1.    Policy Statement

The updated Medical Amnesty Policy is intended to help support and promote a safe campus for students and encourage help seeking behaviors in the event of an emergency regarding substances. The Medical Amnesty Policy provides a waiver of the student conduct disciplinary process for students who follow the outlined procedure. The Vice President for Student Life has underlying authority for the policy. 

2.    Applicability

The policy applies to all University students

3.    Definitions

Medical Amnesty: A waiver of student conduct process disciplinary action for UF Students and Student Organizations who seek emergency medical attention for an individual(s) who needs care, as a result of alcohol and/or other substance(s) use.

4.    Policy Specifics

University Regulation 4.040 (Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code) is a related Regulation. 

4.1 MEDICAL AMNESTY

UF Students and Student Organizations who seek emergency medical attention for an individual(s) who needs care, as a result of alcohol and/or other substance(s) use, may receive medical amnesty from discipline for certain student conduct code violations under the UF Medical Amnesty Policy. The Medical Amnesty Policy provides a waiver of student conduct process disciplinary action for Students/Student Organizations who follow the subsequent procedure(s). The Medical Amnesty Policy, implemented by the Vice President for Student Life, enables the Director of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or designee(s) to evaluate a Student/Student Organization’s incident with respect to alcohol and/or other substance(s) to determine whether amnesty will be provided at any point prior to, or during, a potential student conduct process.

Medical amnesty only applies to potential violations of University Regulation 4.040 (Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code). Any decision regarding the applicability of medical amnesty ultimately rests with the Director of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or designee(s), who has the sole authority to implement amnesty as appropriate.

In situations where medical amnesty is not provided, responsible actions of Students/Student Organizations may be considered in the student conduct process as mitigating factors impacting potential outcomes.

Individual incident details, surrounding circumstances, and prior history may also be considered by the Director of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or designee(s) when evaluating incidents for medical amnesty consideration.

The decision to provide medical amnesty for alcohol and/or other substance(s) concerns does not preclude the University from taking needed actions to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community because of other potential violations of law or University Regulation 4.040.

If Students/Student Organizations are unsure whether a situation qualifies as a medical emergency, you should call 9-1-1 immediately.

4.2 PROCEDURE

To receive consideration for amnesty, Students/Student Organizations must follow the three C’s:

1. CALL:

2. COMMUNICATE:

3. COOPERATE:

Medical amnesty does not apply to Students/Student Organizations who do not follow this procedure.

If the Director of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or designee(s) determine this protocol has been followed appropriately, medical amnesty may be applied to all Students/Student Organizations involved in an incident with respect to potential violations of University Regulation 4.040.

The decision to provide medical amnesty may be withdrawn by the Director of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or designee(s) if Students/Student Organizations fail to follow the entire procedure (i.e., fail to cooperate and complete required educational programing). If amnesty is withdrawn, Students/Student Organizations will resolve any alleged violations of University Regulation 4.040 through the student conduct process.

Appropriate records for Students/Student Organizations who receive amnesty will be maintained by the Division of Student Life for use of potential amnesty application in the future. Student Organization amnesty records may be made publicly available.

5.    Review and Adjudication

The Director of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or designee(s) will evaluate a Student/Student Organization’s incident with respect to alcohol and/or other substance(s) to determine whether amnesty will be provided at any point prior to, or during, a potential student conduct process.

6.    Policy Violations

N/A

7.    Questions

Please direct any questions concerning this policy to:

Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution 
Phone: 352-392-1261
Email: sccr@ufsa.ufl.edu

History