Parental notification study released

by Philip Elliott
THE POST

Ohio University's policy of contacting parents of students in trouble with OU judiciaries scored mixed reviews in a survey administrators will use to decide the policy's fate.

The one-year-old policy allows the administration to send letters to parents if their son or daughter is accused of Code A or Code B offenses of the Student Code of Conduct.

The policy has contributed to fewer Code A and Code B offenses, according to OU survey results and statistics released in a report Wednesday.

"It's fair to say parental notification had an impact on the statistics," said Mike Sostarich, interim vice president for student affairs. "I don't think it (the policy) was the sole determining factor."

The OU Office of Judiciaries spearheaded the survey, which included comments from students who committed Code A and Code B offenses, their parents who were notified, residence life staff and random first-year students. The report studied Fall and Winter quarters of this year through March 17. It then compared data from this year with last year during the same time period.

The summary report of the survey shows the number of alcohol- or drug-related cases fell 36 percent from the same time period last year. Second-year students had 13 percent fewer cases, according to the report.

"I'm not at all surprised," Sostarich said. "I expected that numbers would go down and they did. We have to at least attribute some of that to the policy."

Sostarich will meet with student leaders and other students this morning to discuss the program's future, he said.

"I'm not asking for group recommendation," he said. "I'm asking for individual input."

Ramage said he is impressed with the university's efforts to include student input.

"My recommendation is that we keep it a pilot program to gather more data and see what impact the program will have on sophomores," he said.

And Ramage said he understands both sides of the issue.

"The success of the program was compelling," he said. "However, I agree with the overwhelming idea that students are 18 and are responsible for their actions. I maintain there was an invasion privacy, but I understand the university's policy and trying to protect students and itself."

OU adopted its pilot program this year. A 1998 Congressional bill allowed universities to notify parents of students under 21 if their son or daughter faces alcohol- or drug-related offenses.

Based on the survey results, Sostarich said the opinions about next year's program are mixed. This is how different groups responded:

* Of the 297 responses to the survey, 55 percent of respondents were in favor of continuing the program.

* Of the students whose parents were notified, 70 percent responded they do not favor continuing the policy.

* Of the students whose parents were notified, 41 percent said they knew about the policy from Pre-college.

* Of the students whose parents were notified, 73 percent said they did not allow the potential notification to influence their drug or alcohol use choices.

* In 52 surveys returned by Residence Life staff, 53 percent of respondents said the policy had no influence.

* Of the Residence Life staff who responded, 65 percent said the policy should be continued.

* In a survey of 500 students, to which 160 students responded, 81 percent of the respondents said they knew of the policy, according to the report.

* Of the random students who responded, 58 percent said the program did not influence their decisions about drugs and alcohol.

* In the random first-year student survey, 43 percent of respondents were in favor of continuing the policy. "The fact that 43 percent of students want to continue the program surprised me," Sostarich said.

OU sent 124 notifications to parents -- 84 for Code A offenses and 40 notifications to parents for Code B offenses, according to the report.

There were eight repeat cases after parents were notified, according to the report.

In the same time period a year earlier, there were 15 repeat cases, according the report.

For Code A offenses:

* Judiciaries sent 72 letters for violations of Code A-6: mental or bodily harm, which includes abuse of alcohol.

* Judiciaries sent 12 letters to parents for violation of Code A-16: violation of criminal law.

For Code B violations:

* Judiciaries sent one letter for violation of Code B-6: possession of marijuana.

* Judiciaries sent 33 letters to parents for violations of Code B-7: violating university policy on alcohol consumption.

* Judiciaries sent one letter for violation of Code B-8: violating residence hall rules, smoking marijuana.

* Judiciaries sent five letters for violations of Code B-8: residence hall rule, empty alcohol containers, according to the report.

Eight parents called OU after notification, according to the report.

"We had hoped to get calls, but that hasn't occurred," Sostarich said.

Sostarich said the presentation of the topic during summer Pre-college is a possible reason.

The lack of calls also stems from increased communication between students and parents, he said.

"Parents would ask 'Why didn't I know of the problem before my son or daughter shows up on my doorstep?'" Sostarich said.

In the parental survey, 74 percent of parents responded they first learned of the student's misconduct from the student. Of the parents, 98 percent said they talked to their student about the misconduct, according to the report.

Sostarich said he will consider the report, the statistics and input from the Review & Standards Committee, the Division of Students Affairs and from other students.

Sostarich said he hopes to make a recommendation to President Robert Glidden next week. Glidden will then make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

"I had hoped to have this done sooner, but it just wasn't possible," Sostarich said.