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2024-2025 University Catalog
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Alcohol and Other Drugs

The University of North Florida expressly prohibits the following by students and employees in or on property owned and controlled by the University of North Florida or off campus when a student or employee is acting as a representative of the University:

  1. Unlawful manufacture, alteration, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of any illicit drug.
  2. Unlawful possession or use of a prescription drug regulated under the provisions of Chapter 893, Florida Statutes (controlled substances and "designer drugs") unless dispensed and used pursuant to prescription or otherwise authorized by law. Manufacture, alteration, delivery, distribution, dispensing and/or sale of such substances are prohibited unless authorized by law.
  3. Unlawful purchase, possession, distribution and/or use of alcohol.
The use of alcoholic beverages and/or use, possession, manufacture, sale or attempted sale of any illicit drug or prescribed drug by members of the University community is at all times subject to federal, state and county laws, ordinances and statutes governing these substances.

The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of an illicit drug, or prescription drug regulated under the provisions of Chapter 893, Florida Statutes, or the unlawful use or possession of alcohol is wrong, harmful and prohibited in and on UNF owned and controlled property or as part of any of its activities. No employee or student is to report to work, class or any University function while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Violation of this policy will subject the individual not only to University sanctions but also to potential criminal prosecution by the appropriate authorities.

Additionally, a violation of this policy may result in a referral for evaluation.

Disciplinary action against an employee or student by the University does not preclude the possibility of criminal charges against that individual. The filing of criminal charges similarly does not preclude action by the University.

Penalties

The penalties imposed for violating this policy range from written warnings with probationary status to expulsion from enrollment and termination of employment. The choice of sanction will depend on the individual circumstances of the case, including any extenuating circumstances. Specific penalties for faculty, administration, staff, and students can be found within the areas responsible for each constituency:

For faculty: The Office of Academic Affairs

For administrators and staff: The Office of Human Resources

For students: The Office of the Vice President for Student and International Affairs / Student Conduct Office

Suspension Pending Final Disposition

The University reserves the right to suspend a faculty member, administrator, staff or student between the time of the initial charges and the impending hearing. This suspension action will be subject to the applicable personnel rules and will be invoked only if in the opinion of campus administrators, the continued presence of this individual poses a clear and immediate danger to him- or herself and/or other members of the University community. Under such circumstances, a formal hearing must be held within a requisite number of school/working days, determined by the areas responsible for each constituency, to lift the suspension or impose more severe sanctions.

View the University's current official policy.