Policies

Notification of Parent, Guardian, or Emergency Contact for Alcohol and Controlled Substance Violations Policy

Policy Purpose

Effective July 1, 2026, and in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and New York State Education Law §6438-d (Beau’s Law), this policy establishes the framework under which Farmingdale State College 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 the College exercises its discretion under FERPA and applicable New York State law.

Persons Affected

This policy applies to:

• All students enrolled at Farmingdale State College 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.

Policy Statement

Farmingdale State College is committed to protecting student health and safety while respecting student privacy. FERPA permits institutions of higher education to disclose Personal Identifiable Information (PII) 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 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.

Therefore, a parent, guardian, or emergency contact may be notified when a student under the age of 21 is involved in one or more of the aforementioned incidents.

Notification decisions are made by authorized college offices and are guided by considerations of student health, safety, and welfare, as well as compliance with applicable federal and state laws. Notification determinations are made only by designated college offices, which include; Student Affairs, the Office of the Dean of Students, University Police, or other authorized officials.

Individual faculty or staff members shall not contact parents, guardians, or emergency contacts unless specifically authorized to do so.

Notifications will be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the totality of the circumstances. The College 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.

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 must be documented and forwarded to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will add notifications to the FERPA disclosure log.

The College will provide regular training to employees regarding:

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

Questions regarding this policy or its implementation should be directed to:

The Office of the Dean of Students
dean.students@farmingdale.edu
934-420-2104

Responsible Office

The Office of the Dean of Students

Policy History

Effective Date: 4/15/2026