NOTIFICATION POLICY OUTLINED FOR DRUGS, ALCOHOL OFFENSES

When a high school graduate leaves home for college, parents sometimes
worry about what their son or daughter will do with their new freedom.
Drugs and alcohol probably figure into a lot of their worst-case
scenarios. Stories about widespread binge drinking on college campuses
are not very reassuring.

Federal guidelines have now changed to allow colleges and universities
to notify parents if students under age 21 are found guilty of alcohol
or drug violations.

The University of Central Arkansas will formally adopt that policy
this fall. Dr. Gary Roberts, UCA dean of students, said the decision
to notify parents was prompted by a change in the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, a federal law which limits
access to student educational records. The 1998 Higher Education
Amendment Act changed FERPA to allow colleges and universities to
release information to parents of students 21 or under when those
students violated campus alcohol and drug policies. Roberts said the
law changed in response to increased binge drinking on U.S. campuses
and several deaths attributed to alcohol abuse. "Consumption and abuse
of alcohol is much less at UCA than nationwide," Roberts said
referring to academic and governmental studies.

Even so, there are still problems.

He said the majority of violations on campus occur during students'
first year. "Many freshmen come to college from fairly restrictive
home environments to a campus environment where they experience many
new freedoms," he said. "They need a transition period in which they
learn to accept responsibility and understand the consequences
associated with this freedom." Roberts said when a freshman is found
guilty of alcohol or drug violations through the university's judicial
process, he will send written notification to the parents.

The letters will advise parents they can contact him if they have
questions.