Drugs and Alcohol Campus
Howard Community College (HCC) provides a
drug-free, healthy, safe and secure educational environment. Employees are expected and required to be in
appropriate mental and physical condition for work. Students are expected
to contribute to the desired environment by conducting themselves within the
guidelines of the student code of conduct.
The unlawful manufacture, distribution,
sale, possession, or use of illicit drugs and the illegal use of alcohol on
campus or as a part of any HCC activity whether on or off college premises
is prohibited in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Employees who show evidence of being under
the influence of alcohol or illegal substances while at the college may be
subjected to an immediate drug or alcohol screening in accordance with the
college's Employee Drug and Alcohol Testing Procedure (63.11.04).
Violations of this policy by employees or
students will result in disciplinary action, consistent with college
policies. In addition, any violations may have legal consequences
consistent with federal, state, and local law and the college will
cooperate with appropriate health and law enforcement agencies.
HCC does not want the fear of receiving
disciplinary charges or disciplinary sanction to prevent a student from
reporting an incident of sexual misconduct.
A student who reports an incident of sexual misconduct, either as a
complainant or a third party witness, will not be held responsible for
violating the Student Code of Conduct if the student was under the influence of
alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident.
The college recognizes drug or alcohol
abuse as a potential illness and major health problem, as well as a
potential safety issue. Students and employees who need help in dealing
with such problems are encouraged to use community or campus assistance
programs. Voluntary participation in an assistance program alone will not
jeopardize continued employment or enrollment at the college and will not be
noted in the personnel or student record provided that job or
classroom performance or behavior is consistent with established
standards. However, voluntary participation in an assistance program will
not prevent disciplinary action for violation of this policy, nor will it
prevent corrective action for performance or behavior problems in the workplace
or classroom before, during, or after participation in an assistance program.
A college employee must immediately report
a conviction to the employee's supervisor for any offense involving possession,
use, or distribution of controlled dangerous substances or
paraphernalia. The supervisor will consult with human resources and other
appropriate personnel to determine if the conviction has an effect on
employment status.