Community Standards & Responsibility
Policies
Code of Community Standards
Rollins College is an educational environment dedicated to fostering intellectual achievement, personal development, and social responsibility. The Community Standards and Responsibility system is an integral part of our educational process. While a college education is primarily academic and intellectual in nature, it also includes the development of values that translate into responsible behavior. To maintain standards that contribute to the intellectual and moral development of students that ensure the welfare of the college community, Rollins College establishes this Code of Community Standards.
Responsible Action Protocol
Rollins College recognizes that fear of the student conduct process may prevent students from seeking medical attention for an alcohol or drug related medical emergency. The health and well-being of our students is our primary concern; therefore, we have developed a Responsible Action Protocol.
The Responsible Action Protocol is a joint effort among the following offices:
- The Dean of Students Office
- Community Standards & Responsibility
- The Office of Campus Safety
- The Wellness Center
- The Office of Residential Life & Explorations
- The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life
- The Center for Campus Involvement
The Responsible Action Protocol is designed to provide students with amnesty from the hearing process for alcohol or drug related emergencies in which they seek medical attention. It does not apply to any other policy violations (i.e. providing alcohol to minors, damage to property, sexual misconduct), nor does it protect students from arrest or legal action by any law enforcement agency. If a student is suspected to be selling, manufacturing, or distributing alcohol or other controlled substances, the College reserves the right to revoke a student’s ability to utilize the Responsible Action Protocol.
Students who seek assistance for an alcohol or drug related medical emergency will not be charged with an alcohol or illegal substances violation of The Code of Community Standards. In order to use the Responsible Action Protocol, a student must seek medical assistance, participate in a meeting with a conduct educator, and agree to comply with the conditions set by the conduct educator. If the conditions are met, the incident will not become part of the student’s conduct record. If the conditions are not met, the student’s case will then go through the hearing process and the case will become a part of their conduct record.
Every Rollins student has a responsibility to care for one another; therefore, this protocol also applies to individual students who seek help for another student in need. This will allow students who may also be under the influence to care for each other without worry of being charged with a violation of The Code of Community Standards themselves. Students who seek help for one another may also have to meet certain conditions through Community Standards & Responsibility.
Student organizations that are hosting a social event are expected to call for medical assistance if an alcohol or drug related medical emergency occurs during the social event. This act of responsibility will be considered a mitigating factor when potential conduct consequences are being considered. Student organizations do not automatically qualify for use of the Responsible Action Protocol.
It is the expectation of Rollins College that the Responsible Action Protocol will only be used once during a student’s tenure at Rollins. Any subsequent requests for use of the Responsible Action Protocol will be at the discretion of the Dean of Student Affairs or designee.
Frequently Asked Questions about RAP
Will my parents be notified? The College typically notifies parents when their student is transported to the hospital for an alcohol or drug related medical emergency. Parental notification is not designed to be punitive; rather, to enable parents to assist their child.
I got help for an alcohol or drug related medical emergency. What happens next? You will be contacted by a member of the Division of Student Affairs, typically in the Office of Community Standards & Responsibility, with information about the protocol and how to schedule a meeting with them. It is your responsibility to schedule and attend this meeting. After your meeting, you will be given conditions that you must meet.
What are typical conditions that students must meet? While each case is different, common conditions may include BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening Intervention for College Students), group participation in CAPS, or an off campus substance abuse evaluation.
What is the difference between conditions and sanctions? Sanctions are issued when a student has been found responsible for a violation of The Code of Community Standards through the hearing process. Sanctions are a part of a student’s conduct record and if not completed may result in a hold being placed on a student’s account. This is not the case with conditions. Conditions are tasks that a student chooses to complete in order to use the responsible action protocol. If the conditions are not met, the student will be referred to the hearing process within the Office of Community Standards & Responsibility.
Why are there conditions that students must meet to use the responsible action protocol? Rollins is concerned for the safety and well being of all students. The responsible action protocol was designed so students are not afraid to get the medical attention that they need. Because of our concern for our students’ health and well being and our desire to help students learn from their mistakes, we require students to meet certain conditions in order to use the protocol.
Why are incidents involving organizations handled differently than individual students? Student organizations are held to higher standards because of the guidelines associated with their registration as an organization. Most organizations also have organizational expectations for behavior (for example, national or local governing boards). There may also be other factors associated with the social event that need to be considered (such as providing alcohol to underage students and adherence to the Event Guidelines), which is why student organizations do not automatically qualify for use of the responsible action protocol.
Does having a responsible action protocol mean that Rollins encourages students to drink? No. We recognize that sometimes students make unhealthy choices when it comes to alcohol and other drugs. Students are expected to seek medical assistance for themselves or their peers when it is needed.
Guide to Residence Hall Living
As a student at Rollins, you will experience countless opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. This includes the experiences you will have in your residence hall. Living at Rollins means not only fun and bonding with new friends, but also personal growth and development as you transition to the next phase of your life. In an effort to guide students through their residential experience, the Office of Residential Life & Explorations has created the Guide to Residence Hall Living.
The philosophy behind The Guide to Residence Hall Living is to promote a safe, inclusive, and well-maintained learning environment for its students. Simply put, its purpose is to set expectations for how you can be a good neighbor.