Outcomes and Education
Following a disciplinary hearing, a student could be asked to complete one or more Discretionary Sanctions. These sanctions are meant to be educational, and could include but are not limited to:- Complete a Drugs, Alcohol, and You (DAY) program
- Attend a 1 ˝ hour Party Partners class
- Attend a 1 ˝ hour Choices class
- Attend a 6-hour Beyond Basics class
- Participate in the Restorative Justice Program
- Write a reflection paper
- Complete a Judicial Educator on-line class
- Complete a specified amount of community service
DAY (Drugs, Alcohol, and You) Programs
The Back on TRAC program is a treatment program for students facing potential separation from the university due to drug or alcohol issues. The program emphasizes accountability and personal responsibility while providing on-campus treatment resources, case management, peer-group support, and individually tailored contracts. The program is based upon the community drug court model combined with the best practices of Student Affairs and Higher Education.
Back on TRAC is the first program of its kind in the country. The staffing team meets weekly to review each student’s progress toward his or her goals in each of four areas:
- Personal Development – individual growth and self-understanding.
- Academic Development – accomplishing academic goals.
- Social Development – developing healthy social relationships in a university setting.
- Treatment – through an assessment process, appropriate goals are established in understanding previous use history, current patterns, and how these patterns have affected each student’s life.
The program is also unique in that it is a voluntary program in which students that may otherwise be separated from the university because of a conduct issue related to alcohol or drugs, have an opportunity to remain in the campus community. The program gives tools and insights for a lifetime of healthy living.
To learn more about the Back on TRAC program, you can view a video describing it here...
Party Partners
Educational workshops for students who receive tickets for violating local and state laws in the Fort Collins community.
Party Partners Workshops are a collaborative program developed and conducted by:
- CSU Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Services office,
- Fort Collins Police,
- City of Fort Collins Neighborhood Services.
Two types of Party Partners Workshops are conducted twice a month for students who have received tickets in Fort Collins. Both workshops are designed to help students understand their rights and responsibilities as a community member in Fort Collins.
Party Partners - Noise Violations
This workshop is for students that receive noise violations tickets. The focus of this workshop is to educate students on how to have responsible parties and to give them ideas on how to improve relations with their neighbors.
The most telling question on the class survey shows great results:
"Will this workshop change your behavior?"
- Yes: 78%
- No: 22%
Party Partners is just one of many collaborative initiatives between CSU and the City of Fort Collins in effort to improve community relations. Given the following recent statistic, it is apparent that the collaboration is successful:
from Spring 2004 to Spring 2006, a 49% reduction in noise complaints/calls occurred.
Student Comments
"I will know how to approach officers and how to hold parties that will accommodate all aspects like neighbors and police officers."
"I now know how I affect the community, and I will now start to respect my community.
"I'll have more garbage cans if I have a party. Tell only certain people that won't tell others. Talk with my neighbors more."
"Try to establish a better relationship with my neighbors beforehand.
Party Tips
- Agree with roommates about "house rules" - smoking area, noise volume, party hours, who's invited.
- Designate a sober monitor to keep an eye on things and talk to police if they come.
- Speak with neighbors before and after your party.
- Monitor guests' behavior outside of your house - where they're parking, noise, trash, disturbing yards.
Party Partners - City Violations
This workshop addresses other common violations and helps students to be informed of expectations in the community.
The most telling question on the class survey shows great results:
"Will this workshop change your behavior?"
- Yes: 95%
- No: 5%
Student Comments
"I just understand much more where the police are coming from and their justification for doing things."
"Being more careful when downtown."
"I won't sneak drinks out of the bars."
"Drop stereotypes of officers: be careful of situations I'm in."
Common Violations Min/Max Fines Minor in possession $250 Open container $100/$1000 Fake ID $50/$750 Providing alcohol to a minor $50/$750 Bodily waste $100/$1000 Disorderly conduct $150/$1000 Disturbing the peace $150/$1000 Interference with officers $150/$1000 Assault $150/$5000 False reporting $50/$1000 Trespass $150/$1000 Inciting a riot* $500/$5000 Engaging in a riot** $250/$1000 Unreasonable noise Up to $1000 Nuisance Gathering*** $500/$1000 * If someone gets hurt, this can change to a felony, which could include jail and a $1000/$100,000 fine.
** If someone has an object in their hand, this can change to a felony, which could include jail and a $2000/$500,000 fine.
*** If clean up and/or repairs are required as a result of a nuisance gathering, the costs could be charged to the person(s) responsible for the gathering.
Helpful Community Resources
Mediation Services, 224-6022
The City of Fort Collins Community Mediation Program can assist you in improving relations with your neighbor(s).
Fort Collins Police Services, 221-6540
If your party gets out of control, you can call the police and ask for assistance.
Officers are also available to speak to groups on a variety of topics, including the noise ordinance. For more information on this, call Crime Prevention at 221-6833.
Fort Collins Neighborhood Services, 224-6046
This office can provide information on all city codes and ordinances. Those ordinances that are most likely to be violated during parties include Unreasonable Noise, Public Nuisance, which addresses chronic problem properties, and Nuisance Gathering, which focuses on the impacts social gatherings may cause on the surrounding community.
Skill-Building Workshops
Classes for students that address a variety of topics, such as decision-making, anger management, and interpersonal communication.
Choices Class
The Choices class was designed to provide an educational opportunity to students who participated in situations involving errors in judgment. The workshop, which occurs twice a month, challenges students to think about their moral judgment and how they currently make decisions by analyzing and discussing various ethical dilemmas. The students are then presented with a variety of theories outlining the stages of moral development and are asked to think about their own individual development. Next, the students are provided with numerous checklists and guidelines for making ethical decisions. Finally, the students are asked to develop a personal ethical decision-making philosophy that they can use to guide them in the future.
Recent statistics show that the Choices class is a useful tool in assisting students to be successful:
- 5% re-offend with similar offense
- 8% re-offend with different offense.
The most telling question from the class survey also shows good results:
"After attending the workshop, I will make more ethical decisions in the future:"
- Strongly agree: 14 %
- Agree: 68%.
Beyond Basics Class
Beyond Basics is an intensive, educational intervention program for students who have repeatedly engaged in poor decision making. Students referred to Beyond Basics must attend four sessions that occur at the same day and time each week. Each four-week session is designed to specifically meet the needs of the individual students in the class. Possible curriculum topics include anger management, conflict management, decision making, cognitive restructuring, and discussion around privilege and entitlement.
Student Comments
The most beneficial thing about this workshop was:
"Learning about other people's experiences and that they have similar thoughts and feelings as me."
"Looking at things from a different point of view and thinking more before I act."
"Learning how to make decisions and having support to do it."
"Thinking about life through other perspectives."
"It was beneficial to be talking about things openly."