Call For Help Policy

Johnson & Wales University is committed to creating and maintaining a community that fosters the health and safety of every student, as well as personal responsibility and decision making. If a student is experiencing an alcohol or drug related emergency, the health and wellness of that student is the most important concern. Johnson & Wales wants to encourage students to call for help for themselves or on behalf of others, when they witness or are made aware of such an emergency.

As such, any individual who, in good faith, calls for help in a medical emergency related to alcohol or drug use, or who discloses any incident of violence to Johnson & Wales University officials or law enforcement, will not be subject to JWU's Conduct Review Process for alcohol or drug use policy violations occurring at or near the time of the commission of the reported incident. This policy also applies to student organizations and their members involved in the reported incident.

Any person who makes a good-faith report either as a complainant, respondent, or a third party witness, will not be held accountable through the university’s Conduct Review Process related to alcohol or drug use with respect to the reported incident, but may be required to meet with an administrator for an educational conversation. An administrator may also encourage the student to attend an educational program or utilize on-campus resources. Failure to participate in an educational conversation will result in a hold being placed on the student’s account.

This policy does not apply to individuals who did not seek assistance for a medical emergency related to alcohol or other drugs, but instead, were found to be in need of assistance by university officials (including but not limited to Resident Assistants, CS&S officers, faculty members, etc.).

This policy is not intended to shield or protect those students or organizations in cases of extreme, flagrant, or repeated violations of the Student Code of Conduct. In cases where extreme, flagrant, or repeated violations occur, the university reserves the right to implement the Conduct Review Process on a case-by-case basis, regardless of the manner in which the incident was reported. For such cases, the Dean of Students or designee will make the final determination as to the applicability of this policy.

This policy will not exempt students and organizations from being held accountable for violations regarding other behaviors including, but not limited to, assault, vandalism, domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and stalking.

In any emergency Johnson & Wales University strongly encourages students to call Campus Safety & Security or 911 for immediate assistance.

This policy is not intended to address possible violations of criminal laws or their consequences outside the university. This policy only applies to the university‘s Conduct Review Process. Criminal or police action may still occur separately from Community Standards and Conduct.