction resulting from a violation occurring at the workplace no later than five (5) days after conviction. A conviction is defined as a finding of guilt (including plea of no contest) or imposition of a sentence, or both, by any judicial body charged with the responsibility of determining violations of the federal or state criminal drug statutes.  The College shall notify the appropriate federal agency from which it received grant monies of an employee conviction within ten (10) days after receiving notice of such a conviction. Within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of a conviction, the College shall institute appropriate disciplinary action. This action could include, but is not limited to, dismissal. The College may also require an employee who violated this policy to participate satisfactorily in an employee assistance program or a substance abuse assistance or rehabilitation program.
  7. Visitors determined to have violated this policy are subject to removal from College premises and may also be subject to legal action.
  8. The College shall develop a drug-free awareness program which will inform College students and employees of the following:
    1. The short and long-term health risks of the use of illicit drugs and alcohol;
    2. The College's policy of maintaining a drug-free campus;
    3. Any health or drug abuse agency which provides substance misuse drug counseling, rehabilitation, and assistance programs; and
    4. The penalties that may be imposed for substance misuse v drug abuse violations.
  9. A notice complying with the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and Drug Free Communities and Schools Act Amendments of 1989 shall be distributed annually to each student and employee of the College.
  10. With the implementation of The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, the state of Illinois decriminalized the possession and use of cannabis under certain specific circumstances. Despite changes in state laws, Sauk Valley Community College remains cannabis free. Possessing, selling, or using cannabis in any form at any SVCC location or event or in college vehicles is not permitted. SVCC receives federal funding and therefore abides by federal regulations. Except as otherwise provided in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and the Industrial Hemp Act (410 ILCS 705/), it is unlawful for any person knowingly to possess, manufacture, or sell cannabis.
  11. Intercollegiate Athletic students shall also participate in SVCC's substance abuse program as outlined in the guidelines provided by the Dean of Student Services.
  12. Any student determined to have violated these policies is subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Student Conduct.
  13. SVCC will complete a biennial review of its drug-free policies and procedures each even year.

Revised:

  • 05-22-1989
  • 12-19-2005
  • 05-21-2018
  • 02-24-2020
  • 01-25-2021
  • 09-23-2024

Cabinet Reviewed:

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