Drug Free Schools & Communities
A page within Wellness & Health Advocacy
The Drug Free Schools and Communities Act requires educational institutions to conduct a biennial review of their programs to determine their effectiveness and ensure that the disciplinary sanctions described are consistently enforced.
In the fall semester of 1990, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL), after consultation with students, faculty, and staff, developed an implementation statement as required by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. This statement, which is updated every two years, provides a description of the legal sanctions under federal and Wisconsin law, University disciplinary sanctions, health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and alcohol, and the prevention, counseling, and treatment resources provided by the University. This statement makes it clear that the intent of UWL is to follow regulations and support the intent of the law.
UWL provides programs and services intended to educate and prevent illegal substance use and misuse and to strictly enforce policies and laws. These programs are reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis. This review is intended to meet the requirements of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act.
2022-2024 Biennial Review
Biennial Review Process and Annual Policy Notification
Biennial Review Process
This biennial review covers the period from January 2022 to August 2024 and examines academic years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. The review process began May 2024 and ended August 2024. Information and data were collected from the Dean of Students and the Student Life Office, the University Police department, Residence Life, the Student Health Center, and Human Resources to be compiled and approved by the committee members before being reviewed and approved by the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Dr. James Beeby. Biennial reviews are kept by Wellness & Health Advocacy, and any individual may request a copy by emailing the Student Wellness Coordinator at wellness@uwlax.edu.
Annual Policy Notification Process
The Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act became effective on November 8, 1990. The law requires disclosure, by October 1, of criminal activity on campus during the previous three years, as available, and annual distribution to all students and staff. Included in the report are current statistics on campus for liquor law violations, drug misuse violations, and other information that supplements the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse distributes the Annual Security Report & the Annual Fire Safety Report to students, faculty, and staff via email by October 1 of each year. The Annual Security Report contains the policies that govern alcohol and other drugs in addition to the current Drug-Free Schools and Communities Biennial Review. When a new biennial review is published and approved it is distributed to students, faculty, and staff via email alongside the Annual Security Report. Any individual may request a printed copy of the Annual Security Report or the current Drug-Free Schools and Communities Biennial Review at the Student Life Office (Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) in 149 Graff Main Hall at 1725 State Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601 or by emailing studentlife@uwlax.edu.
Biennial Review Committee
2022-2024 Biennial Review Committee Members
Isabella Beach, Committee Chair, Student Wellness Coordinator
Amanda Abrahamson, Assistant Dean of Students
Kara Ostlund, Dean of Students and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Zach Moffet, Coordinator of Student Conduct
Allen Hill, Chief of University Police
Lisa Weston, Associate Director of Residence Life
Ben Crenshaw and Tara Miller, Student Health Center Operations Management
Carri O’Melia, Assistant Director of Human Resources
Prevalence and Assessment Data
Alcohol and Other Drug Violations
UWL records alcohol and other drug violations, in addition to impacts on student well-being following substance use. The following record contains all violations reported to campus, regardless of geography, for the biennial review period:
| Violations | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 (up to 8/27/2024) |
| Drug law violation | 65 | 100 | 28 |
| Liquor law violation | 557 | 512 | 218 |
| Alcohol and drug related fatalities | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| BAC of 0.15 or higher | 26 | 21 | 15 |
| EMS transport for alcohol or drugs | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| Detox for alcohol or drugs | 7 | 8 | 3 |
| OWI violation | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Physical violence, alcohol or drugs involved | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Damage to personal property, alcohol or drugs involved | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Damage to state property, alcohol or drugs involved | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Assessment Data
UWL utilizes the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), administered by the American College Health Association, to assess student well-being and develop programs and services. The NCHA is administered in the spring of every third year (2018, 2021, 2024). The following record contains findings from the 2024 survey:
Policy, Enforcement, and Compliance
Programs and Interventions
Biennial Achievement of Goals and Objectives
SWOT Analysis
Goals and Recommendations for Next Biennium
UWL Alcohol and Drug Policy
Residence Life Alcohol Policy
