Community Policies, Agreements, & Contracts

The Collegiate Recovery Community at Penn State University provides a caring and supportive environment for students working to recover from addictions. The Collegiate Recovery Community communicates a message of hope, links students with recovery-related services and persons in recovery, and facilitates the development of healthy and sustainable habits of mind, body, and spirit. Through the pairing of education and recovery, students are positioned to transition into fulfilling lives as productive members of the campus community and the larger society.

We, when acting as members of the Collegiate Recovery Community and its affiliates Lions for Recovery and Lions in Recovery:

1. Assume that members wish to remain anonymous, and do not reveal the full names of other members or post recognizable photos of one another unless permission is given.
2.  Avoid conflict with 12-step programs by asking our members to adhere to the public relations policies of those 12-step programs to which they belong.
3. Exercise extreme caution when dealing with press, radio, films, television, and other media. Students should refrain from issuing public statements, giving interviews, or being filmed until after they have consulted with the program coordinator. 
4. Have no opinion on outside issues, including issues at Penn State that have no relation to our primary purpose of helping the Penn State community member in recovery. The Collegiate Recovery Community thus seeks to avoid being drawn into public controversy.

(This is sample for informational purposes only and is subject to modification/updating)

The Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community is a community structured around a program of Student Affairs.  Membership in this program has various requirements.    Students’ collective commitments to the program are what make it possible for students to find a fulfilling college experience in recovery.

The following are some benefits that accompany membership in the program of the Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community:

• Members are eligible to apply for scholarship funds
• Members have access to academic advising and advocacy
• Members have access to leadership opportunities
• Members have access to ROAR house and other housing assistance (i.e. roommate matching)
• Members are eligible to apply to serve as ROAR House Program Assistant, a position that includes specialized training and waived housing costs.

Students will remain abstinent from alcohol and other substances

The Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community is based on abstinent recovery.  A student practicing abstinent recovery is permitted to use medications prescribed by a physician, kept in original packaging, and taken as directed provided these medications are prescribed by a physician and taken as directed. 

All students must attend at least one 1-hour seminar meeting each week 

Seminar is 1-hour peer support meeting offered at the Collegiate Recovery Community’s center in which students discuss topics relating to maintaining their recoveries as a student at Penn State.  

All students must work a comprehensive recovery program outside of the Collegiate Recovery Community

Recovery requires a significant investment and a great deal more than simply “not using.” It is essential that students work a program outside of the Collegiate Recovery Community in order to fully integrate the resources available to them.  The following are considered essential: 

1. Weekly attendance at (a minimum of) one group meeting outside the CRC to support recovery 

We are open to multiple approaches at the Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community.  Most students meet this requirement by attending a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.  Some other approaches include Celebrate Recovery (a Christian 12-step program,  SMART Recovery meetings,  or attending group therapy for substance use disorders. 

2. Work weekly with an individual who is familiar with your recovery program. 

This requirement can be met by meeting weekly with a sponsor, a pastoral counselor, a licensed addictions counselor, or some type of other mental health professional.  Establishing a close working relationship with another individual is an essential piece of a solid recovery program. 

Membership is earned and comes with the opportunity to be of service and the expectation that one will be of service 

All students with active status are invited to take on various leadership roles. 

(The following is a draft for informational purposes. Students sign this document electronically as part of the process of accepting a housing contract with Residence Life, after having been approved by the Penn State Collegiate Recovery's Program Coordinator.)

The purpose of ROAR House (Residence of Addiction Recovery) is to provide a caring and supportive living/learning environment for students who have chosen not to use alcohol and other drugs to support their recoveries from alcohol and other substance use disorders.  ROAR House regulations are as follows:

1. I agree to maintain membership in the Penn State Collegiate Recovery Program and abide by the Penn State CRC Program Membership Agreement, which includes the requirement of abstinence.
2. I acknowledge that alcohol and other drugs (with the exception of medications prescribed by a physician, if kept in original packaging, and taken as directed) will not be possessed, consumed, or used in ROAR House. 
3. I will not bring alcohol and other drugs into ROAR House or enter the community in an alcohol- or other drug-induced state.
4. I understand that I am responsible for the behavior of their guests and no guests are permitted into the community in an alcohol- or other drug-induced state.  
5. I acknowledge that all ROAR House meetings are required. House meetings will occur every other Sunday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. following the initial orientation.
6. I acknowledge that should I have a co-occurring physical or mental/emotional conditions, I am expected to follow treatment recommendations as part of my overall recovery. Information about significant in therapy, treatment, professional caregivers, or medications must be shared with the CRP Coordinator.  Furthermore, I am not permitted to share prescription medications or stop medications considered essential to their health and wellbeing without consulting treatment professionals.
7. I agree to not conceal my own return to use should it occur or the knowledge of other residents’ return to use.  Rather, I am obliged to report such uses within 24 hours to a CRP staff member.  At such times, the ROAR House Return to Use Protocol will be initiated. 
8. I accept the regulations listed above, and understand I must follow all University regulations as outlined in Student Code of Conduct and Housing regulations as outlined in Terms, Conditions, and Regulations of the Housing and Food Services Contract.
9. I acknowledge that new members of the community are required to complete an intake consultation with Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community Program Staff 90-30 days prior to arrival for final approval to join the ROAR House community.
10. I understand I am responsible to report all emergencies to Penn State Campus Police at (814) 863-1111 or 3-1111 from residence hall phones.  If a situation presents imminent danger call 911.
11. I have read and understand ROAR House Return to Use Protocol.
12. I have read and understand Collegiate Recovery Community Program Membership Agreement.

(This draft is for informational purposes and is subject to change -- a copy of this text is made available for students in tandem with the ROAR House Supplemental Housing Agreement.

In an abstinence-only recovery environment, Return to Use means that use of an addictive substance, no matter how short-term, is not permitted. ROAR House Community Living Agreement regulation #6 states: “ROAR House residents will not conceal their own return to use or knowledge of other residents’ return to use. Rather, they are obliged to report such use within 24 hours to a CRP staff member. At such times, the “Return to Use Protocol” will be initiated.”

The following procedures will be implemented without delay upon the receipt of a report of return to use:

1. The Program Director and Residence Life staff will conduct a review of the information obtained and determine if a student conduct referral will be made.
   1. If a student conduct referral is made, the conduct case will be adjudicated by the Office of Student Conduct or a designated representative.
   2. If a student is found responsible for a drug or alcohol related violation of the student code of conduct, the case manager will determine if room reassignment will be implemented as a conduct sanction and sanction the student to meet with the Return to Use Panel.

2. Should a Student Conduct Referral not be made, The Return to Use Panel will convene and review all relevant information. The Return to Use Panel will be chaired by the Director For Health Promotion and Wellness and be composed of the Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community's Program Director, the Collegiate Recovery Community's Assistant Program Coordinator, and the Program Manager of ROAR House, if applicable.

If it is determined that the behavior violated the Community Living Agreement, then a special Return to Use Panel will determine the next steps, which may include: whether to either:

1. Assign the offending student resident to probationary status during which time the student must resume abstinence and demonstrate a renewed commitment to recovery.  The student may be required to abide by the terms of a special contract, the terms of which will be specified in writing. 
2. Recommend reassigning the offending student resident to another living situation, at which time Residence Life will conduct an administrative move. 

*​​​​​​In the case of a tie in any vote put to the members of the Panel, the Director of Health Promotion and Wellness will have the final determination.