URochester’s 2026-27 Medical Amnesty Policy now includes student organizations seeking medical help on behalf of their members. The policy says that students, and now student organizations, who reach out for help with substance-related medical emergencies will not suffer consequences for the possession or consumption of alcohol and other drugs in violation of University policy.
The new policy applies as long as the student organization later meets with Student Conduct staff to discuss the relevant incident, and then completes an educational follow-up. Medical Amnesty will not apply if the student organization is found to be supplying the substances involved, or if they show a pattern of similar emergency calls.
This change is a result of a collaboration between the Office of the Dean of Students and the Standing Committee for Alcohol Policy and Education. After hearing multiple proposals for a potential section regarding medical amnesty for student organizations, the finalized version was subject to peer review and benchmarking.
According to University Spokesperson Sara Miller, this change “allows student groups to feel more empowered to get help for a student’s alcohol or drug-related medical emergency.”
The updated policy is designed to put URochester in line with other peer institutions that have similar policies. “It also helps to encourage organization leaders to focus on education and healthy community, rather than have a fear of reporting issues,” Miller said.
While Student RAs and MERT members do not make decisions about medical amnesty, according to Miller, both groups are continuously updated on changes to the policy just as students on campus are.
This policy is designed so that student organizations do not have to choose between potential punishments and the safety of their members.
“Overall, University leaders do not want a student’s ability to receive needed medical assistance to hinge on whether a student conduct violation is involved,” Miller said.
What remains unchanged, however, is that in order for medical amnesty to apply, students and organizations must reach out for help, and cannot be found by university staff or RAs. The student handbook also does not pardon criminal activities, felonies, and the breaking of laws while under the influence.
The rest of the new Medical Amnesty Policy remains in line with past handbooks.
