Tech Now Tells Parents After First Strike
February 8, 2010 • By Danielle Strickler,
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JMU Last Changed its Policy in 1999 to Tell Parents After a Student’s Second Minor Offense
HARRISONBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech recently updated its policy of notifying parents of students’ alcohol- or drug-related offenses for students under the age of 21, but JMU has no plans to change its notification policy, which has been in effect since 1999.
At JMU, the Office of Judicial Affairs notifies parents about behavior after an underaged student’s first major alcohol or drug violation or after a second minor alcohol or drug violation.
“We want students to handle their first strike themselves,” said Josh Bacon, director of JMU’s Judicial Affairs. “The three-strike policy is based on a student development theory that is to challenge and support students. The first strike, we challenge the student to change their behavior. The second strike, we want to help support the student in making the right decision.”
Tech changed its policy due to an increase in the number of alcohol- and drug-related offenses, according to the Collegiate Times, Tech’s student-run newspaper. In January, parents began receiving notifications after the first offense, but not until after cases are resolved.
The number of drug- and alcohol-related offenses at Tech in the 2008-2009 school year was approximately 905, according to Byron Hughes, the assistant director of student conduct. He said this was a decrease from 2007. As enrollment continues to increase, Hughes said the change to the policy was necessary.
“We saw an increase of students who would go from one strike because of a minor offense and then come back a month later with a major offense, giving them three strikes and a suspension, and their parents were not involved at all,” Hughes said.
By notifying parents after the first strike, Tech hopes that with immediate parental involvement, the number of student suspensions will decrease. According to Hughes, parents seem to support the new policy and appreciate being part of the counseling. Yet, not all students seem to agree with the policy.
“I don’t support parental notification, because I pay for my own college tuition. Therefore, what I do only concerns me,” JMU graduate student Katie Flanary said. “If a student was taking advantage of their parents by acting this way, then their parents should know about what they do at school.”
Tech senior Chris Tate said he received the e-mail about the notification change at the beginning of the spring semester.
“I really haven’t noticed that big of a change, but it may be because I don’t live on campus anymore,” Tate said. “Maybe students are more careful now, but if students want to drink, they are going to.”
At JMU, after a second strike, students are required to take a class for alcohol and drug education. Judicial Affairs teams with the University Health Center, hoping to help students become more educated and make better decisions.
According to Bacon, the number of students who come to Judicial Affairs for third strikes after taking the class is relatively small. A student faces suspension after receiving a third strike at either university.
A minor offense at JMU includes any open container violation, illegal possession of alcohol, drinking in public, public intoxication or possession of marijuana.
A major offense includes driving while intoxicated, a keg registration violation, distribution of drugs, being under the influence of drugs, alcohol- or drug-related hospitalization, felony possession of drugs, or an incident where alcohol and drugs are both involved.
“I think that the way JMU handles students is fair,” sophomore Ashley Creech said. “It is good that they give students a chance to make an adult decision yet don’t let the situation get too out of hand.”
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, all student records were made confidential. In response to the April 2007 massacre at Tech, an amendment in January 2009 made it possible for parents to receive more information about a student’s record.
“I think the new policy will be effective,” Tech sophomore Ali Reedy said. “It’s a new change this semester, so I haven’t seen any results yet, but if students know their parents will be notified, I think they will be more responsible about drinking.”
According to Bacon, parents of JMU students are notified by letter after a student is found responsible for a second strike on campus, or upon arrest for off-campus students. He hopes the notifications encourage parents to help students change their behavior.
For more information on judicial proceedings and the parental notification policy at JMU, visit http://jmu.edu/judicial.
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