Disciplinary Actions
II. Disciplinary Actions
If a student is found responsible for violation(s) of the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Standards of Conduct, disciplinary action will be taken.
Infractions have led to actions ranging from positive actions and university warnings to expulsion. Even in the most challenging situations, however, the university seeks first and foremost to educate its students and make decisions regarding disciplinary actions from an educative perspective. The descriptions provided below are intended to inform students of the range of possible consequences for failing to uphold the standards of conduct. In each case, factors such as the nature and gravity of the incident, the motivation underlying the behavior, the student’s disciplinary history, the impact of the behavior on the educational community, and precedent in similar cases will be considered in determining the appropriate disciplinary action(s). The disciplinary actions listed below may be used separately or in combination with one another. Failure to comply with any disciplinary action will result in additional conduct charges and may result in additional disciplinary action(s).
- Positive Actions
- University Warning
- Restitution
- Fines
- Limitations on Activities
- Residence Life Probation
- Termination of Housing Contract
- University Probation
- Suspension
- Expulsion
- Postponement of Activity Participation and Conferring of Honors and Degrees
- Student Organization Disciplinary Actions
Positive actions are required activities intended to engage the student in a positive learning experience related to the student’s inappropriate behavior and allow students to reflect upon their inappropriate behavior, learn new information about the behavior in which they engaged and why it is inappropriate or unacceptable, and/or educate other students so they do not find themselves in similar circumstances. This type of disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to, attending or presenting a program related to the implications of the student’s conduct, writing a paper, interviewing someone or engaging in some type of personal assessment, mediation or counseling.
A university warning is a formal notice that the behavior or set of behaviors is inappropriate and violates the basic expectations of students as set forth by ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. A letter of warning is placed in the student’s file and may be considered if the student engages in further inappropriate behavior.
Restitution is compensation required of students who engage in the theft, misuse, damage or destruction of institutional, group or private property. The amount of restitution is dependent on the extent of damage as well as what is determined to be the most appropriate way for a student to make amends for the damage he/she caused. The amount, form and method of payment for restitution are decided by a student conduct administrator.
For some offenses, including violations of the university alcohol and drug policies, fines may be imposed. Money collected will be used to support ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ educational programming.
Limitations on activities are assigned because the prohibition from participation in certain activities has been determined to be in the best interest of the student and/or the university. Limitations on activities may include, but are not limited to, a fixed period of ineligibility for service as an officer or member of any university organizations or as a member of any university committees, boards or councils or as a participant in any intercollegiate activity; ineligibility to receive or maintain any award from the university; prohibition from attendance at social events; restricted entrance into various university buildings; or restriction from all forms of contact with certain person(s).
Residence life probation is a formal notice to the student that he/she has engaged in behavior that is unacceptable in the residence halls and that if continued or other inappropriate behavior follows, more severe action may be taken, including the possibility of housing contract termination, university probation, suspension and/or expulsion from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Residence life probation is for a fixed period of time that is determined by the conduct administrator or conduct board adviser and approved by the director of residence life. Official notice of residence life probation will be provided to the student and the student’s parents or guardian if the student is a dependent. Any student who is placed on residence life probation for a period of 16 consecutive weeks or longer will have restrictions placed on his/her choice of university housing for the following academic year. (See Residence Hall Selection for Students Placed on Disciplinary Probation.)
G. Termination of Housing Contract
A responsible living environment in the residence halls requires all members of the community to respect other residents’ rights for safety, security and reasonable quiet. Serious disruption of the hall community can lead to removal from that community. Termination of the housing contract will result in the immediate removal of the student from the residence halls, forfeiture of fees according to the normal university refund schedule and loss of visitation privileges in any university housing. Official notice of contract termination will be provided to the student and the student’s parents or guardian if the student is a dependent.
