Student Conduct Process
If a Housing & Residential Life professional staff member, after reviewing incident reports and/or police reports, determines that our Community Behavioral Standards have allegedly been violated, you will receive a notification letter describing the alleged violation(s). You will be asked to attend an Administrative Conference with the RD/ARD to attempt to informally resolve the matter. Should you wish to dispute the decision made during the informal resolution, you may request a subsequent formal hearing with a board of your peers or the Coordinator of Student Conduct.
For a more complete understanding of expectations and disciplinary procedures, review the Student Conduct Code. Copies are available from the Office for Community Standards.
Due Process
Whenever you are accused of violating Housing & Residential Life's Community Behavioral Standards, you have the following rights:
- Notification of exact nature of the complaint, time, date, and place of hearing
- Knowledge of complaintant's identity
- Information about the range of possible sanctions
- Presumption of innocence unless responsibility can be established by a preponderance of evidence
- A timely hearing
- A hearing body of peers, when available
- Option to have a procedural advisor during the formal hearing
- Opportunity to question adverse testimony during the formal hearing
- Opportunity to present your case, including the personal or written testimony of witnesses on your behalf
- Formal notification of the decision made and resulting sanctions, if applicable
- In a 'found responsible' decision, notification of the appeals procedure.
Administrative Conference
The administrative conference takes much less time and preparation than a formal hearing. Additionally, an administrative conference can feel less stressful and allow students to acknowledge mistakes they may have made with minimal negative attention. It allows for a candid, educational conversation with a professional staff member who can either dismiss the charges if inaccurate or help challenge the student to take responsibility for their actions and, when charges are accurate, learn how to better live within a community.
During an administrative conference, you will meet with the RD/ARD to review the incident reports and discuss the incident. You will be asked if you are responsible for the alleged violation and be given the opportunity to discuss your perspective on the incident. Based on the information presented, the RD/ARD will make a decision. If you are found responsible, a sanction(s) will be imposed. An administrative conference can be advantageous to students for several reasons.
In accepting the outcome of an administrative conference, a student is agreeing to informally resolve the allegation without going through the full disciplinary process. Because of its fair, non-threatening, and educational manner, the administrative conference is frequently used by students to resolve complaints. As this is an informal resolution process, the student has the option to accept or reject the decision. If a student chooses to decline the decision, that student must do so in writing within three business days of receiving a decision. If a student does not request a formal resolution within three business days, the administrative conference resolution becomes official. Should the student wish to have a formal hearing, the written request form for a formal hearing can be obtained from your RD/ARD and must be presented to the RD/ARD, who will then forward the request to the Coordinator of Student Conduct.
Formal Hearing
An accused student may request a formal hearing at any time in the student conduct process. Generally, a student only requests a hearing when the student and RD/ARD cannot reach agreement about the facts or severity of an incident and, therefore, cannot informally resolve the incident. A hearing must be conducted as part of the formal resolution. Whenever possible, a Student Conduct Board serves as the hearing body in formal hearings. When a Student Conduct Board is not available, the Coordinator of Student Conduct or designee serves as the hearing officer. The Student Conduct Board or Coordinator of Student Conduct strive to complete hearings within two weeks of the student’s request for a hearing, (not including periods when the University is not in session). The Student Conduct Board will not hear cases the first four weeks of school, over breaks, or during finals week.
Student Conduct Board Hearing
The Student Conduct Board (SCB) is a peer board that will resolve a complaint against a resident in a structured setting that permits the full presentation of evidence and witnesses. This educational and developmental process will permit discussion of the alleged behaviors and enable the board to arrive at a decision beneficial to the resident and the residential community.
Hearings are formal and are recorded to provide an accurate and complete record should an appeal be filed. The “Complainant” (presenter) for each case is usually the RD/ARD. The “Respondent” (resident) has the opportunity to present evidence and witness(es). Both parties and the board will have the opportunity to question evidence and testimony of witnesses. All hearings are confidential and all notes made during any meeting will be given to the Coordinator of Student Conduct.
The board will decide, In a closed deliberative session, whether the resident is responsible or not responsible for the allegations based on a preponderance of evidence and by a majority vote. Any sanctions (described in "Disciplinary Sanctions") may be imposed by the board and will be decided by a majority vote.
A procedural advisor/advocate for the accused resident is permitted. The procedural advisor’s role is to provide support and advice during a formal hearing. Advisors/advocates for residents may present evidence for the resident, but the resident is expected to speak on his/her own behalf for any questions directed toward him/her. An attorney cannot serve as an advisor in Conduct Board hearings. At any time during the hearing, should either the Conduct Board or the advisor/advocate make a determination that the meeting is becoming too adversarial, and consequently not meeting the intended goals of an educational/developmental process; either party may adjourn the meeting and refer the complaint to the Coordinator of Student Conduct for resolution. If necessary, a language interpreter or interpreter for the hearing impaired can assist the resident.
Disciplinary Sanctions
Housing & Residential Life’s sanctions are official actions at the University. Failure to comply with sanctions that are imposed by the Housing & Residential Life conduct system, or with specific conditions related to the safety and security of any person or property while a case is pending may result in immediate removal from the residential community.
The following sanctions, or any combination of them, may be applied to any individual resident or group of residents, for violations of Housing & Residential Life’s Community Behavioral Standards.
1. Reprimand
This status is a statement to the resident that their status within the residential community is no longer in good standing. Further violations may result in a transfer to a different building, contract termination, and/or indefinite trespass from one or all University residential and/or dining facilities. Reprimand is for a period of no less than one academic semester.
