Back on TRAC Program

Treatment, Responsibility and Accountability on Campus

The Back on TRAC program is an assessment-based, collaborative campus approach that uses a community drug court model to address alcohol and drug issues among students. Students who are facing suspension from Oklahoma State University or removal from the residence halls or from fraternity/sorority housing for alcohol and/or drug incidents may be eligible for participation in the program. As a condition for remaining in school or in housing, students must apply, be accepted to, and successfully complete the program or suspension and/or housing removal will be enacted. Students are typically referred to the program by a hearing officer.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Back on TRAC program is to provide an assessment-based intervention for students whose substance use behavior is jeopardizing their standing within the Oklahoma State University academic community. The program offers opportunities for treatment and recovery through support and accountability as students make substance use and lifestyle changes in an effort to achieve their academic goals.

Program Goals

• Aid in student retention through graduation.
• Decrease recidivism in violations of the OSU Student Code of Conduct and state law.
• Improve student academic performance.
• Provide high quality treatment modalities to address substance abuse.
• Provide a collaborative, team-based approach to serving students selected for the program, using current student development theory and research-based treatment modalities.
• Provide training opportunities for graduate students.
• Continuously assess the program and make improvements as needed.

Program Eligibility

Students who have been sanctioned to removal from housing or suspension from Oklahoma State University for alcohol and/or drug offenses through the Oklahoma State University Student Conduct system and those who have been removed from their fraternity or sorority are eligible to apply to Back on TRAC.

Program Admission

Students who apply to participate in Back on TRAC will be screened by the staffing team. Students should submit the Back on TRAC application and a letter to Student Conduct explaining their interest in participating, their commitment to the program and to lifestyle changes. The screening process will normally involve meeting with the staffing team to discuss admittance, a criminal background check, as well as an alcohol and drug assessment with the licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

Exclusion Criteria

The staffing team reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant. Some examples of exclusion criteria include the following: drug trafficking offenses, violent or sexual offenses, child abuse, and other criteria as determined by the staffing team.

Program Requirements

Participants start the program with the most rigor and structure, and the weekly requirements decrease over time as participants progress. At a minimum, when participants begin Back on TRAC, they will be expected to participate in the following:

• Treatment twice per week, which utilizes group stepwork and/or individual counseling;
• AA or NA meetings twice per week;
• Case management meeting once per week;
• Court once per week;
• Wearing an alcohol-monitoring bracelet for a minimum of 60 days;
• Random drug testing or breathalyzers;
• Random police home visits.

Additional requirements may be implemented as determined by the Staffing Team, which may include the following:

• Proof of class attendance;
• Tutoring or study hours;
• “Get it Together” academic assistance meetings;
• Additional AA/NA meetings;
• Community service;
• Personal counseling;
• Movement to substance-free housing.

Individual requirements may be implemented based on a participant’s individual treatment plan and goals. Again, the requirements steadily decrease over time as participants successfully move through the program.

In addition, participants will be required to get permission before leaving Payne County for any length of time. For extended periods away from Payne County, participants will be expected to sign Break Contracts with program requirements to hold them accountable while they are away.

Performance-based sanctions and incentives will be administered. While it is recognized that participants will need time to change, they will be held accountable for making progress in the program.

Students are expected to remain abstinent while participating in the program. Students may not patronize any establishment where alcoholic beverages are exclusively sold or used.

The Staffing Team

The Back on TRAC Staffing Team meets with participating students once a week during court proceedings. The staffing team also reviews student cases each week, prior to court. The team makes decisions regarding student participants, and determines incentives and sanctions, as appropriate. The staffing team, in addition to the Judge, will periodically ask questions during court proceedings. The various Staffing Team roles are described below.

Judge/Coordinator—Mr. Kevin Kraft

The judge presides at court, where participants make a weekly report about their progress in the program, academics, and in life. The Judge provides orientation to the program; performs contract signing with participants; administers incentives and sanctions, as appropriate; and authorizes break contracts. Oftentimes, the Judge also adjudicates and refers students to the Back on TRAC staffing team.

Assistant Coordinator—Ms. Aleigha Ford

The assistant coordinator assists the coordinator in oversight of the Back on TRAC program. The assistant coordinator may also adjudicate and refer students to the Back on TRAC staffing team.

Case Managers—Ms. Abigail Minch, Ms. Caitlin Abrahamson, Mr. Christopher Tiberg

The case manager meets with participants each week and tracks their progress, as well as assisting in drafting break contracts. The case manager updates the Back on TRAC staffing team on students’ progress in the program each week. The case manager also serves as the record keeper for court proceedings.

Alcohol and Drug Counselors—Mrs. Kim Poslick, Mrs. Kara Niccum, Dr. Dylan Burns

The alcohol and drug counselor conducts treatment with participants and provides an update on students’ progress in the program to the Back on TRAC staffing team each week.

Police Representatives—Lieutenant Leon Jones and Master Officer Adam Queen

The police representatives perform background checks, breathalyzers, and home visits to check for substances.

Residential Life Hearing Officer—Mr. Nathan Roberts

The residential life hearing officer adjudicates and refers cases involving residence hall removal to the Back on TRAC staffing team, communicates with the staffing team about any Residential Life participants and trains Residential Life about the program.

