Alcohol & Drug Policy

The law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania concerning the use of alcoholic beverages is quite specific and addresses purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages. A person commits a summary offense if they, being less than 21 years of age, attempts to purchase, purchases, consumes, possesses or knowingly and intentionally transports any liquor or malt or brewed beverages. 

The College will cooperate fully with civil authorities in the enforcement of the law. If civil authorities are involved, the College will not present disciplinary charges unless the College’s interests as an academic community are directly involved. Decisions to hold a conduct hearing prior to, simultaneously with, or after criminal proceedings is at the discretion of the College.

The possession and/or use of alcoholic beverages is not permitted at an on campus event, or at any off- campus college-sponsored activity, regardless of age without the permission of the President of the College or his designee. Any student present in the room or area where alcohol is contained will be held responsible for a violation of the College’s alcohol policy.

Alcohol Hosting Policy

An additional sanction will be levied to those violators of the Alcohol Policy who transport alcohol to campus with the intention to  distribute to underage students; either in their contracted residence hall room or automobile.

State Legislation

Pennsylvania law regarding underage alcohol possession and consumption.

Section 6308 (a). Purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages. A person commits a summary offense if he, being less than 21 years of age, attempts to purchase, purchases, consumes, possesses or knowingly and intentionally transports any liquor or malt or brewed beverages. Fine can be up to $1,000.00.

Section 6308 (f) Exception for a person seeking medical attention for another. A person shall be immune from prosecution for consumption or possession under 6308 (a) if he can establish the following:

1. The only way law enforcement officers became aware of the person’s violation of subsection (a) is because the person placed a 9-1-1 call, or a call to campus safety, police or emergency services, in good faith, based on a reasonable belief and reported that another person was in need of immediate medical attention to prevent death or serious injury.

2. The person reasonably believed he was the first to make a 9-1-1 call or a call to campus safety, police or emergency services, and report that a person needed immediate medical attention to prevent death or serious injury.

3. The person provided his own name to the 9-1-1 operator or equivalent campus safety, police or emergency officer.

4. The person remained with the person needing medical assistance until emergency health care providers arrived and the need for his presence had ended.

Public Drunkenness

Section 5505. Public drunkenness and similar misconduct. A person is guilty of a summary offense if he appears in any public place manifestly under the influence of alcohol and/or a controlled substance, as defined in the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, except those taken pursuant to the lawful order of a practitioner, as defined in The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, to the degree that he may endanger himself or other persons or property, or annoy persons in his vicinity. A person convicted of violating this section may be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500 for the first violation and not more than $1,000 for the second and each subsequent violation.

Open Container Law

In a car: No driver may legally consume any alcoholic beverage in a vehicle in operation on a Pennsylvania highway.

As a Pedestrian: In Pennsylvania, there is no state law to prohibit open containers of alcohol in public. However, many local governments have enacted ordinances making it illegal.

Special events by departments and registered student organizations may include alcohol. These events must include two professional staff (Faculty, Staff, or Graduate Assistant) hosts present for the entire duration of the event. All events must be registered with Campus Safety and be approved by the relevant college Vice President. Registered student organization events with alcohol must be approved by the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Life.

Organizations and departments must consider the risks and liability associated with having an event with alcohol on campus. Hosts are responsible for:

1. Ensuring underage attendees do not have access to alcohol.

2. Establish a limit of one drink per hour per person and ensure that participants do not exceed the limit; no more than two drinks will be provided to any one person, regardless of the duration of the event. 

3. Only allowing beer, ciders, malt beverages (Seagrams, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, etc.) (which are 6%ABV or less) or wine. Liquor or mixed drinks are not permitted.

4. Ensuring that those consuming alcohol are properly identified with a wristband.

5. Ensuring that entrances/exits to the event are appropriately monitored.

6. Ensuring that PLCB RAMP certified hosts are the only people distributing alcohol; 2 RAMP certified staff must be present at the drink distribution area at all times of service.

7. Ensuring that food/snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are available at any event where alcohol is served.

8. Ensuring that all required liquor permits/licenses are secured. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board regulations must be followed. The number of permits for events where alcohol is sold or there is a fee for admission is limited, therefore, the majority of events where alcohol is served may not charge admission to the event or for individual drinks. The regulations are as follows:

   1. A Special Occasion Permit may only be granted for an event used by the applicant as a means of raising funds for itself.

   2. Only the area where sales of alcohol will take place needs to be licensed under the Permit.

   3. Each Special Occasion Permit may be used for up to 10 consecutive days or six non-consecutive days during a calendar year.

