DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY

The Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act, Public Law 101-690, requires that every institution of higher education, as a condition of receiving funds or any other form of financial assistance under any federal program, enact policies to prevent unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and illicit drugs by students and employees.

Students are prohibited from the possession, sale, or consumption of any form of narcotics, hallucinogens, amphetamines, controlled substances, or any other form of illegal drug on campus or any facility related to Columbia College Hollywood. Students found to be in violation of the Substance Abuse Policy will proceed through the Disciplinary Action Process.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE AWARENESS PROGRAM STATEMENT & POLICY

In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, Columbia College Hollywood has implemented a comprehensive Drug & Alcohol Abuse Policy and a Prevention Program aimed at ensuring our campus community is drug- and alcohol-free:

“Columbia College Hollywood” (hereafter referred to as “this institution”) has established an Alcohol and Drug-Free Awareness Program (ADFAP).

1. Notice: This institution has a policy of maintaining a drug-free school:

All students and employees are hereby notified that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in this institution. The student must notify the office of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace, or while participating in any school sponsored activity, no later than five days after such conviction. In compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988″, this institution’s “workplace” consists of the following location:

18618 Oxnard St.
Los Angeles, CA 91356*1411

All incoming/potential students are required to take do a background check prior to becoming an enrolled student.

2. The possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any controlled substance is illegal under both state and federal laws. Typically, the charge for possession of a controlled substance is A Class 4 felony and has a possible sentence of 1-3 years in the Department of Corrections (prison). The fine can be $25,000. Most Class 4 felony drug charges permit the court to sentence the defendant to probation and substance abuse treatment. Violators of this law are subject to school disciplinary action.

3. The possession of alcohol by anyone less than 21 years of age in a public place or a place open to the public is illegal. Violation of this provision is a Class B Misdemeanor. The underage person may be fined up to $500 and sentenced up to six months in jail (additional enhanced penalties exist for illegal transportation of open liquor for persons under 21 years of age.

4. Controlled Substances and Financial Aid:

An important sanction under federal law is that persons convicted of any federal or state offense involving possession of a controlled substance are ineligible to receive any or all federal benefits (e.g., social security, student loans) for up to one year. If the offense involves distribution of a controlled substance, the guilty person could be ineligible for any or all federal benefits for up to 5 years.

5. Warning to all students about the dangers of drug abuse:

Drug use impairs memory, alertness and achievement. It erodes the capacity to perform, think and act responsibly. It may be grounds for termination of your enrollment with this institution or other action

6. Warning to all students about the dangers of alcohol:

Alcohol increases the risk of various health conditions, such as heart and liver disease. Alcohol works directly on the central nervous system, impairing brain function. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can destroy brain cells, resulting in various degrees of brain damage. Alcohol impairs coordination, motor skills and judgment. People experience a decrease in mental alertness when drinking alcohol and may make poor decisions.

7. Where to get help:

This institution has established a list of several drug-counseling centers to provide drug counseling, rehabilitation, and student assistance programs.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.SAFE (7233)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse Hotline: 1.800.662.HELP
• National Institute on Drug Abuse Workplace Helpline: 1.800.843.4971
• National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: 1.301.468.2600
• Network of Colleges & Universities Committed to the Elimination of Drug & Alcohol Abuse: 1.202.357.6206
• The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and Referral Hotline (800.662.HELP)
• The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Helpline (800.967.5752)
• Any student who suspects they or someone else may be at risk is invited to seek services that can be of help.

