The University of Victoria is poised to change its non-academic misconduct policy to encourage students to call for help in substance-use medical emergencies, with the reassurance they won’t face repercussions.
The change approved by the university’s senate last week will remove references to drug use or possession from the definition of non-academic misconduct. Manufacturing, sale or distribution for monetary gain of illegal or prescription drugs would continue to be misconduct.
The update, which goes to the board of governors on Tuesday, would come into effect on July 1, in time for students starting school in September.
It follows recommendations from an independent investigation and coroners inquest into the on-campus fentanyl-poisoning death of first-year student Sidney McIntyre-Starko, 18, in January 2024.
Sidney’s impaired friend initially did not disclose to students, security officers, a 911 dispatcher or first responders that Sidney had consumed illicit drugs.
A from UVic president Kevin Hall on May 16 requested timely approval of the policy revisions, adding the current policy “may be out of step with provincial legislation, which decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of certain illicit substances for personal use.”
The policy was last updated in August 2017, more than a year into the toxic-drug-overdose crisis being declared a public health emergency. In January 2023, the 小蓝视频 government removed criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of some illegal drugs for personal use.
“This approach is supportive of encouraging help-seeking behavior in both emergency and non-emergency situations, promoting a safer environment where students feel empowered to act responsibly,” Hall said.
He told the senate and board of directors he wanted the updates, including Good Samaritan protections, in place for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The changes will help ensure students, staff and faculty have a clear understanding of how substance use will be addressed on campus, he said, adding that clarity is “especially important for new students during orientation and for those involved in student support, residence life, and emergency response.”
On Jan. 23 of last year, three first-year UVic students gathered in a third-floor bathroom of the Sir Arthur Currie residence and consumed what turned out to be fentanyl-laced cocaine.
It was the first time Sidney had ever tried a street drug. With no clear indication it was a drug overdose, campus security waited nine minutes after arriving to administer the overdose-reversing drug Naloxone and 12 minutes to initiate CPR. Sidney suffered a catastrophic brain injury from lack of oxygen and was pronounced dead Jan. 26.
Her parents, Caroline McIntyre and Kenton Starko of Vancouver, collected the 911 recordings, reports and transcripts from responders and witnesses and hospital records, sharing the information on a site called .
UVic conducted its own study, followed by by former Abbotsford police chief Bob Rich.
Released on March 29, it concluded Sidney likely would not have died if the response had been different. The report, which , noted UVic’s non-academic misconduct policy says students can be sanctioned for the use or possession of illicit drugs.
If UVic had an amnesty policy, it might have encouraged more candor in response to questions by the security officers as to why the girls were unconscious, and saved Sidney’s life, said Rich.
The made 10 recommendations, including that UVic create a mandatory orientation for students on how to contact 911 and campus security and how to obtain Naloxone “with no repercussions” and safely administer it, with information explaining that it is safe to use even if it turns out the person has not used opioids.
The jury also said the orientation should give students information on safe drug-testing locations, as well as the fact that “there will be no repercussions for requesting testing.”
A comprehensive review of the misconduct policy is expected to continue throughout the summer. The university’s Office of Student Life said it will consult both the senate and the board regarding any further revisions, with the aim of submitting a final policy for approval in the spring term of 2026.
