The MSU Faculty Senate will discuss the conditions of a faculty and staff drug and alcohol policy, which went into effect on May 5, at the Senate’s first meeting of the semester on Sept. 14. The policy was approved by the university’s Executive Council on Jan. 19.The Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy says, “University employees expect to work in a drug free environment. The university expects its employees to be free from the effects of alcohol and drugs while on the job or in the workplace.”
Senate President Robert Wolverton said the Senate has several questions pertaining to the policy in need of answering.
“It isn’t that the faculty are opposed to it. They just want to hear more specific details,” he said.
Associate professor of communication and Faculty Senate member Mark Goodman said the basic problem with the policy is that it is poorly written.
“There’s nothing wrong with having a policy, it’s just loosely worded,” he said.
The policy is not clear as to whom it applies to, Goodman said.
“It clearly applies to employees covered by federal law including MSU bus drivers, campus police and certain people on campus working on specific defense grants,” he said.
The language of the current policy says anyone suspected of having a drug or alcohol problem can be tested, but it is unclear as to whether random drug testing is included, Goodman said.
“There’s nothing in the policy preventing random drug testing from happening,” he said. “Multiple interpretations are possible.”
An MSU human resources representative said faculty or staff can be randomly drug tested if they fit into one of the categories in the neutral selection section of the policy.
According to the policy, neutral selection includes any faculty member who is engaged in law enforcement, has national or state security responsibilities or has drug interdiciton responsibilities.
Neutral selection also includes anyone who holds a position in which he or she has the authority to carry firearms, has access to engage in law enforcement, is required, as a condition of employment, to obtain a security clearance or is engaged in activities affecting public health or safety, the policy says.
In the past, faculty members with drug or alcohol problems have been dealt with on a one-on-one basis without the use of a policy, he said.
“I know of no faculty member in the last decade with a drug or alcohol problem who has been permitted to continue teaching classes,” he said. “We don’t need a drug policy to keep that from happening.”
Goodman said he agrees with the policy if it will not be used as a weapon against employees. Certain campus employees should be tested if they are suspicious in any way, he said.
“Campus security officers carry guns,” he said. “Nobody wants someone carrying a gun to be using drugs or alcohol.”
Wolverton said the Senate is worried about invasion of privacy and whether the policy is constitutional.
“From the faculty’s point of view, there have been very few episodes in which this policy would apply,” he said.
Once the Senate reviews the policy, its recommendations will be sent to President Robert H. ‘Doc’ Foglesong.