Student FAQs

After an incident is reported by a member of the Residence Life staff, Campus Safety, or another University official, the students involved will receive Call to Hearing Letters, alerting them that they need to schedule an appointment with a conduct officer. The student is responsible for scheduling and attending their appointment within the time allotted. During the appointment, the student will have the opportunity to review the Incident Report and share any additional information with the conduct officer, as well as discuss the incident and the student's involvement.

If a student fails to schedule or attend a hearing within the allotted time frame, the conduct officer will make a decision as to the responsibility of the student based on information in the Incident Report. The conduct officer will then assign sanctions accordingly. The student will be notified of the decision and sanctions in writing, and has the opportunity to fulfill the sanctions (if found responsible) within a specified time frame.

If a student attends a hearing and is found responsible, or if a student fails to attend a hearing and the conduct officer decides based on the Incident Report to find the student responsible, appropriate sanctions will be assigned. Sanctions range from, but are not limited to:

• Policy Review
• Reflection Paper
• Campus Improvement Hours
• Online Alcohol or Drug Education Course
• Parental Notification (see notes below on this policy)
• Residence Hall Probation
• Residence Hall Suspension or Expulsion
• University Probation
• University Suspension or Expulsion

Students who fail to complete sanctions by the assigned date may have a conduct hold placed on their accounts, meaning these students cannot register for classes for the upcoming semester. Depending on the sanction, a Student Life Fine may also be added to the student's account.

According to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), if the University decides that compelling circumstances exist which affect the health and/or safety of an individual, it is the right of the University to notify parents about their student's situation. There are specific times and incidents which the University will alert parents about. They are not limited to, but include the following:

• Transport to the hospital for emergency/life threatening care
• Arrest
• 2nd Alcohol Violation (if the student is under 21 years of age)
• Drug Possession (if the student is under 21 years of age)

If the University deems that parents will be notified following the conclusion of the conduct process, the student will also be notified that such information will be passed along to parents. 

Students can appeal the decision and/or sanctions from their conduct hearing to the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students. Appeals are not granted automatically. Requests for appeal must be thoughtful, well-reasoned, substantive, and demonstrative of at least one of the following criteria:

• That there was a substantive procedural error that may have prohibited the hearing from being conducted fairly in light of the charges. Deviations from designated procedures will not be a basis for sustaining an appeal unless significant prejudice results.
• New evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of the hearing has become available, and is potentially sufficient to alter a decision.
  • Note: When a party fails to provide a statement under advice of counsel during initial conduct proceedings, and subsequent to the hearing decides to provide a statement, it will not be considered “new evidence” for the purposes of appeal.