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University of New Mexico notifies parents after first offense of underage drinking

By Stephanie Garcia Krenrich
Tuesday, December 11, 2007

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University of New Mexico officials are allowing parents to be informed early about their children's underage drinking.

Randy Boeglin, dean of students at UNM, in August changed the school's policy on notifying parents.

"The whole idea was that maybe we should get everyone as involved as quickly as possible," he said. "Sometimes parents told us, `Why didn't you notify us by the first offense?' "

That's exactly what UNM decided to do.

A few years ago, UNM's approach was to notify parents on an as-needed basis. Two years after that, the university decided to notify parents on the second offense.

If underage students are caught on campus with alcohol, it counts as an offense, Boeglin said. Usually the complaints about student drinking come from UNM police and residence hall supervisors.

So far, 50 letters have been sent out since the policy changed. More are pending, Boeglin said. He estimates that by the end of the year the number of letters will reach 150.

Last year, before the policy change, about 50 letters were sent to parents, Boeglin said.

Under the new policy, students get a charge letter and are given an opportunity to have a hearing. If they are found responsible for violating the policy, they are given a sanction or a warning. Then they have to go to a workshop, and a parental letter will go forward, Boeglin said.

The workshop has them make an assessment of their alcohol use. The students get a report back and are told of all the campus services that are available.

Boeglin said two of the services students are referred to are the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention, and Counseling and Therapy Services.

Harry Linneman, director of Counseling and Therapy Services at UNM, said the department has helped several underage students who had problems with alcohol.

"In all cases, they will be assessed by therapists on motivation and readiness to change," he said. "If it (counseling) is what they need, we will enter them into an individual treatment program."

Cheo Torres, vice president for student affairs at UNM, says his office also works closely with the Office of the Dean of Students.

He reviews the decisions that are made by the dean and will either support the decision, or alter or add to the sanction.

Boeglin said the university has not measured the success of the program yet. UNM officials will make an assessment at the end of the year and decide whether they will continue it or modify it again.

As for now, officials agree that getting parents involved is beneficial to students.

"I think this will be helping students understand if they have a problem and having family input to solve that problem," Torres said. "Sometimes we forget that families want the best for their sons and daughters. I think in the long run, it's going to help and allow people to communicate better."

Randy Boeglin, dean of students at UNM, in August changed the school's policy on notifying parents.

"The whole idea was that maybe we should get everyone as involved as quickly as possible," he said. "Sometimes parents told us, `Why didn't you notify us by the first offense?' "

That's exactly what UNM decided to do.

A few years ago, UNM's approach was to notify parents on an as-needed basis. Two years after that, the university decided to notify parents on the second offense.

If underage students are caught on campus with alcohol, it counts as an offense, Boeglin said. Usually the complaints about student drinking come from UNM police and residence hall supervisors.

So far, 50 letters have been sent out since the policy changed. More are pending, Boeglin said. He estimates that by the end of the year the number of letters will reach 150.

Last year, before the policy change, about 50 letters were sent to parents, Boeglin said.

Under the new policy, students get a charge letter and are given an opportunity to have a hearing. If they are found responsible for violating the policy, they are given a sanction or a warning. Then they have to go to a workshop, and a parental letter will go forward, Boeglin said.

The workshop has them make an assessment of their alcohol use. The students get a report back and are told of all the campus services that are available.

Boeglin said two of the services students are referred to are the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention, and Counseling and Therapy Services.

Harry Linneman, director of Counseling and Therapy Services at UNM, said the department has helped several underage students who had problems with alcohol.

"In all cases, they will be assessed by therapists on motivation and readiness to change," he said. "If it (counseling) is what they need, we will enter them into an individual treatment program."

Cheo Torres, vice president for student affairs at UNM, says his office also works closely with the Office of the Dean of Students.

He reviews the decisions that are made by the dean and will either support the decision, or alter or add to the sanction.

Boeglin said the university has not measured the success of the program yet. UNM officials will make an assessment at the end of the year and decide whether they will continue it or modify it again.

As for now, officials agree that getting parents involved is beneficial to students.

"I think this will be helping students understand if they have a problem and having family input to solve that problem," Torres said. "Sometimes we forget that families want the best for their sons and daughters. I think in the long run, it's going to help and allow people to communicate better."