The following letter was sent to all students from Chris Fortunato, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students at Providence College.

August 27, 2008

Dear Students:

I hope your summer has been both meaningful and enjoyable.  As the College prepares to welcome you back, it is with excitement and pride that I write to share with you the significant progress being made in important initiatives aimed at improving and enhancing student life at PC.  Being responsive to student needs and requests is a top priority.  The College is taking bold steps to enhance opportunities for community and connections, to support student safety and health, and to provide more choices for social and recreational activities.   The College’s unwavering commitment to student success and well-being is the driving force behind a number of important changes.

Improvements to Campus Social/Recreational Space and Transportation
In order to meet student needs and requests, the College will embark on the creation and improvement of a substantial amount of 24/7 social and recreational space for all students that will support enhanced programming and student unity.   A major announcement will be made in early September outlining the details of the upcoming plans and additional opportunities for student input.  Moreover, PC is exploring the implementation of immediate upgrades to the College’s transportation offerings that will support service activities, club sports, student organizations and residence life by increasing capacity, effectiveness and convenience.  An improved shuttle operation will better enable students to run errands as well as travel throughout the surrounding neighborhood safely and conveniently.  Detailed information will be distributed by the SAIL office.  Building on the success of the Concannon Fitness Center, these and other Student Affairs initiatives represent our commitment to making student life safer, more productive and more enjoyable.

New Health/Safety Guidelines
Over the last two years, through the work of the Committee on Campus Culture, Conduct and Civility (the 4Cs), the College has both acknowledged a serious alcohol abuse problem at PC and committed to making the changes in policy, culture and programming that will better protect student safety and health.  In response to the over 70 student alcohol related hospital transports and over 1100 alcohol related conduct incidents last year alone, some have suggested the College institute an outright ban on alcohol on campus and at College events.  The College has decided not to follow that route at this time.  Through listening to students, looking at data, consulting with experts and carefully deliberating next steps, the College has committed instead to implementing a number of other measures to promote safety and wellbeing.  These include amending alcohol policy guidelines and student conduct procedures in the Student Handbook, as well as expanding and launching new programs supporting both non-use and a more intelligent use of alcohol.   

There are important new guidelines that students should be aware of prior to their return to PC.  For example, hard alcohol of any kind is no longer permitted on campus with the exception of drinks served to students 21 and older at McPhail’s Entertainment Facility.  In addition, the College has created limits as to how much alcohol students 21 and older may possess or store on campus.  Also, new procedures and regulations are in place that spell out the consequences for alcohol related conduct violations for both individual students and student clubs and organizations.  All students are expected to read, know and follow these and other guidelines which are discussed in detail in the updated Student Handbook available as of August 29, 2008 on the Student Life page on the PC website.  Moreover, these guidelines will be discussed as part of a new, ongoing dialogue on this and other issues beginning with several opening Forums on Student Life during the first week of classes (dates and times will be posted). 

These guidelines are meant to ensure that rules and regulations are applied consistently, fairly and transparently and that students are both held accountable for their behavior AND supported in their efforts to make smart choices and to succeed at PC and beyond.  Our new Office of Student Conduct, replacing Judicial Affairs, has and will continue to educate the PC community and clarify long-standing policies and practices including the effect alcohol related infractions may have on a student’s ability to live on or off campus or participate as a student leader or in international study.

These changes, though significant, are necessary to keep students safe and support success.  I call upon each of you to partner with administration, each other and the College community to engage in a dialogue about our individual and collective responsibilities when it comes to the health and well-being of friends, classmates and others in the PC community.  As the College commits to enhancing and increasing opportunities for students to engage in meaningful and fun social, recreational, service and leadership activities, we look to each of you for guidance, feedback and smart choices.

I very much look forward to partnering with you and the larger PC community to make PC a leader in student life.  All the best.

Sincerely,

Chris Fortunato, J.D., M.S.W.
Dean of Students/Associate Vice President
Student Affairs Administration