UNDERSTANDING STUDENT CONDUCT VIOLATIONS AND SANCTIONING
As an institution, Utica College is committed to providing a safe and secure living and learning environment for all members of our community. Utica College expects each student to uphold our community’s values, norms, and expectations, and Utica College’s student disciplinary system emphasizes each student’s responsibility for themselves and to other members of their community.
Integral to the Code of Student Conduct and our student disciplinary system is the connection to the College’s core values. Integrity, respect for the person and property of others, and a commitment to intellectual and personal growth in a diverse population are values deemed fundamental to membership in this college community. The goals of the student disciplinary system includes a commitment to fostering a sense of community that allows every member to comfortably live, work, and study in an atmosphere of mutual respect, providing a disciplinary process in which there is the opportunity for participants to experience personal growth and appreciation for the responsibilities of living in a community, and assisting students in developing alternatives to inappropriate behavior. As a result, students will be held accountable for behavior that violates our Code of Student Conduct.
In an effort to provide clear information about consequences for student behavior that violates the Code of Student Conduct, the following chart was developed. Below is some general information about the disciplinary process that will be helpful in understanding how decisions are made.
One of the primary philosophies that drive our system is that of progressive discipline. This means that behavior does not occur in a vacuum. Our expectation is that students learn from prior incidents and that prior violations of the Code of Student Conduct will be taken into account in the sanctioning process. Subsequent violations are therefore likely to result in more significant sanctions. Prior violations are not, however, used to determine responsibility for behavior in the situation currently under consideration.
There are a variety of considerations that affect the hearing venue for cases. A venue is the part of the student disciplinary system to which a case is referred for action. This includes the person and/or board who will be reviewing the information and making a decision regarding responsibility for violations of the Code of Student Conduct and, if appropriate, determining resulting sanctions. The factors that affect where a case gets heard includes the type of behavior and potential violations of the Code of Student Conduct, the impact the behavior has on the individual and the community, and the prior history of the student(s) involved in the situation. Cases of academic dishonesty are generally addressed by the faculty member involved, the department and/or school, and the Academic Standards Committee, although there are circumstances which will result in that behavior being addressed in those venues as well as through the student disciplinary process.
Several factors are also considered in the sanctioning process. A sanction is the consequence for student(s) who violate the Code of Student Conduct. Factors that are considered in this process include the prior history of the student(s) involved in the incident, the severity of the incident and its impact on individuals and the college community, the demeanor of the student(s) during the process, the student(s) acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with College officials throughout the process, and other mitigating factors.
Level of Sanction * | |||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
Type of Behavior * | A | ||||
B | |||||
C | |||||
D | |||||
* Shaded areas indicate likely outcomes if a student is found responsible for violating the Code of Student Conduct as a result of behaviors in which they have engaged. Factors influencing those outcomes are described above, and information regarding behaviors and outcomes is provided in the attached document.
AVAILABLE SANCTIONS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS
The following sanctions, or any combination thereof, may be applied to any individual student, group of students, or student organization, for violations of the Code of Student Conduct and related College policies. “Progressive discipline”, in connection with sanctioning, is the philosophy and practice that allow for prior sanctions to be taken into account if a student comes through the disciplinary process more than once, and that the “weight” of the sanctions imposed may increase with each successive violation.
ACTIVE SANCTIONS (REQUIRING ACTION ON STUDENT’S PART)
Educational/Remedial Sanctions
The primary goal of the College’s disciplinary system is educational in nature. Respective boards and hearing officers may design sanctions that are specific to an individual case when it is determined that educational or remedial value may result and the interests of the College community are maintained. Examples of such sanctions may be found in the appendices of this manual, and may include sanctions such as essays, projects, presentations, or participation in a workshop or group.
An educational project may be assigned to a student for a variety of reasons, which may include helping the student understand the consequences of his/her actions, understanding the impact those actions had on others, and/or providing the student an opportunity to give back to the community. A project should be related to the violation and not be intended to humiliate or demean the student. A project may be used in conjunction with a letter of reprimand or probation or may be used as an alternative to such status.
Counseling
Counseling is usually recommended when it appears that the motivation behind a particular student’s behavior is caused by personal or emotional problems. Counseling is most effective when a student chooses to see a counselor rather than as a result of disciplinary action, although positive outcomes are possible even when counseling is mandated. Hence, in some instances, a Hearing Officer may want to give a student an option to meet with a counselor or follow through with an alternative sanction.
