H.O.P.E.
H.O.P.E. stands for Help and Observation in a Protected Environment. Its primary purpose is to provide alcohol-impaired students of Colby-Sawyer College with a place to be observed by student monitors until they can be left alone with reduced risk to themselves or the community.
The program started on March 24, 1995 as a result of conversations between Campus Safety, the Baird Health and Counseling Center, Residential Education and other concerned members of the community for a need to provide monitoring for intoxicated individuals when law enforcement or hospital intervention was not appropriate. The program was started and continues to be run as a health based initiative.
Prior to the implementation of the H.O.P.E. program at Colby-Sawyer, choices for alcohol intervention were limited. The first was to allow the friends or roommates of the intoxicated individual to do the monitoring. In many cases, even though the friends were well intentioned, they lacked the training and equipment necessary to recognize a medical emergency such as alcohol poisoning. The second alternative was to notify law enforcement. The concern with that option was that student's would simply “hide” their intoxicated friends, forcing the problem underground and putting severely intoxicated students in even greater risk.
The H.O.P.E. program provides a CSC student the choice to remain on campus, while still being watched by a student monitor who has been trained to check the intoxicated student's breath alcohol level, level of consciousness as well as when to contact Emergency Medical Services for advanced treatment.
How H.O.P.E. Works:
H.O.P.E. services are offered on a voluntary basis to students who show signs of impairment and after subsequent testing using field sobriety tests and the Alco-Sensor FST® are found to be intoxicated. Students may refuse this option and any or all tests at any time. However, once a student is recognized by a staff person to be under the influence of alcohol, for their protection and the community's, they must be placed into a monitored environment (H.O.P.E., New London Hospital or the New London Police) until the health risks subside.
There is NO cost to student's participating in the H.O.P.E. program.
Monitors are students. They undergo additional training including CPR/First Aid, Alco-Sensor FST Certification, Blood Borne Pathogen training and the HOPE Course through the Department of Campus Safety. H.O.P.E. Monitors test the impaired student's Breath Alcohol Level (BrAC) at a minimum of every hour as well as monitor his/her level of consciousness. In some cases the testing of the student's BrAC may be conducted more frequently.
Monitors on duty are equipped with a portable two-way radio to ensure contact with Campus Safety personnel, as well as a telephone for additional communication providing the ability to call EMS assistance if needed.
There are two ways to participate in H.O.P.E.:
Self-Admit- The intoxicated student (or friend/roommate) contacts Campus Safety and requests a monitor. Individuals requesting services for an intoxicated friend/roommate must be present when Campus Safety responds to be considered a “self-admit”. Incidents involving anonymous callers or the absence of the friend/roommate caller when Campus Safety arrives will result in the intoxicated individual being processed as a Faculty/Staff Referral.
*Faculty/Staff Referral- a faculty/staff person recognizes that a student is under the influence of alcohol and offers him/her the HOPE option and explains the alternate services.
*Students utilizing H.O.P.E. services are never penalized for participating in the program. However, an incident report concerning the behavior that lead to the admission will be generated and forwarded to Citizenship Education for students who enter the program as Faculty/Staff Referrals.
Individuals not eligible for the H.O.P.E. program are:
- Non-Students;
- Verbally or physically abusive;
- Non-Compliant;
- Request an alternate service (*police custody);
- It is determined that the student is significantly intoxicated with a BrAC equal to or greater than .25 or it is felt that the student is in need of emergency medical care either due to the alcohol intoxication or related injuries, then New London Dispatch will be called and the intoxicated student will be transported to the New London Hospital emergency room for further evaluation.
*The arresting police officer will determine the charge(s) if any per his/her protocols. These range greatly and may or may not include arrest, criminal charges, fines and county jail.
All medical information obtained in this program is kept private. Student name, state of intoxication, or other student documentation is only released to Emergency Medical Service personnel when ambulance support has been called and Baird Health and Counseling Center where the records are maintained.
H.O.P.E. Availability:
H.O.P.E. services are available to CSC students while classes are in session during the regular academic year. However services ARE NOT available during Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks, between terms, and during the summer. During the times when H.O.P.E. is not available Campus Safety will determine the appropriate action to be taken which could include contacting emergency medical services and/or the New London Police.
H.O.P.E Program Participation Agreement:
By participating in the H.O.P.E Program at Colby-Sawyer College I understand that:
The consumption of alcohol and other drugs could negatively impact my health and safety. My participation in the H.O.P.E. Program does not guarantee my safety, the prevention of further medical complications and/or death.
H.O.P.E. Monitors are student employees and are NOT medically trained.
Participation in the H.O.P.E Program is voluntary and I can leave the facility at any time. If I choose to leave the H.O.P.E. facility I understand the New London Police Department may be contacted.
By participating in the H.O.P.E. Program, a Colby-Sawyer student waives any liability claim against the College or those administering the program, on account of any actions taken and further waives any claim that alternate medical treatment should have been provided to the student.