by Kristina Gabalski
Officials at The College at Brockport are working to ensure that students are held accountable for their behavior off campus.
Michele Reed, a Student Conduct Coordinator at the college, discussed how student behavior off campus is being addressed as well as student conduct/civility initiatives and educational programs for off-campus students during a presentation she made to the Brockport Village Board during its regular meeting August 28.
Reed acknowledged the issue of student conduct off campus is a “sensitive topic” but “it is the intention of the college to collaborate with the community, residents and the village board to make town/gown relations as best as they can possibly be.”
Long-term change takes a while, she noted. The college is working to educate students and help them adopt healthy strategies for personal growth and learning, Reed said.
Comprehensive prevention efforts include alcohol and drug workshops and early intervention, she explained. The college has “gotten more firm and is tolerating less,” Reed said. She added that she meets personally with students following an incident. “Many express surprise that they needed to meet me,” she said.
Workshops must be attended for violations at the college as well as a follow-up meeting. For 21-and-over parties off-campus, a workshop focuses on how to be smart and responsible if hosting a party. Students need to be, “civil and civically minded,” Reed said.
She explained that the college utilizes civic engagement – community service for students who must repair harm or damage.
Reed said the programs are having an impact and cited decreases in disorderly house/noise violations and open container violations during the 2011-2012 school year.
A Conduct Board has been set up to deal with more serious cases and includes a student representative, faculty representative and Reed and Anna Barone who are both Student Conduct Coordinators.