   4. If an entity has been granted a Special Occasion Permit in the past, a Special Occasion Permit application must be submitted at least 10 business days in advance of the event.

In some cases, third party vendors will serve the alcohol at an event and will secure the liquor permit/license and liquor liability insurance. In these cases, the vendor will need to provide verification that they have the proper permit/license and also provide the college evidence of liquor liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000, evidenced by a certificate of insurance naming Mount Aloysius College as “Additionally Insured.”

9. Students may serve alcohol at events if they are PLCB Ramp certified, having completed TIPS training, which educates individuals about responsible alcohol use, signs of intoxication, drunk driving, underage drinking and more. Contact Student Activities to complete the course.

10. Upon completion of the event, any leftover alcohol from Student Organization events shall be forfeited to Student Engagement (Student Activities and Mission Integration) to be used for future events with alcohol. Students and hosts are not permitted to take any alcohol with them after the event concludes. Forfeited alcohol from Student Organization events will not be used for faculty/staff events.

Any exceptions to the aforementioned guidelines must be approved by the relevant department Vice President or, in the case of the registered student organizations, the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Life.

This application must be submitted a minimum of 3 weeks in advance for events without any exchange of money. In order to obtain the PLCB license, the application must be submitted 8 weeks in advance. For events where alcohol is sold, directly or indirectly (including by charging general admission price for the event), the application must be submitted 8 weeks in advance.  This is necessary to allow enough time for the PLCB license and liquor liability insurance for the event to be secured. The college department responsible for approving event applications (Student Activities, Alumni Relations, etc.) is responsible for securing the PLCB license and providing the SVP for Administration & Strategy (SVPAS) Office with details of the event so

that the college can apply for liquor liability insurance. Alcohol shall not be sold, directly or indirectly, at any events without the proper PLCB license and confirmation from the SVPAS Office or third-party serving vendor that liquor liability insurance is in place for the event.

Registered Event Involving Alcohol Form

Mount Aloysius College is a drug-free campus and students are prohibited from using illegal drugs and/or having detectable levels of drugs in their system. Drug paraphernalia is also prohibited on-campus. This policy applies to College-sponsored events and activities on-campus as well as off-site clinical or internship settings. For a list of commonly used drugs, please click here.

A few academic programs on campus require students to undergo random drug screenings prior to entering clinical/field experience sites. Students are expected to test negative on their drug screen to remain in compliance with College policy. College policy states “the use of illegal drugs and/or having detectable levels in the system is prohibited;” therefore, a positive drug test will result in dismissal from the academic program for one year. If a student is attending an off-site educational experience (including, but not limited to: clinicals, practicum, internships, and externships) and tests positive on a drug screening, the student will receive a failing grade of F for the course associated with that educational experience. In addition, the student will be prohibited from continuing in that program and may not take courses in that major. A student may continue to participate in courses outside the major for the semester in which they tested positive. In order to continue taking courses outside the major beyond the semester in which the student tested positive, the Student Health & Wellness Center must receive verification that the student completed a certified drug treatment program prior to the start of the next semester’s classes and show proof of a negative drug test. After one year, a student may reapply for admission to their original program or another health-related program following the guidelines specified by the program in which they are interested in participating.

Students who participate in a urine drug screen with an undetermined or diluted result may be required—at the College’s discretion—to participate in an additional screening procedure. The student may be responsible for all retesting costs. Students who have a positive test have an opportunity to appeal the test within three working days of being notified of the test results. Appeals should be in writing, should list the reason for appeal as noted below, and be sent to the Academic Dean for investigation in conjunction with the agency conducting the screenings.

Appeals will only be considered by the Academic Dean and the physician responsible for coordinating the screening process under the following circumstances:

1. Standard procedures for collecting urine drug screens were not followed according to institutional guidelines; and

2. Legally prescribed drugs (prescribed within the past year) resulted in the drug screening showing a false positive.

A student may not appeal a positive urine drug screen result on the basis that the sanction includes dismissal from the program.

The use, possession, or distributing illicit drugs will be considered an infraction. Disciplinary action will be based on the seriousness of the offense, individual circumstances and the best interests of the College community. Possible sanctions include but are not limited to conduct warnings, educational sanction, required counseling session(s), fines, service to the College, probation, suspension, and dismissal.

