C18 – Notification of Parent, Guardian, or Emergency Contact for Alcohol and Controlled Substance Violations (Beau’s Law)

Responsibility for Maintenance: Student Engagement and Registrar 

Date of most recent changes: April 1, 2026 

I. Policy Statement  

Onondaga Community College (OCC) is committed to protecting student health and safety while respecting student privacy. In accordance with FERPA and New York State Education Law §6438-d (Beau’s law), OCC maintains a policy regarding the notification of a student’s parent(s), guardian(s), or emergency contact(s) when a student under the age of 21 is involved in certain alcohol- or controlled substance-related violations or incidents.

Notification decisions are made by authorized institutional offices and are guided by considerations of student health, safety, and welfare, as well as compliance with applicable federal and state laws.

II. Reason for the Policy 

Effective July 1, 2026, and in accordance with FERPA and New York State Education Law §6438-d, this policy establishes the framework under which OCC may notify a student’s parent(s), guardian(s), or designated emergency contact(s) when a student under the age of 21 is involved in certain alcohol- or controlled substance-related violations or incidents.

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Promote student health and safety;
• Ensure transparency regarding notification practices; and
• Clarify how OCC exercises its discretion under FERPA and applicable New York State law.

III. Applicability of the Policy 

This policy applies to all departments of the College that may interact with a student when he/she/they are involved in certain alcohol- or controlled substance-related violations or incidents. Additionally, this policy applies to all students enrolled at OCC who are under the age of 21 and involved in alcohol and controlled substance-related incidents, whether occurring on or off campus, which are addressed through institutional processes.

IV. Related Materials

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, and accompanying regulations of the U.S. Department of Education

• New York State Education Law §6438-d

• OCC Policy C1: Compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (the "Buckley Amendment")

• OCC Policy N5: Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures “The Code”

V. Contacts

VI. Definitions

VII. Incidents Subject to Notification

A parent, guardian, or emergency contact may be notified when a student under the age of 21 is involved in an alcohol or controlled substance-related medical emergencies, including:

• Hospitalization;
• Overdose; or
• Other situations presenting a serious risk to the student’s health or safety.

VIII. Notification Authority and Process

Notification determinations are made only by designated institutional offices, which may include Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, Campus Safety and Security, Counseling Services, the office of Students’ Rights, Responsibilities, and Residence life, or other authorized officials.

• Individual faculty or staff members do not contact parents, guardians, or emergency contacts unless specifically authorized.
• Notifications are made on a case-by-case basis, considering the totality of the circumstances.

IX. FERPA and New York State Education Law Considerations

FERPA permits institutions of higher education to disclose PII (Personally Identifiable Information) without consent if there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of the student or others, and the disclosure is to parties who need to know to respond.

New York State Education Law §6438-d (Beau’s Law) requires transparency in NYS institutions of higher education on its policies involving notice to a parent, guardian, or emergency contact when a student under the age of 21 is involved in one or more of the following, including but not limited to:

• Violations of institutional rules or policies related to the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance;
• Violations of federal, state, or local laws involving alcohol or controlled substances; and
• Alcohol or controlled substance-related medical emergencies, including:
  • Hospitalization;
  • Overdose; or
  • Other situations presenting a serious risk to the student’s health or safety.

OCC exercises its authority under FERPA and New York State Education Law in a manner that limits disclosures to information reasonably necessary to address the circumstances presented.

X. Student Notification

When feasible and appropriate, students will be informed that a parent, guardian, or emergency contact has been or may be notified, unless such notification would compromise health or safety or interfere with an ongoing investigation.

All notifications under this policy are handled with sensitivity and respect for student privacy. Information shared is limited to what is necessary to address health, safety, or welfare concerns. All disclosures made pursuant to this policy are documented.

XI. Training and Awareness

Specific to this policy, OCC provides regular training to designated institutional offices regarding:

• FERPA requirements and exceptions;
• This notification policy; and
• Appropriate reporting and escalation procedures.

Approved by the OCC Board of Trustees June 23, 2026