THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE



                                    FACULTY SENATE







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                                       Senate Document Number  4488S___ 



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                                       Date of Senate Approval 4-14-88_





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      Signature of Senate Chair _________________________ 



      Action of Vice Chancellor:



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                     Approval ________________________  Date ______________



                              ________________________       ______________

                     Denied   ________________________  Date ______________



      Reasons for denial and suggested modifications:

























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      Statement of Faculty Senate Action:



                        Executive Committee Document Number 3



                 Statement on University Drug Policy to be Presented

                            to the UNCA Board of Trustees





                While the Faculty Senate applauds the efforts of the Board

           of Governors to address the problem of drug and alcohol abuse on

           our campuses, there are several sections of the policy which are

           of some concern.



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                Section II, A., Education, Prevention, Counseling and

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           Rehabilitation, is enthusiastically endorsed by the Faculty

           Senate.  The use of educational methods to prevent drug and

           alcohol abuse are fitting and proper on a university campus.

           Efforts to counsel and rehabilitate members of our community who

           suffer from drug and alcohol related problems are also to be

           applauded in an academic community.  We are, however, concerned

           that the Board of Governors has mandated these programs without


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           provision of special funding.  UNCA's staff in Student Services

           and Counseling will find it difficult to expand programs beyond

           their current level without increased funding.



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                Section II, B., Enforcement and Penalties, is entirely

           punitive in nature.  It is difficult to reconcile the harsh

           punishments meted out to student and faculty in Section B with

           the statements in Section A.  It seems difficult to "encourage

           members of the campus community to make use of available campus

           and community counseling, medical, and rehabilitation resources

           in dealing with drug abuse problems" in a climate where a first

           offense calls for suspension from enrollment or employment.

           Punishment--not rehabilitation--seems to be the goal.

           Assurances of "professional standards of confidentiality" may

           ring hollow in such a chilling climate.



                Section II, B., bypasses usual campus procedures for drug

           offenses.  This would appear to raise due process

           considerations.  Further, the Chancellor is given broad power in

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           Section II, B, 5, to suspend before initiating proceedings if

           there is a "clear and immediate danger" to the university

           community.  What constitutes a "clear and immediate danger" is

           not defined.  To give any individual the unilateral right to act

           on the basis of alleged transgressions against a community seems

           ill-advised.  It seems particularly ill-advised in an academic

           community which relies on the integrity of its members as a

           matter of course.



                The UNCA Senate requests the UNCA Board of Trustees to

           represent the faculty in these issues to the Board of Governors.