DFSCA Biennial Review

Overview

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA, 20 U.S.C. §1011i) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86) require institutions of higher education that receive federal funding to conduct a biennial review of their drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs. The review must determine:

1. The effectiveness of the program, and any changes needed.
2. That the institution consistently enforces its disciplinary sanctions for violations of standards of conduct.

This page summarizes DMU's most recent biennial review and documents the consistent enforcement of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program.

Institutional context

Divine Mercy University is a graduate institution serving approximately 650 students across the Psy.D., M.S., Ph.D., and certificate programs. The University does not maintain on-campus student housing or residence halls, and the great majority of students complete their coursework online or in low-residency formats.

DMU operates a single physical site at 45154 Underwood Lane, Sterling, VA, which is used for administrative offices, faculty consultation, and selected residencies and intensives. Students do not reside on University property.

This profile materially affects the scope and substance of the biennial review:

• Risk of impaired-driving incidents in connection with University events is low because students typically do not reside near campus and travel by car.
• Risk of dormitory-style alcohol misuse is zero because there are no dorms.
• Most DFSCA-required notifications reach students through electronic delivery channels (student email, Canvas LMS, the Student Handbook) rather than through residential life programming.

Programs offered (2024–2026 review cycle)

DMU's drug and alcohol abuse prevention program for the 2024–2026 review cycle included:

• Annual written distribution to all students and employees of the Standards of Conduct, legal sanctions, health risks, available counseling/treatment resources, and University disciplinary sanctions, in accordance with 20 U.S.C. §1011i(a)(1). Distribution is satisfied through the Student Handbook and Employee Handbook, both required reading at the start of each academic year and at each new hire.
• Public web disclosure of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program, hosted at /about/consumer-information/drug-and-alcohol-prevention.
• Faculty and supervisor training on identifying substance use concerns in students at clinical placements, particularly for students in the Psy.D., M.S. in Counseling, and Ph.D. in CES programs where impaired clinical performance carries professional consequences.
• Referral pathway to off-campus treatment resources, including the SAMHSA National Helpline, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, and the DMU Employee Assistance Program for faculty and staff.
• Curriculum-embedded education for clinical-program students on substance use disorders, evidence-based treatment, and the ethical management of a clinician's own use of substances.

Incident data

For the 2024–2026 review cycle, DMU recorded:

| Category | Count | | --- | --- | | Student violations of the drug & alcohol policy | 0 | | Employee violations of the drug & alcohol policy | 0 | | Disciplinary sanctions imposed | 0 | | Referrals to substance use treatment | Reported in aggregate to protect student/employee confidentiality | | Criminal incidents on University property | 0 (see also the annual Clery Report) |

The absence of reported incidents reflects DMU's institutional profile (no residential population, graduate-only student body, single administrative campus). It does not imply that students or employees are not affected by substance use disorders — those affected are encouraged to use the confidential referral pathways documented in the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program page.

Effectiveness assessment

The biennial review committee assessed program effectiveness against the following criteria:

Distribution. The annual written distribution requirement is satisfied through the Student Handbook and Employee Handbook, both of which are acknowledged in writing by every new student and employee. Recommendation: continue current practice; add an annual reminder email at the start of the fall term to reinforce visibility.

Curriculum integration. Clinical-program students receive substantial instruction on substance use disorders as part of their core curriculum and clinical training. Faculty in supervisory roles are trained to identify substance use concerns affecting clinical performance.

Referral pathways. External referral pathways are documented and accessible. The University maintains current contact information for the SAMHSA helpline, regional CSBs, and the Employee Assistance Program.

Enforcement consistency. With zero formal violations reported during the review cycle, the committee finds no evidence of inconsistent enforcement. Any future violations will be handled through the disciplinary procedures documented in the Student Handbook and Employee Handbook, including mandatory assessment and referral, academic or employment consequences, and law-enforcement referral as appropriate.

Recommendations adopted

• Continue annual distribution through the Student Handbook and Employee Handbook.
• Add a brief annual reminder communication at the start of the fall term linking to this page and the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program.
• Maintain current external referral resources; review annually for currency.
• Continue curriculum-embedded education on substance use disorders for clinical-program students.

Full report

The full biennial review report, including methodology, committee membership, and any supporting documentation, is available upon request from the Vice President for Student Affairs:

studentservices@divinemercy.edu

Divine Mercy University, 45154 Underwood Lane, Sterling, VA 20166

(703) 416-1441

DMU retains biennial review reports for at least three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the review is conducted, in accordance with 34 CFR §86.103.

Last reviewed

This biennial review covers the 2024–2026 review cycle. The next biennial review will be completed by the end of FY 2028.