As a state university, the possession, sale or furnishing of alcohol on university campus property is governed by NIU policy and Illinois state laws. Violators are subject to disciplinary action and criminal prosecution. NIU prohibits the possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages on university premises. Residence hall policy states that persons under the age of 21 may not possess alcohol at any time. Residents age 21 or older are prohibited from providing, delivering or hosting the serving of alcohol in the residence halls to persons under the age of 21.
The university also maintains alcohol-free floors in the residence halls to provide students with the opportunity to live with other students who wish to maintain an alcohol-free lifestyle. These floors prohibit the possession and consumption of alcohol by persons under and over age 21.
The possession, use, sale, manufacture or distribution of illegal drugs, narcotics or controlled substances is a violation of university policy and state laws, and violators are subject to disciplinary action and criminal prosecution. NIU’s Department of Public Safety is a member of the North Central Narcotics Task Force, which is designed to create a system that effectively fights the use and abuse of drugs in the community and the NIU campus. NIU is a drug-free and alcohol-free workplace.
NIU provides informational programs and prevention services for the entire University community. Several of these services include:
Appropriate assessment, treatment and aftercare services are provided by NIU’s Counseling and Student Development Center and Health Services, as well as off-campus agencies.
Health Enhancement maintains a website at www.health.niu.edu, whereby students can obtain information on services and educational opportunities. Students can check the section on Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs for safe drinking tips and the section on Sexual Health for how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.