University probation is a formal notice to the student that he/she has engaged in behavior that is unacceptable within the university community and that if continued or if other inappropriate behavior follows, more severe action may be taken, including the possibility of suspension or expulsion from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Probation is for a fixed period of time that is determined by the conduct administrator or conduct board adviser and approved by the associate dean of students. Official notice of probation will be provided to the student and the student’s parents or guardian, if the student is a dependent, and the student’s college or program. Any student who is placed on university probation for a period of 16 consecutive weeks or longer will have restrictions placed on his/her choice of university housing for the following academic year. (See Residence Hall Selection for Students Placed on Disciplinary Probation.) Any student who is placed on university probation may not be eligible to apply for or participate in a study abroad program ().
Suspension from the university involves the exclusion of the student from participation in any academic or other activities of the university for a specified period. Written notification of this action will be provided to the student and his/her parents or guardian, if the student is a dependent, and to the student’s college. Suspension from the university further involves the following: The action of suspension will be noted on the student’s disciplinary record and academic transcript; the student will be withdrawn from all courses carried that semester according to the policy of his/her college or school; the student shall forfeit fees according to the normal refund schedule of the university; the student must refrain from visiting the university premises unless engaged in official business approved in writing by the dean of students or his/her designee; the suspension may include any other disciplinary action judged to be of value to the student.
Reinstatement from suspension: When a student has concluded the suspension period and completed the conditions accompanying the suspension, he/she must submit a letter to the dean of students or his/her designee requesting reinstatement and provide evidence that he/she has satisfied the terms of the suspension. The student may return to the university only after an affirmative decision has been made by the dean of students or his/her designee.
Expulsion is the most serious university disciplinary action and involves the permanent exclusion of the student from the university. Expulsion involves the following: forfeiture of all rights and degrees not actually conferred at the time of the expulsion; notification of the expulsion provided to the student, the student’s college and his/her parents or guardian if the student is a dependent; permanent notation of the expulsion on the student’s disciplinary record and academic transcript; withdrawal from all courses according to the policies of the student’s college or program; and forfeiture of tuition and fees according to the university’s normal refund schedule. Any student expelled from the university must refrain from visiting the university premises unless engaged in official business approved in writing by the dean of students or his/her designee.
K. Postponement of Activity Participation and Conferring of Honors and Degrees
The university reserves the right to delay or postpone the involvement of a student in any university-related activity or delay or postpone the conferring of any honor or degree during the pendency of any of the student conduct procedures or actions.
L. Student Organization Disciplinary Actions
The actions of undergraduate and graduate/professional student organizations are expected to be consistent with the standards of conduct. If members of a student organization or students representing the group violate ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ’s Standards of Conduct, disciplinary action will be taken against the group as a whole, its officers or individual members. Knowledge of the incident among organizational leadership is not a pre-requisite for the group to be held accountable, and so it is strongly advised that organizational leadership regularly educate their membership on the expectations of the university and implement accountability systems to ensure policy violations are not taking place. The Office of Student Development is happy to advise and guide leaders through this process. The following actions may be imposed if a student group or organization is found responsible for violations of the conduct code:
- The actions described above in Section II
- Positive Actions
- University Warning
- Restitution
- Fines
- Limitations on Activities
- Written or verbal notification to national organization representatives, officers or advisers.
- Loss of Privileges — Denial of privileges such as removal of services and access to facilities, attendance or participation in activities/programs.
- University Probation of Student Organization — Probationary status for a specified period, typically not less than one semester, during which time the organization will be required to fulfill specific conditions before reinstatement to good standing. Organizations may not host events involving alcohol under any circumstances while on University Probation.
- Suspension of Student Organization — Separation from the university for a specified period, typically not less than one semester. Involves loss of all rights and privileges of student organizations, including the use of university facilities, and probationary status (II.L.5.) for one year following completion of suspension.
- Termination of Student Organization — Termination is the most serious of university disciplinary actions for a student organization. It involves permanent separation of a student organization from the university.
All decisions about and actions imposed on student organizations or groups will be kept in a file in the Office of Student Development. Prior conduct actions will be reviewed if there are subsequent violations by the student organization. Such actions may be considered when deciding an appropriate disciplinary action.
