Student Resources

Purpose

This policy statement is being distributed to all Southwest Tennessee Community College employees, including faculty, and students in compliance with the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Public Law 101-690) and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226).

It is the policy of Southwest Tennessee Community College that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, use or abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs on the Southwest Tennessee Community College campus, any off-campus site, and at any college functions at off-campus locations is strictly prohibited. All employees and students are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws related to this matter. Additionally, any violation of this policy will result in disciplinary actions as set forth in Southwest Tennessee Community College Student Disciplinary Rules, Employment Policies and Procedures.

Southwest Tennessee Community College will impose the appropriate sanction(s) on any employee or student who fails to comply with the terms of this policy. 

A. Employees - As a condition of continued employment, all employees must abide by the terms of this policy and must notify the Director of Human Resources of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five days after such conviction. A conviction includes a finding of federal judicial body. Upon receiving notice that an employee is in violation, or that an employee has been convicted of a violation of a criminal drug statute or alcohol abuse occurring on campus or as a part of College activities, the College will take appropriate disciplinary action against the employee. Any employee who fails to report a conviction, will be subject to disciplinary sanctions.

Disciplinary sanctions for failure to comply with this policy, including failure to notify of conviction, may include one or more of the following:

1. Termination
2. Suspension
3. Mandatory participation in, and satisfactory completion of a drug/alcohol abuse program, or rehabilitation program
4. Recommendation for professional counseling
5. Referral for prosecution
6. Letter of warning
7. Probation
8. Students - As a condition of continued enrollment, students must abide by the terms of this policy and must notify the Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring on the Southwest Tennessee Community College campus or at college functions at off-campus locations no later than five days after such conviction. A conviction includes a finding of guilt, a plea of nolo contendere, or imposition of a sentence by any state, local, or federal judicial body.

Upon receiving notice that a student is in violation of these procedures, or that said student has been convicted of a violation of a criminal drug statute or alcohol abuse occurring on campus or as a part of College activities, the College will take appropriate disciplinary action. Disciplinary sanction for failure to comply with this policy, including failure to notify of conviction, may include one or more of the following:

1. Expulsion; 
2. Suspension;
3. Mandatory participation in, and satisfactory completion of a drug/alcohol abuse program, or rehabilitation program;
4. Referral for prosecution;
5. Probation;
6. warning;
7. reprimand.

Various federal, state, and local statutes make it unlawful to manufacture, distribute, dispense, deliver, sell or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, dispense, deliver or sell, controlled substances. The penalty imposed depends upon many factors which include the type and amount of controlled substance involved, the number of prior offenses, if any, whether death or serious bodily injury resulted from the use of such substance, and whether any other crimes were committed in connection with the use of the controlled substance. Possible maximum penalties for a first-time violation include imprisonment for any period of time up to a term of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $4,000,000 if an individual, supervised release, any combination of the above, or all three. These sanctions are doubled when the offense involves either:

A. the distribution or possession at or near a school or college campus or, 
B. distribution to persons under 21 years of age. 

Repeat offenders may be punished to a greater extent as provided by statute. Further, a civil penalty of up to $10,000 may be assessed for simple possession or "personal use amount" of certain specified substances under federal law. Under state law, the offense of possession or casual exchange is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor; if there is an exchange between a minor and an adult at least two years the minor's senior, and the adult knew that the person was a minor, the offense is classified as a felony as provided in T.C.A. 39-17-417. (21 U.S.C. 801, et. Seq.; T.C. A. 39-17-417.)

It is unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one (21) to buy, possess, transport (unless in the course of his offenses being classified Class A misdemeanors punishable by imprisonment for not more than 11 months, 20 days, or a fine of not more than $2500, or both (T.C.A. 1-3-113, 57-5-301). It is further an offense to provide alcoholic beverages to any person under the age of twenty-one (21), such offense being classified a Class A misdemeanor (T.C.A. 39-15-404). The offense of public intoxication is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than 30 days or a fine of not more than $50, or both 0)T.C.A. 39-17-310).

Many health risks are associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol including organic damage; impairment of brain activity, digestion, and blood circulation; impairment of physiological processes and mental functioning; and physical and psychological dependence. Such use during pregnancy may cause spontaneous abortion, various birth defects or fetal alcohol syndrome. Additionally, the illicit use of drugs increases the risk of contracting hepatitis, AIDS and other infections. If used excessively, the use of alcohol or drugs singly or in certain combinations may cause death.

Southwest Tennessee Community College's Advising Office has on staff qualified counselors who are available to students and employees to discuss any drug and/or alcohol related problems. Information concerning specific programs and activities may be obtained by referring to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention program in the Counseling Office. Referrals may be made to the agencies listed on the attached sheet or individuals may contact the agency directly:

AGENCY REFERRALS

Alcoholics Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454-1414

Charter Lakeside Hospital Crisis Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . 377-4733

Cocaine Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . 725-5010

Family Service of Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324-3637

Memphis Recovery Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272-7751

Methodist Hospital Behavioral Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 726-8700

Midtown Mental Health Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 577-0200

Narcotics Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276-5483

Southeast Mental Health Center, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369-1400

St. Francis Hospital Behavioral Unit . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 765-1400

Teen Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272-2308

Employee Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . (800) 308-4934

VA Medical Center Alcohol & Drug Center . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 523-8990

Whitehaven Southwest Mental Health Center . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 774-7811