Mediation
Mediation is may be encouraged along with other sanctions or may stand alone as a possible resolution to conflict situations between students before entering the disciplinary process. Mediation is not appropriate in situations requiring counseling interventions or immediate disciplinary or administrative actions (where the safety of a student or students is in question, for example).
Restitution
Restitution is the replacement of property that is either damaged or stolen. It is usually used in conjunction with censure or probationary status. Students who damage or steal College property will be billed on their College billing statements. Students who damage or steal private property may be directed by a Hearing Officer or board to make restitution.
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PASSIVE SANCTIONS (IMPOSED CHANGES IN STUDENT’S DISCIPLINARY STATUS)
Warning
In instances of less serious deviations from the College norms of conduct, the student(s) may be formally warned of the possible consequences of continuing such behavior. No other specific action is taken unless further misconduct occurs.
Disciplinary Reprimand
This action is a formal admonition on behalf of the College community and is intended to clearly document in a student’s, or student organization’s, disciplinary file that his/her/their behavior has been deemed unacceptable.
Disciplinary Probation
This action constitutes a change in status between good standing and suspension or expulsion from the College. The student, or student organization, is permitted to remain enrolled, or to retain, “recognition” at the College, but under certain stated conditions depending upon the nature of the violation and upon the potential learning value that may derive from such a restrictive measure.
Residential Probation
This status indicates that a student is no longer in good standing within the College’s residential living program. Further violations may result in the immediate loss of eligibility to live in or visit the College’s residence and/or dining facilities.
Social Probation
Students on social probation are ineligible to hold or run for elected or appointed positions in student organizations. In addition, students on social probation may not travel on behalf of the College or represent the College in intercollegiate competition, either on or off campus.
Revocation of Privileges
There are many privileges that may be revoked as an appropriate response to a student’s behavior. Examples of such privileges include the ability to host guests in the residence halls or driving and parking on campus.
Residential Ban
A student may be banned for a period of time from a particular area within a residence hall, from one residence hall, or from all residence halls. Time frame may range from a period of hours to a more extensive period of time such as a semester or an academic year. Generally this is imposed by the Director of Residence Life, Campus Safety officers (generally sergeants or the Director of Campus Safety), the Coordinator of Student Conduct Systems, or the Dean of Students. Under some circumstances, AC’s may also impose a temporary ban for 72 hours.
Residential Relocation
Students are sometimes relocated to a different room, different floor, or different building within the residence halls. This action is often used to move a student out of a situation that has become difficult for the student and/or the community, to manage in a constructive manner.
Residential or Dining Hall Suspension/Expulsion
This status indicates that a student is not eligible to live in or visit the College’s residence and/or dining facilities. It may be for a specific length of time or permanent, and may be limited to a specific facility or applied to all facilities.
Removal or expulsion from residence halls is directing a student to move out of the halls completely. Suspension is usually considered when a student’s action(s) has significantly affected the residential community and/or the student continually disrupts the residential community. When a student is removed from the entire residence hall system, he/she will be billed an appropriate amount in accordance with the residence hall agreement.
Interim Suspension
This action by the Dean of Students or the Coordinator of Student Conduct Systems is a temporary suspension of certain rights or privileges while a disciplinary case is pending. Interim suspension may be broad and all-inclusive or may be restricted to a specific location and/or function and is based on the determination that the safety and well-being of the college community or specific persons are at risk.
Suspension
This action results in the involuntary withdrawal of the student, or loss of “recognition” for a student organization from the College for a specific amount of time or until specific conditions have been met. A suspended student, or student organization, is prohibited from any presence on College owned or controlled property.
Expulsion
This action results in the permanent separation of the student, or student organization, from the College, its programs and facilities. It is the most severe disciplinary action that can be imposed through the student disciplinary system.
Non-Compliance With Sanctions
Sanctions imposed through the College’s disciplinary system are official actions of the College. Failure to comply with sanctions that are imposed by hearing officers or boards, or to comply with specific conditions related to the safety and security of any parties while a case is pending, is likely to result in additional charges through the student disciplinary system and/or placement of holds affecting a student’s ability to take action through the Office of the Registrar (i.e. register for classes, etc.). Under extraordinary circumstances, non-compliance with sanctions may result in immediate suspension from the College.
