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HOPE Program

HOPE stands for Help and Observation in a Protected Environment. Its primary purpose is to provide alcohol-impaired students of Colby-Sawyer College with a place to be observed by student monitors until they can be left alone with reduced risk to themselves or the community.

The program started on March 24, 1995 as a result of conversations between Campus Safety, the Baird Health and Counseling Center, Residential Education and other concerned members of the community for a need to provide monitoring for intoxicated individuals when law enforcement or hospital intervention was not appropriate. The program was started and continues to be run as a health-based initiative. The HOPE Program does not permit the illegal use and/or abuse of alcohol on campus. The policy only changes the manner in which the college addresses certain alcohol related incidents to enhance student safety.

Prior to the implementation of HOPE at Colby-Sawyer, choices for alcohol intervention were limited. The first was to allow the friends or roommates of the intoxicated individual to do the monitoring. In many cases, even though the friends were well intentioned, they lacked the training and equipment necessary to recognize a medical emergency such as alcohol poisoning. The second alternative was to notify law enforcement. The concern with that option was that students would simply “hide” intoxicated friends, forcing the problem underground and putting severely intoxicated students in even greater risk.

The HOPE program provides a Colby-Sawyer student the choice to remain on campus, while still being watched by a student monitor who has been trained to check the intoxicated student's breath alcohol level, level of consciousness as well as when to contact Emergency Medical Services for advanced treatment.

How HOPE Works:

HOPE services are offered on a voluntary basis to students who show signs of impairment and after subsequent testing using field sobriety tests and/or an ALCO-SENSOR Portable Breath Test (PBT), are found to be intoxicated. Students may refuse this option and any or all tests at any time. However, once a student is recognized by a staff person to be under the influence of alcohol, for their protection and the community's, they must be placed into a monitored environment (HOPE, New London Hospital or the New London Police) until the health risks subside.

There is no cost to student's participating in the HOPE program.

Monitors are students. They undergo additional training including CPRfirst aid, bloodborne pathogen training and the HOPE Course through the Department of Campus Safety. HOPE Monitors test the impaired student's Breath Alcohol Level (BrAC) as well as monitor their level of consciousness throughout their stay. Monitors on-duty are equipped with a portable two-way radio to ensure contact with Campus Safety personnel.

There are Three Ways to Participate in HOPE:

  1. *Self-Admit- The intoxicated student contacts Campus Safety, Residential Education or another college employee and asks to participate in the HOPE Program. This request must be made BEFORE a staff member has intervened. Students who request assistance for themselves due to intoxication/impairment will not be charged with violations of the college’s Student Conduct System related to that consumption.

  2. *Friend-Admit - A student who contacts a member of Campus Safety, Residential Education or another college employee and requests HOPE assistance for another student believed to be intoxicated/impaired.

    Individuals requesting services for an intoxicated friend/roommate must be present when Campus Safety responds to be considered a “friend-admit”. Incidents involving anonymous callers or the absence of the friend/roommate caller when Campus Safety arrives will result in the intoxicated individual being processed as a Faculty/Staff Referral.

The student who summoned assistance for another student (excluding anonymous caller(s) or being absent) who is intoxicated, impaired and/or violated the College’s alcohol polices, will not be charged with violations of the college’s Student Conduct System related to that consumption and/or violation. However, for their safety, the intervening Campus Safety Officer (CSO) may determine that the student caller should also participate in the HOPE program due to their level of intoxication. If that is the case, the reporting student will not be charged with violations of the college’s Student Conduct System related to that consumption.

3. *Faculty/Staff Referral- A faculty or staff member can request HOPE services for a Colby-Sawyer student which they believe is intoxicated by contacting the Department of Campus Safety. The responding campus safety officer will determine if the student is under the influence of alcohol based on the results of a Portable Breath Test (PBT) and depending on their eligibility status, offers him/her the HOPE option.

Students referred by a faculty or staff member l are never charged with a policy violation solely for participating in the HOPE Program. However, an incident report concerning the behavior that led to the admission (i.e.: underage consumption, high risk consumption, etc.) will be generated and forwarded to the Department of Citizenship Education for Student Conduct System violation consideration.

*The determination of whether a HOPE admission is considered a “Self-Admit”, “Friend-Admit” or “Faculty/Staff Referral” is made by the Department of Citizenship Education based on the totality of circumstances leading up to the admission, as described in the incident report(s).

The Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations (34 DFCSR 86), mandates that all colleges receiving federal funding enact a sanction or in-lieu of formal student conduct resolution the college must provide an appropriate drug or alcohol prevention and awareness program.

For instances that the student is not referred through the formal student conduct process (i.e. information in the reports indicate that the HOPE admit was a “Self-Admit” or “Friend-Admit”, the student(s) will be referred to the appropriate department (Baird Health and Counseling, Residential Education, Student Success and Retention) and will be expected to actively participate in an alcohol awareness or prevention program (i.e. counseling, on-line training modules etc.). Failure to participate in the program selected will likely result in the student being referred to Citizenship Education for formal resolution.

TO USE HOPE's SERVICES, Participants Must:

  • be a student at Colby-Sawyer
  • agree to participate in the HOPE program
  • be conscious and mobile
  • have a BrAC of .08 - .25
  • comply with the requests of the CSO and HOPE Monitors

Individuals Not Eligible for the H.O.P.E. Program Are:

  • Non-Students;
  • Students who are verbally or physically abusive;
  • Students who are non-compliant;
  • Students who request an alternate service (*police custody);
  • It is determined that the student is significantly intoxicated with a BrAC equal to or greater than .25 or it is felt that the student needs emergency medical care either due to the alcohol intoxication or related injuries, then New London Dispatch will be called and the intoxicated student will be transported to the New London Hospital emergency room for further evaluation.

*The arresting police officer will determine the charge(s) if any per his/her protocols. These range greatly and may or may not include arrest, criminal charges, fines and county jail.

HOPE Availability

HOPE's services are available to Colby-Sawyer students seven (7) days a week, between 9 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., while classes are in session during the regular academic year. HOPE services are not available outside of the published hours, during Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks, between terms or during the summer.

During the times when HOPE is not available, Campus Safety will determine the appropriate action to be taken which could include allowing the student to remain on campus, contacting emergency medical services and/or the New London Police.

HOPE Program Participation Agreement

Involvement in the HOPE Program does not preclude the participant from disciplinary action regarding other violations of college standards such as causing or threatening physical harm, sexual assault, damage to property, harassment, hazing, disorderly or disruptive behavior, failure to comply, providing alcohol to minors, distribution of drugs/possession of drugs etc. Students should also be aware that this policy does not prevent action by local and state authorities. It is a program that only applies to Colby-Sawyer College and its policies.

By participating in the HOPE Program at Colby-Sawyer College I understand that:

The consumption of alcohol and other drugs could negatively impact my health and safety. My participation in the HOPE Program does not guarantee my safety, the prevention of further medical complications and/or death.

HOPE Monitors are student employees and are NOT medically trained.

Participation in the HOPE Program is voluntary and I can leave the facility at any time. If I choose to leave the HOPE facility I understand the New London Police Department may be contacted.

By participating in the HOPE Program, a Colby-Sawyer student waives any liability claim against the college or those administering the program, on account of any actions taken and further waives any claim that alternate medical treatment should have been provided to the student.