Personal concerns of any type may be discussed confidentially with the College counselor located in St. Joseph Hall 101, or call (814) 886-6336. Students may arrange to talk to the counselor or take advantage of the office’s referral service to outside agencies. Local outside agencies include:

Johnstown Area:

Crisis Intervention: 1-877-268-9463

Conemaugh Health Systems: (814)-534-9000

Altoona Area:

Altoona Regional Health System Services Behavioral Health Services: (814) 889-2141

Primary Health Network - Mental Health Services: (814) 942-5000

Toll Free Hotline Help and Information: 1(800) 662-HELP, 1(800) 662-4357, 1(800) 342-AIDS, 1(800) 342-2437

Suicide Hotline: 1(800) 784-2433, 1(800) SUICIDE

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Abuse: 1(800)-729-6686

Blair County Access Center: (800)-540-4690

Alcohol and Other Drug Program Overview

Mount Aloysius College has a commitment to the health and wellbeing of the students we serve. The Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Education Program is a multidimensional resource for students who have questions about reducing negative consequences associated with drinking and other substance abuse.

The AOD education program supports undergraduate students struggling with or wanting to know more about alcohol and drugs by:

• Implementing and evaluating prevention programming on campus

• Creating personalized AOD plans for students that are struggling to address substance use patterns and create safer drinking or substance use strategies

• Provide a wide variety of activities that are alcohol and drug alternative programs

• Provide a safe and respectful learning, working, living community without incivility, harassment, violence, and discrimination

• Multidisciplinary approach to managing the needs of the campus using a Health and Safety committee 

In order to best serve the campus community, we collaborate with students and staff across the institution to create a comprehensive substance abuse prevention program focused on the health and safety of Mount Aloysius College students. Our services and resources include:

EduRisk

The EduRisk Learning Portal is provided by United Educators and delivers complimentary resources to students of member institutions. The portal offers learning programs that reflect real experiences at colleges on Alcohol and Other Drugs. This online programming module is introduced during new student orientation and at the beginning of the academic semester.

Bringing in the Bystander

Bringing in the Bystander (BITB) is a prevention program based on the concept that all community members have a role to play in ending incivility, harassment, violence, and discrimination. Intervention is the basis for this unique and effective program, as well as establishing the important role of a bystander.

The program informs participants of the knowledge and skills needed to identify and safely intervene before, during, and after instances of risky behaviors. This program is introduced to students during the first-year seminar. The Health and Wellness Center equips students with the tools needed to intervene in risky situations for which alcohol or other drugs could be involved. 

Wellness Programming

The wellness programming is subject to change every semester. The wellness programs have a goal to combine mental and physical health components of which are intended to aid students to perform at their highest potential in and out of the classroom. These wellness activities provide alternatives to Alcohol and Other Drug activity.

• Exercise- “Working Out in Small Spaces”: The goal of this program is encouraging scheduling movement into the daily routine of students for physical and emotional wellbeing.

• Nutrition- “Free Food on Us”: The goal of this program is bringing attention to overall health by encouraging healthy eating and understanding the impact of all substances (food and other) that they put into their body.

• Physical and Mental Health- The goal is to decrease the stigma of seeking help for mental health and drug and alcohol issues. In partnership with Athletics, programming is provided about healthy behaviors. The topics range from “Strike Out Sexual Assault” to “Strike out Stigma.” This programming is geared to help students decrease stress, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, alcohol or drug use, and other issues that a college student may face. 

Social Programming

Social programming on campus helps students increase self-esteem, establish a sense of belonging, and provide alternate activities to behaviors that could otherwise involve alcohol and other drugs.

• Self Esteem- “Love You”: The goal is to provide an environment for connections, confidence, and positive self-reflection; including messages of self-love. 

• Alcohol Alternative- 

  • “Paint and Sip”: The goal is to provide an environment for connections and an alcohol alternative. 

  • “Ice with Vice”: The goal is to provide an environment for connections and an alcohol alternative. Information is also distributed about alcohol. 

  • “Pedal mania”: The goal is to provide an alcohol free alternative and educate our campus community of the dangers of drinking and driving utilizing pedal cars and fatal vision intoxication simulation goggles. 

  • “Cocoa with the Po-Po”: The goal is to provide alcohol and drug free alternatives by interacting with Campus Safety and others in the campus community. 

  • “Mani’s with Missy”: The goal is to support alcohol alternatives and promote healthy relationships.

  • “Above the Bar”: The goal is to provide an alcohol free event with a bar atmosphere including games and competition.  

  • “Coffee with a Cop”: The goal is to provide education about the dangers of alcohol and drugs. The event is an alcohol alternative.