2. Housing Probation
Probation is an elevated disciplinary status within the residential community and communicates that the resident continues to no longer be in good standing within a broader context. A status of Probation may interfere with a resident’s eligibility for leadership opportunities within and outside of Housing & Residential Life. Further violations will result in deferred removal, contract termination, and/or indefinite trespass from one or all University residential and/or dining facilities. Probation is for a period of no less than one academic year.
3. Required Compliance
The resident must carry out an agreement or conditions for there to be no further disciplinary action on the matter. These conditions are often educational in nature.
4. Restriction of Privileges
The conduct officer or board can restrict the use of facilities within a residential community or immediate grounds. They can also restrict the resident’s use of personal facilities. For example, if the offense was a noise infraction (such as the stereo), the adjudicative body can restrict the hours at which the stereo may be played or if information desk policy is violated, equipment check out privileges can be revoked.
5. Confiscation
Confiscation of goods used or possessed in violation of HRL’s Community Behavioral Standards or University regulations.
6. Community Service
The conduct officer or board may require the resident to perform community service for the hall, or for a nonprofit organization/community agency outside of the hall community.
7. Educational Sanctions
The conduct officer or board may design sanctions that are specific to an individual case when it is determined that educational value may result and the interest of the University community is maintained. Examples of educational sanctions include, but are not limited to: reflective essays, research papers, workshops, programs, meetings with University faculty and staff, etc.
8. Restorative Justice Community Conferences
For students who take responsibility for their actions and want to make amends to their community, RJCCs bring community members and the student together to work to restore the harm created. The community and the student work together to find an appropriate resolution and build a respectful contract to repair any harm.
9. Deferred Removal
This status indicates that the resident’s status in University housing is now in jeopardy. Deferred Removal results in a decision by the RD/ARD in consultation with Coordinator of Student Conduct or a designee to reassign a resident’s living unit within housing to another residence hall assignment and usually prohibits the resident from returning to the residential area associated with the former assignment. Any additional violation will result in the termination of the student’s housing contract. This status may be extended for a specific period of time, until the completion of a specific condition, or permanently.
10. Trespass
This status indicates a resident is not eligible to live in or visit some or all of the residential and/or dining facilities. This restriction is enforced both by residential staff and University police. This status may be extended for a specific period of time, until the completion of a condition or indefinitely, and may be limited to a specific facility or all facilities owned and operated by Housing & Residential Life.
11. Contract Termination
Notification that the student’s contract within Housing & Residential Life has been terminated. This status may be extended for a specific period of time, until the completion of a specific condition, or permanently. Residents terminated from University housing will be held financially responsible for 30% of the remainder of the room and meal plan contract. In addition, contract terminated students are trespassed from all University housing and placed on University Probation.
12. Restitution
Accompanies any combination of the above-mentioned sanctions. A resident will be responsible for paying the cost for damages incurred.
13. Referral
Accompanies any combination of the above-mentioned sanctions. The student may be referred to Boynton Health Services or a University or community resource for additional intervention.
14. University Probation
Students whose behavior in the residence hall is egregious or who repeatedly violate our Community Behavioral Standards may be placed on University Probation by the Coordinator of Student Conduct or designee. The student’s file will be forwarded to the Office for Community Standards. This type of probation status impacts a student’s University status. Further violations of the Student Conduct Code may result in suspension or termination of studentship at the University.
Administrative Action
The actions listed below are administrative decisions that are afforded to Housing & Residential Life as a function of each resident’s contract with University housing. As a result of these actions being contractual agreements, they are not subject to disciplinary appeal.
1. Non-Disciplinary Warning
In instances of less serious deviations from Housing & Residential Life's Community Behavioral Standards, a non-disciplinary warning is issued to inform the student of the policy at hand and formally warn about the consequences of continuing such behavior in violation of HRL's community standards.
2. Sanction Review
Sanction Reviews are done monthly by conduct officers to evaluate a student’s completion of assigned sanctions. If a student has failed to complete the assigned sanctions by the due date, additional sanctions are assigned, which may include relocation or contract termination if deemed appropriate. Sanction Reviews cannot be appealed.
3. Reassignment (Administrative Move)
Housing & Residential Life Staff has the authority to reassign a student when deemed necessary. Housing & Residential Life reserves the right to reassign a student to a different room/apartment based on, but not limited to, change in room designation, safety and security concerns, or consolidation.
4. Interim Suspension
Notification to the student that their contract has been suspended until a decision can be made by a judicial authority such as the Coordinator of Student Conduct, the Assistant Director of Residential Life, or the Office for Community Standards.
Appeal and Referrals
If a resident is not satisfied with the process or outcome of a formal hearing, an appeal may be filed. To appeal a disciplinary decision, a student found to have violated Housing & Residential Life’s Community Behavioral Standards must submit a notice of appeal to the Provost’s Appeal Secretary within five (5) weekdays of receipt of the original disciplinary decision. [Address: Provost's Appeal Secretary, 234 Morrill Hall, 100 Church Street, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.] The student would then be provided with an additional five (5) weekdays for submission to the Provost’s Appeal Secretary of a written statement specifically identifying the ground(s) for the appeal, explaining why the ground(s) for appeal are met, and providing any supporting documentation.
Some complaints of an extremely serious manner are forwarded to the Office for Community Standards (OCS) for adjudication rather than going through process outlined above. These cases will be forwarded to OCS at 211 Appleby Hall, 128 Pleasant St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455; (office: 612-624-6073) (fax: 612-626-2298). If such a referral is made, you can expect to receive a communication from OCS to notify you that alleged violation(s) of the Student Conduct Code are pending. You should read that communication carefully and comply with all instructions therein.