Greek Life Referral Facilitator—Mr. Ival Gregory

The Greek Life referral facilitator refers Greek students to the Back on TRAC staffing team, communicates with the staffing team about any Greek participants, and trains the Greek community about the program.

Director of University Counseling Services—Dr. Suzanne Burks

The director of University Counseling Services consults with and advises the staffing team concerning student mental health issues.

Vice President for Student Affairs—Dr. Lee Bird

The vice president for Student Affairs serves as the appeal officer for the University discipline process and also refers students to the Back on TRAC staffing team.

Costs

Participants must pay a $250 fee for participation in Back on TRAC, as well as pay $20 for the books that are used in treatment. Participants may also be assigned to complete random urinalysis tests for a period of time, at a fee of $20 per test. Participants are required to wear a SCRAM (alcohol-monitoring bracelet) and the fee is $12* per day, worn for a minimum of 60 days with more time to be determined as needed by the Staffing Team. There is a $50 installation fee for the SCRAM unit.

* Financial assistance on the SCRAM is available through the University depending on financial need. Participants will need to provide a budget and financial assistance can be determined by the Staffing Team.

Rules and Regulations

The following are the rules of participation for current program participants.  Rules are subject to change.

• Participants shall not use, have in their possession, sell, distribute, or have under their control any paraphernalia or drug except as prescribed by a licensed physician and approved by the BOT Judge.  Participants shall also not use, possess, distribute, or have under their control any prescription narcotics, non-approved over-the-counter medications, or unauthorized psychotropic/ mood-altering/ mind-altering substance (e.g., Salvia, K-2, incense).
• Participants shall not use or possess any alcoholic beverage, including 3.2 beer, nor shall they patronize any establishment where alcoholic beverages are exclusively sold or used.  Furthermore, participants shall not serve as designated drivers for others who have been drinking, or place themselves in other compromising situations where drinking/drugging is occurring (i.e., parties where others are drinking.
• Participants shall not attend any program requirement under the influence of alcohol or any illicit drug.
• Participants shall submit to breathalyzers or urine drug screens at any time as requested by the BOT Team. Typically, participants must respond within 30 minutes of being called to take a test.
• Participants shall not violate any city, state or federal law or any university policy.  All arrests and any contact with police must be reported to the Staffing Team within 24 hours.
• Participants shall not engage in acts of violence or threats of violence against a fellow participant or staff member.
• Participants shall make satisfactory progress in the program as measured by step requirements.
• A positive drug screen/breathalyzer/SCRAM result after one sanction in the program is grounds for termination from the program.
• No more than two positive drug screens will be allowed.  If more than two occur, the participant will be requested to enter inpatient treatment or terminated from the program.
• All participants entering the program are given a 30-day clean up phase for marijuana. For those participants who use during this phase (detected by an increase in marijuana levels) or those participants who test positive for any other drug other than marijuana, the clean-up phase is automatically terminated and sanctions may be imposed.
• Participants shall not miss any scheduled counseling appointments, BOT Court appearances, or urine drug screens.
• Participants shall attend all BOT Court appearances and be on time.  Participants must be in the courtroom when the Court is called to order, in proper dress, and behave appropriately in court.
• Participants shall attend all counseling sessions and be on time to those sessions.  Participants arriving late to group will be considered absent. Participants must bring this manual, paper, pen/ pencil, and any assigned homework assignments.
• Participants shall attend all case managements sessions and be on time to those sessions. They are required to bring their meeting verification sheets to these case management sessions for review by the case manager.
• Participants must bring all materials (books, pen/pencil, and manual) to all meetings and counseling sessions. If the participant does not have the proper materials, they will be asked to leave the meeting or counseling session.  This will be considered a missed session.
• Participants must bring documented attendance of required number of support group meetings to court appearances and case management meetings (2 meetings per week to be complete between Sunday to Sunday of the following week. Meetings also must be completed on different days).
• Participants shall keep the Staffing Team informed of their address and phone number.  They shall not change their address or phone number without notifying the Staffing Team in advance.
• Participants shall keep the case manager informed of their whereabouts.  They shall not leave Payne County without first obtaining permission from the Judge.  Participants are expected to plan in advance for trips out of Payne County and are expected to request permission, in advance, from the Judge at court hearings in order to do so. Time away requests are due by noon on Thursdays or before to be considered. Emergency requests to leave Payne County may be accommodated outside of court by contacting your Case Manager.
• Participants shall attend classes on time, attend any required study hours or academic requirements, and maintain at least a 2.00 GPA each semester, unless otherwise stated in their individual contract.  Participants shall enroll in a minimum of nine credit hours each semester, except for the summer term, when they shall enroll in a minimum of three credit hours.
• The program includes home visits by the OSU Police Department.  Home visits will be random in nature.  These visits are to ensure there is no alcohol or drugs in the participant’s possession and monitor compliance with other program requirements. During these visits the police officers may search participant’s person, residence, vehicle, and other personal property.
• Participants shall allow the Staffing Team to communicate with all faculty and teaching assistants regarding any and all academic information such as class attendance and grades for verification purposes.
• Participants shall pay all BOT program fees as agreed upon at the BOT Orientation Session. Participants agree to pay all BOT fees by the time of graduation from the program or dismissal from the program. Failure to fulfill the financial obligations will result in either a graduation hold or an enrollment hold on the participant’s account until all financial obligations are satisfied.