<p>Hello,
As a new Colgate parent (my son starts in a few days) I took the Drug and Alcohol "my student body" online course and carefully read over the Colgate Points System designed to keep students safe and help curtail alcohol and drug use. The points system seems like it is still pretty new; I do not think that there is a cohort of Colgate students that have lived under the point system for 4 years.</p>
<p>I would be interested in knowing, under the new points system at Colgate, how many students are being asked to leave for the semester, due to point accrual. It sounds like points are cumulative throughout your stay at Colgate (and extra points are added if you have had previous offenses) so if you have the misfortune to get written up a lot as a foolish freshman it could really jeopardize your college career and perhaps even your ability to finish your education. </p>
<p>In addition, not sure how tough local police are on Colgate students. Getting caught with a fake ID etc sounds like it has pretty serious consequences that could result in an arrest?</p>
<p>Naturally as a parent I am in support of keeping kids safe, but there seems to be a dichotomy at Colgate- the work hard play/party hard attitude combined with a strict point system. After having put two other kids through college I know enough to know fake IDs, pot and underage drinking are widespread regardless of what college you attend.</p>
<p>I've been lecturing my freshman son a lot on staying safe but I never underestimate the risk-taking behavior of adolescent boys as they experience college freedom for the first time. So any statistics or insight as to how this system has been playing out for students would be useful.</p>
<p>Given the number of high school students who enter colleges these days with alcohol and other substance abuse histories, the challenges that a residential college can pose to those who are not necessarily as emotionally adjusted and centered as they could be, and the importance to you and your son of making the most out of every minute of his college education, you are right to be concerned about what his freshman year.</p>
<p>It seems to me that what you are aiming to achieve is a personal understanding of new and familiar issues and questions alongside the point system you mentioned. So it seems logical and sensible to direct your questions to the Dean of Students office whose staff administer student life. If you have attended your son’s drop off session orientation session or are familiar with the colgate.edu site you know that Beverly Low is Dean of First Year students.</p>
<p>May I recommend that you go ahead and direct your specific questions to her - the source - and apply what you learn from there. You can learn about a range of student services from the various counseling centers concerned with student life- therapeutic, professional and graduate school matters, the Wellness Center, Resident Advisors and their roles, recreational and cultural outlets etc. Quality in and quality out will be the result, no doubt.</p>
<p>Good luck and enjoy these terrific years as a Colgate parent!</p>
<p>The more I think about it, the more I hope that all parents of freshmen are focusing on these issues. All students’ behaviors contribute to the success of the college community and we simply cannot afford to have some students falling out of the mainstream, much less do we want to see the stream divert because of the behaviors of a group of students. </p>
<p>Good practice, that is adherence to common sense rules, will make for success among the freshmen cohort. There are a lot of mechanisms in place, as you will hear at the Colgate orientation, to support them. If students are smart about it, and see the benefits of living up the the standards that are set for them, these habits will also take them through their sophomore year when there can be a tendency to “slump”. That would be a big mistake then as the ambitious should be gearing up for their junior year semester study groups (more than 2/3 do so now and Pres Herbst wants a virtual 100% to go) and line up useful summer internships. Students’ grades and presentation skills are to be nurtured and developed; there is just no scope for silliness and transgressions.</p>
<p>I hope that it’s a warm and sunny Chenango Valley greeting on tap for move in day! I will be following the action via photos on colgate.edu.</p>