8. Tips to preventing drug and alcohol abuse:

• Realize that abusing drugs may lead to devastating events in people’s lives
• Think about what other things in life you can achieve such as activities that are more fulfilling than drugs
• Prepare yourself for occasions where strangers may offer drugs to you
• Try to associate with people who do not use drugs, and avoid situations where they will be used and given to you
• Have a good friend who you can talk to about any situation where you are tempted to take drugs
• Look at the list of people who have been destroyed, even killed, by drugs
• Just say NO
• Walk away
• Call the police or an authoritative person
• Avoid further encounters

9. Non-compliance with the terms of this institution’s “Drug-Alcohol Free Workplace Statement – Notice to Students and Employees” will result in the following actions being taken by this institution:

Require said student/employee to satisfactorily participate in a drug/alcohol abuse rehabilitation program approved for such purposes by federal, state, or local health law enforcement or other appropriate agency. Within 30 days of receiving notice of criminal drug conviction these above actions must be complied with or up to and including termination procedures will be instated.

NOTICE OF FEDERAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PENALTIES FOR DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS

A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student from federal financial aid funds.

Under the Higher Education Act, a student may become ineligible for federal student aid upon conviction of any offense involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs while receiving Title IV federal financial aid. Federal aid includes Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, and Federal Pell Grants.

CONVICTIONS DURING ENROLLMENT

According to the United States Department of Education, if a student is convicted of a drug offense while receiving Federal aid, he or she must notify the Financial Aid Office immediately and that student may be ineligible for further aid and required to pay back all aid received after the conviction.

Convictions apply if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV federal financial aid; convictions do not count if the offense did not occur during such a period. A conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count toward federal financial aid eligibility. In addition, a conviction received when the student was a juvenile does not apply, unless that student was tried as an adult.

The following chart illustrates the period of ineligibility for federal financial aid programs. Please note that eligibility is dependent upon the nature of the conviction and the number of prior offenses.

Pursuant to federal law, a conviction for the sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs. Moreover, those students convicted of both selling and possessing illegal drugs will be subject to ineligibility for the longer period as prescribed under the circumstances.

A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when the student successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program. Further drug convictions will make the student ineligible again for federal financial aid programs. Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain it only after successfully completing a rehabilitation program as described below. Furthermore, eligibility can be regained if a conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record so that fewer than two convictions for the sale or three convictions for the possession of illegal drugs remain on the student’s record. In such cases, the nature and dates of the remaining convictions will determine when the student regains eligibility. It is the student’s responsibility to certify to the College that a qualified drug rehabilitation program has been completed.

For purposes of financial aid eligibility, a qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:

• Be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state, or local government program
• Be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state licensed insurance company
• Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court
• Be administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor

DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS & FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

When completing the FAFSA, you must answer the question that asks if the student/applicant has ever been convicted of a drug related offense. Failure to answer this question will automatically disqualify the student from receiving Federal aid. Falsely answering this question, if discovered, could result in fines up to $20,000, imprisonment, or both. If you are not sure how you should answer this question, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.4.FED.AID (1.800.433.3243).

For more information regarding illegal drug convictions and financial aid eligibility, please visit the Frequently Asked Question section of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website www.fafsa.ed.gov

Students are also encouraged to contact the College’s Financial Aid Staff for further inquiries on these matters.

Resources for Assistance

All students and employees are encouraged to seek early help if they feel they have a problem with alcohol and/or other drugs, and to learn how to assist others with substance abuse problems. With early assistance it is less likely that serious consequences will result from an alcohol or other drug problem. There are resources on campus and in the community for assistance. Questions should be directed to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Some additional resources include the following:

• Alcohol Addiction Center – https://alcoholaddictioncenter.org/alcoholism-resources/
• Alcoholics Anonymous – http://www.aa.org
• Al-Anon – https://al-anon.org/
• Blood Alcohol Content Calculator – https://www.sr22insurance.net/bac-calculator/
• Narcotics Anonymous – http://www.na.org
• Focus on Recovery Helpline (alcohol/drugs) – 1.800.374.2800 or 1.800.234.
1253
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1.800.SUICIDE (784.2433)
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – 1.800.950.6264
• Department of Health and Human Services Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral 
Routing Service – 1.800.662.4357
• Veterans – Locate the closest VAMC or VA Regional Office: 1.877.222.8387
• Project Know – http://www.projectknow.com