Drug-Free School and Workplace Program
The illegal or abusive use of alcohol or other drugs, or both, by members of the CCA community adversely affects CCA’s commitment to provide an environment of excellence in educating students to shape culture through the practice and critical study of the arts.
Fostering Good Health
As members of the CCA community, we all share in the responsibility for creating and maintaining a healthful and productive environment for work and study alike.
With this responsibility comes the obligation to be involved in preventing problems caused by the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Health Risks of Abusing Alcohol/Drugs
Many well-documented risks exist associated with the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, affecting not only the individual user but also his or her family, friends, and roommates.
Alcohol abuse is frequently implicated in cases of sexual assault on campus, for example, and the misuse of drugs is sometimes a factor in violence on campus.
Other problems associated with alcohol and other drug abuse include:
- poor academic or job performance
- relationship difficulties, including sexual dysfunction
- a tendency to verbal and physical violence
- financial stress
- injuries or accidents
- violations of the law such as driving under the influence and willfully destroying property
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Program
Standards of Conduct
The college's goal of maintaining an academic environment free from the use and influence of alcohol and unlawful drugs requires that the following standards of conduct be in force at all times.
It is expected that all members of the college community will conduct themselves in a manner that will help ensure a drug- and alcohol-free learning and working experience.
Being under the influence of any drug or alcoholic beverage while on the job or in school poses serious risks to individuals' health and safety.
The college absolutely prohibits the use, sale, purchase, transfer, or possession of any illegal or nonprescribed drug by any individual at any time.
In addition, it strictly prohibits individuals from being under the influence of alcohol or any drug while on duty, in classes, living in college housing, or performing college business, including driving college-owned or -leased vehicles.
The possession or use of marijuana on campus is prohibited under federal law and the college's current policies. Staff, faculty, and students who violate these policies will continue to be subject to disciplinary action.
With the exception of marijuana, legally prescribed medications that do not adversely affect the work ability, job performance, or safety of that individual or others, are an exception to this policy.
It is also expected that all students, faculty, and staff will be considered “fit for duty” while on college premises or conducting college business. Inability to perform work safely and efficiently or absences considered excessive shall be cause for concern and could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and dismissal depending on the frequency and seriousness of the occurrences.
Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations & CCA's Drug-Free School & Workplace Act Information
It is one of the goals at California College of the Arts to maintain a safe and healthful environment where the arts can flourish and grow. The college strives to provide this environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
The college, as an employer and educator, is concerned about the use and effects of alcohol and illicit drugs. In compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, the college is required to:
- establish drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs for students and employees;
- publish and distribute information regarding standards of conduct, a description of the various laws that apply in that jurisdiction regarding alcohol and drugs, and a description of the various health risks of drug and alcohol abuse;
- promote counseling and treatment programs that are available;
- make known the sanctions the college will impose for a violation of the standards of conduct.
Federal regulations require that we provide the following information to all students who enroll at California College of the Arts.
While only those students who are receiving Federal Title IV student financial aid (e.g. Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, federal student loans) are subject to the specific penalties listed below, we are required to provide this information to all students.
All CCA students, regardless of their financial aid status, are expected to understand and abide by:
Residential student are also expected to understand and abide by:
Please take a moment to read and understand this information below.
Students convicted of possession or sale of drugs:
- A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student from receiving financial aid.
- Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Federal Title IV aid -- they do not count if the offense was not during such a period.
- Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record does not count, nor does one received when they were a juvenile, unless they were tried as an adult.
- The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for financial aid, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)
1st offense
- Possession of illegal drugs: 1 year from the date of conviction
- Sale of illegal drugs: 2 years from the date of conviction
2nd offense
- Possession of illegal drugs: 2 years from the date of conviction
- Sale of illegal drugs: Indefinite period
3+ offenses
- Possession and/or sale of illegal drugs: Indefinite period
If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.
Additional information is available online at:
Please direct any questions regarding this notice to the Financial Aid Office: 415.703.9528 or finaid@cca.edu.
Counseling & Medical Assistance
While it is an individual’s responsibility to seek assistance or intervention for alcohol or drug abuse or dependency, consultation, assessment, and referral are available for students through CCA's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). These services are confidential and free of charge to the limits of the service protocols, but will not be expected to preclude discipline for prior acts. Appointments may be made by contacting Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
A list of campus and off-campus resources is also available from CAPS and online at Substance Abuse Resources.
Students who require time away from their studies for purposes of rehabilitation may apply for a leave of absence by following the procedures outlined in Leave of Absence, Withdrawal, and Reinstatement in the Student Handbook.
Biennial Review
The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and Regulations (DFSCR) require that campuses closely examine their prevention program biennially.
CCA will conduct a review during the spring semester of even years.