Timeline
Since alcohol misuse is strongly linked to negative academic outcomes, such as lower GPA’s, and lower retention, San Diego State University is proactive in its efforts to address the inappropriate use and misuse of alcohol and other drugs, sexual misconduct and hazing. The impacts to the campus community can also be significant, and, as a campus, the university has for years offered programming and intervention strategies that serve as models for other universities.
Some of the earliest work began about three decades ago with the launch of the SDSU Peer Health Educators (PHEs) program, developed to promote health and wellness on campus. PHEs receive training and education about health issues relevant to the SDSU population and effective methods to communicate health information to their peers. PHEs assist SDSU Well-being & Health Promotion with outreach events and present dynamic workshops to students and the campus community on a variety of topics that affect the everyday lives of our students.
SDSU Education and Enforcement Timeline
SDSU President Adela de la Torre announced in November 2019 the creation of the Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety as well as the Presidential Task Force on Alcohol and Substance Misuse. Both were introduced to provide recommendations to improve the SDSU student experience and to enhance safety measures to mitigate harmful incidents among the student body.
As of the summer 2020, task force recommendations are being implemented at SDSU. Prior to the work of the two task force groups is a long history at SDSU of implementing educational programs and intervention programs, some of them serving as national models within the higher education sector, to address alcohol and other drug use, sexual misconduct, hazing and other issues.
- Aug. 21, 2020: The Interfraternity Council announces vote to impose social moratorium for the fall.
- The Presidential Task Forces continue to meet.
- The Presidential Task Force on Alcohol and Substance Misuse will issue a report with findings and recommendations to President Adela de la Torre to be reviewed and operationalized.
- The Presidential Task Forces continue to meet.
- The Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety report recommendations are reviewed and operationalized.
- The Presidential Task Forces continue to meet.
- The Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety will issue a report with findings and recommendations to President Adela de la Torre.
- The Presidential Task Forces continue to meet.
- The Presidential Task Forces continue to meet.
- Like the month of January, IFC-member organizations required to have officers participate in leadership development programming in February. If the IFC-member organization is not recognized due to outstanding misconduct allegations, the national fraternity may request an exemption from the university for officers to participate in their leadership and risk management program.
- The Presidential Task Forces continue to meet.
- SDSU announces that it would establish a Good Samaritan Policy for student organizations, which was formally introduced later in the year.
- Following the conclusion of the Student Organization Conduct Process, the outcomes of the investigations will be issued to the IFC-member organizations currently under investigation, including those assigned Interim Suspension.
- The reinstatement of the Recognized Student Organization status of the Interfraternity Council and IFC-member organizations not currently assigned an Interim Sanction and who did not have any allegations of activity and/or policy violations during the suspension will be considered. Recognition of organizations assigned Interim Suspension will be reviewed on a rolling basis, following the outcome of the individual judicial case.
- The annual TEAM Retreat, facilitated by the Office of Student Life & Leadership, will have opportunities for crucial conversations amongst leaders within the fraternity and sorority community. The retreat will feature processing time to discuss the state of the FSL community at SDSU, address high-risk behavior, and develop a community of trust and respect.
- IFC-member organizations required to have officers participate in leadership development programming in January. If the IFC-member organization is not recognized due to outstanding misconduct allegations, the national fraternity may request an exemption from the university for officers to participate in their leadership and risk management program.
- Nov. 12, 2019: SDSU President Adela de la Torre commissions two task force groups: the Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety, and the Presidential Task Force on Alcohol and Substance Misuse.
- The task forces plan to have their first meetings before the end of the Fall 2019 term.
December 2019: The Office of Student Life & Leadership plan to meet with faculty/staff and alumni advisors during the previously scheduled advisor meeting
- The Sophomore Success Program is fully implemented.
- A self-imposed Interfraternity Council social moratorium is announced to be implemented for Fall 2018. The social moratorium restricted IFC members and IFC chapter members from supporting and participating in chapter house events in which alcohol is in use.
- 2017: The Sophomore Success Program begins with the freshmen class of Guardian Scholars, students in the nursing program, those in the Honors College, out-of-state and international students, as well as student-athletes.
- During the 2017 and 2018 calendar years, SDSU convened a committee on AOD issues: the AOD Strategic Task Force. Its primary charge was to review existing AOD prevention programs, propose enhancements or additional programs, and assist with their pilot implementations. During the reporting period, four new or enhanced programs were proposed and pilote to include the Social Norms Misperception Correction Campaign, the eCHECKUP TO GO Marijuana campaign and improved Residential Education programming during the first weeks of the semester.
- SISSTER, designed for sororities is introduced. The program educates members about the importance of sexual violence prevention and the connection between sexual violence and alcohol and other drugs. Additional programming occurs in the residence halls and the Commuter Resource Center during the first few weeks of each academic year.
- “These Hands Don’t Hurt” is founded at SDSU.
- SDSU established a “dry period” for the first five weeks of the fall semester, which remains in effect for all fall semesters. The policy was established to help prevent new SDSU students from accessing alcohol through social gatherings organized by students.
- SDSU’s Aztec Nights events were founded and launched, offering an alternative to social gatherings, including those that may provide alcohol in non-compliant acts. The events launch just before the start of fall classes each year, and are held throughout the academic year.
- SDSU is a founding partner of the statewide RADD Campus Coalition. RADD is the entertainment industry’s voice for road safety and is dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries through edutainment. Through programs such as College is RADD, messages of impaired and reckless driving prevention are targeted to young adults. By building and maintaining coalitions, RADD empowers community leaders and local law enforcement. Our science based programs highlight the necessity of safe driving practices in response to the growing and dangerous trend of mixing drinks, drugs and speed
- FratMANners, designed for fraternities, is introduced. The program educates members about the importance of sexual violence prevention and the connection between sexual violence and alcohol and other drugs.
- The eCHECKUP TO GO program was developed at SDSU. The program now exists at more than 600 institutions nationwide and serves as a national intervention model to address alcohol use and misuse.
- ASPIRE was launched by experts within SDSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services department to provide one-on-one counseling at no cost to students. The majority of students enrolled in the program, designed to prevent recidivism, are mandated to do so through sanctions imposed because of alcohol and other drug student code of conduct violations.
