Beau's Law

Registrar

Notification of Parent, Guardian, or Emergency Contact for Alcohol and Controlled Substance Violations

This procedure establishes the framework under which Nassau Community College may notify a student’s parent(s), guardian(s), or designated emergency contact(s) when a student under the age of 21 is involved in certain alcohol- or controlled substance-related violations or medical emergencies.

It is the goal of Nassau Community College to promote student health and safety, ensure transparency regarding notification practices, and clarify how the college exercises its discretion under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and applicable New York State law.

Nassau Community College is committed to protecting student health and safety while respecting student privacy in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and New York State Education Law §6438-d (Beau’s Law).

When a student under the age of 21 is involved in certain alcohol- or controlled substance-related violations or incidents, the college may notify a student’s parent(s), guardian(s), or emergency contact(s). Notification decisions are made by authorized college offices and are guided by considerations of student health, safety, and welfare, as well as compliance with applicable federal and state laws.

Incidents Subject to Notification

A parent, guardian, or emergency contact may be notified when a student under the age of 21 is involved in one or more of the following, including but not limited to:

  • Violations of institutional rules or policies related to the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance
  • Violations of federal, state, or local laws involving alcohol or controlled substances
  • Alcohol- or controlled substance-related medical emergencies, including:
    • Hospitalization
    • Overdose
    • Other situations presenting a serious risk to the student’s health or safety

Notification Authority and Process

  • Notification determinations are made only by designated college offices, which may include units within the Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Code of Conduct Committee, Health Services, and Public Safety, or other authorized officials.
  • Individual faculty or staff members do not contact parents, guardians, or emergency contacts unless specifically authorized.
  • Notifications are made on a case-by-case basis, considering the totality of the circumstances.

Student Notification

When feasible and appropriate, students will be informed that a parent, guardian, or emergency contact has been or may be notified. This notification to the student may be withheld if it would compromise health or safety or interfere with an ongoing investigation.

Confidentiality and Privacy

All notifications under this policy are handled with sensitivity and respect for student privacy in accordance with applicable privacy laws. Information shared is limited to what is necessary to address health, safety, or welfare concerns. All disclosures made pursuant to this procedure are documented in accordance with FERPA requirements.

Training and Awareness

The College provides regular training to employees regarding:

  • FERPA requirements and exceptions.
  • This policy and its requirements; and
  • Appropriate reporting and escalation procedures.

Background

FERPA permits institutions of higher education to disclose personally identifiable information (PII) from an education record of a student without consent when there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of the student or others, and the disclosure is to parties who need to know in order to respond to the threat.

New York State Education Law §6438-d (Beau’s Law), effective July 1, 2026, requires institutions to publicly display their procedures for notifying a parent, guardian, or emergency contact when a student under the age of 21 is involved in certain alcohol- or controlled substance-related violations or incidents.

The college exercises its authority under FERPA and NYS Education Law in a manner that limits disclosures to information reasonably necessary to address the circumstances presented.

Applicability

This procedure applies to all enrolled students who are:

  • Under the age of 21; and
  • Involved in alcohol or controlled substance-related incidents which occur on or off campus and are addressed through college processes.

Definitions

Controlled Substance

In NYS, a controlled substance is defined as a drug or other substance that is regulated under federal, state, or local law, including but not limited to substances listed in schedules I through V of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 812).

Emergency Contact

A person designated by the student in the college’s student information system (MyNCC) as a contact to be notified in urgent or emergency circumstances. An emergency contact may or may not be a parent or guardian.

Guardian

A person legally appointed by a court or otherwise recognized under applicable law to act in place of a parent with respect to the care, custody, or welfare of a student. As used in this policy, “guardian” is distinct from “parent” and refers specifically to a court-appointed or legally recognized guardian.

Parent

A parent of a student and includes a natural parent, a guardian, or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or a guardian.

Personally Identifiable Information

Information contained in an educational record that identifies or describes a student, including but not limited to, student name, name of a student’s parent or other family members, address of a student or student’s family, any personal identifier such as a student’s social security number or identification number, person number, or any personal characteristics or other information that would make a student’s identity easily traceable.

Personally identifiable information is divided into two categories:

Directory Information – student information that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Nassau Community College has designated the following as directory information: student name, student’s NCC ID number, student’s college email address, mailing address, enrollment status, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees, and awards, photographs, participation in college sports and/or activities weight and height of members of athletic teams.

Confidential Information – student information that may not be disclosed without the prior consent of the student to whom the information pertains, including directory information that the student designates as non-disclosable.

Responsibility

Students

  • Become familiar with this procedure and their rights and responsibilities under FERPA.
  • Ensure that accurate parent, guardian, and emergency contact information is maintained in MyNCC.
  • Understand that violations of college policy or law involving alcohol or controlled substances may result in parental or emergency contact notification.

Units Within the Division of Student Activities (e.g., Student Code of Conduct Committee, Dean of Students Office, Health Services, Public Safety)

  • Maintain documentation of all disclosures made pursuant to this policy
  • Make notification decisions on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with applicable law
  • Provide educational programming for students regarding this policy
  • Provide training resources to college employees with responsibilities under this policy

Public Safety

  • Notify Student Activities or other authorized offices when a student under the age of 21 is involved in an alcohol- or controlled substance-related incident that may trigger notification under this policy.
  • Coordinate with authorized college offices, as appropriate, when a student is involved in an alcohol- or controlled substance-related medical emergency.

College Employees

  • Complete required training regarding FERPA requirements, applicable exceptions, and this policy.
  • Refer inquiries regarding parental or emergency contact notification to Nassau Community College’s FERPA Compliance Office.
  • Refrain from independently contacting a student's parent, guardian, or emergency contact unless specifically authorized to do so.