University of Mary Washington's Vice President of Student Affairs Doug Searcy said the university has been addressing community concerns about student behavior off campus and that several initiatives have been enacted as a result, including helping pay for additional city police patrols and creating a campus judicial process.

Searcy offered the comments in response to a Fredericksburg Patch investigation that showed nearly all of the violations to the city's nuisance and noise ordinance complaints involve UMW students and many of them are athletes.

"It is important to note that the university has implemented ongoing support for community concerns as issues have been brought to our attention," Searcy said. "For example, two years ago the university instituted the off-campus judicial policy to address student behavior concerns within the local community."

Searcy provided a list of other steps the university has taken to ensure a fair response to the community's off-campus student behavioral concerns:

• Meet with city representatives to engage and further dialogue.
• Provide ongoing forum for community feedback through the monthly Town and Gown meeting. The Student Government Association is having one of these meetings tonight at 7 in Lee Hall room 411. 
• Meet with Alcohol Beverage Control to establish “Best Practices” and collaboration.
• Initiate additional police patrol on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights in community neighborhoods. Share expense for this effort with Fredericksburg Police Department.
• Implement Campus Judicial adjudication of off-campus events as outlined by campus policy. (Appropriate sanctions range from alcohol education, restitution, probation, suspension, to expulsion).
• Starting in spring 2012, meet with neighborhood associations to identify specific concerns. Meetings in tandem with Fredericksburg Police Department leadership.
• Beginning in spring 2012, the university will collect commuter student local addresses to identify students living in the community.
• Beginning in spring 2012, the university will provide additional training and orientation for students regarding community responsibilities.
• Engage UMW student leadership (SGA and Commuter Student Association) in solutions and support – potential ideas include community clean-up efforts by students, a “neighborhood zone project” to inform all students of community responsibility and student Town Hall meeting and dialogue

Searcy could not discuss any specific charges against students, so he was unable to directly discuss the problems at 1503 Stafford Ave. that is rented by three university students who have twice been cited for violations to the city's noise ordinance for parties.

"UMW does follow trends in behavior which can come from months of review of judicial or police referrals," he said. "Decisions are made by university staff to provide additional programming and training for student and professional staff to deal with problems resulting from alcohol or other issues. All of the actions coordinated by the university this spring regarding community and neighborhood concerns are a example of how we follow trends, listen to feedback, and provide viable solutions."

Searcy said in addition, the university has policies to address inappropriate behavior of students living off campus through the Office of Judicial Affairs (OJA). He said the OJA engages students on an individual basis and there are sanctions to redirect poor conduct and to educate students about being good neighbors. He said there are counseling and psychological services and other educational programs that specifically address responsible decision making and alcohol safety.

"In addition, for students who make inappropriate choices related to alcohol, the judicial system provides direct accountability for violation of university policy.  Sanctions, as well as additional educational efforts, are employed to help students correct inappropriate behavior regarding underage drinking or binge drinking," he said. 

"Although any institution would prefer initial compliance, this isn’t achieved in every situation," he said. "If choices are continually made to violate policy, our system will continue to apply sanctions."

Searcy said it is important to note that repeat offenders of poor off-campus behavior complaints  are "adjudicated through the on-campus judicial system and university sanctions will result." He did provide any information on the number of students who go through this program and how effective it has been.

"First offenders are required to meet with judicial staff members for an educational discussion regarding community and University expectations," he said. "In the vast majority of situations, this protocol is effective in dealing with student behavioral concerns and clearly limits repeat offenders.  Where problems persist, additional judicial intervention is necessary.

As for athletes, Searcy said the Athletic Department requires student athletes to sign a student conduct agreement that encourages positive choices and the agreement does provide accountability. He said UMW has one of the highest graduation rates among Division III athletic programs.

"I cannot provide specific information regarding student outcomes for judicial matters or personnel outcomes for University employees," he said. "It is important to note the special mission of Division III athletics - the scholar athlete model.  A large percentage of out student body participates in varsity sports and contributes to our overall success in graduating 76 percent of our students. This is among the highest for public institutions of our type nationally."