Disciplinary Status and Other Outcomes

While standard disciplinary status levels and required actions are listed with each Code of Conduct violation, any one or more of following outcomes may be assigned for any student found responsible for any single violation.

A. Disciplinary Standing

Students and student organizations under outcomes of disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, or permanent separation and those with overdue outcomes (e.g. incomplete assigned outcomes) are not considered to be in “good standing.” Students who withdraw from the university or graduate with outstanding charges or incomplete outcomes may be considered “not in good standing” with the University and restricted from returning to campus until the required conditions are met.  Academic standing (including academic probation) is separate from disciplinary standing

B. Institutional Consequences for Disciplinary Probation or Disciplinary Suspension

Students assigned an outcome of disciplinary probation may lose the privilege of participating in study abroad/away programs during an active probationary status. Students assigned an outcome of disciplinary suspension may lose the privilege of participating in study abroad/away programs while on probationary status after they return to the University. All deposits or payments will be forfeited without reimbursement.

Students may also lose the privilege to hold a leadership position for any student club/organization or university program while on active disciplinary probation status.

C. Disciplinary Status Levels

When a student is found responsible for violating the Code of Conduct, one of the following disciplinary status levels will be assigned:

Academic Censure: Censure is the lowest disciplinary status level for academic policy violations. A disciplinary record will be created and maintained in the Office of Student Conduct. The file will contain all documents pertaining to the incident and conduct process.

Official Warning: Official warning is the lowest disciplinary status level for social policy violations of the Code of Conduct. The official warning is notification to the student(s) that they have been found responsible for a Code of Conduct violation and that any other violations may result in more serious outcomes.

Disciplinary Probation: A probationary status, imposed for a specific time period, during which a student can remain on campus, attend classes, and participate in certain programs and activities but is not in good standing and may not participate in study abroad/away programs and student leadership positions. The student is expected to show a positive change in behavior. Disciplinary Probation serves as the official notice that future violations of the Code of Conduct may result in more severe outcomes, including the possibility of suspension or permanent separation.

Disciplinary Suspension: The removal of a student from the university for a specific period of time. The student may apply for readmission, but will not be approved unless all other requirements and deadlines have been met.

While a student is suspended, they may not return to the campus or participate in any programs or activities of the university without written permission from the associate vice president for Student Life / dean of students (or designee), or the assistant provost academic operations and communications. If the student returns to the campus without written permission during the suspension period, their eligibility to return to Elon in the future may be jeopardized and the student may be issued a legal trespass order.

An infraction of the honor code that is deemed to be sufficiently egregious or a repeat infraction may result in a disciplinary suspension. While a student is suspended for academic policy violations, they may not enroll in Elon University classes/credit bearing experiences either on or off campus; nor may students transfer credits back to Elon for any course they may choose to take at another institution while on suspension. Students suspended for social policy violations may request to take courses elsewhere for transfer credit according to the academic catalogue.

In rare situations, when warranted by mitigating or extenuating circumstances as determined by the associate vice president for Student Life / dean of students or associate provost for academic excellence and operations, a hearing officer/board or appeal officer/board may hold a suspension in abeyance to take effect only upon further violations of the Code of Conduct or failure to fulfill assigned outcomes. A suspension held in abeyance may be activated pending the outcome of a conduct process for subsequent violations.

Suspended students will only be refunded board and tuition using the refund schedule outlined in the academic catalog. All other fees and charges are forfeited.

Upon reenrollment following a period of disciplinary suspension, a student will be placed on disciplinary probation for one term from date of return. During this probationary period, students are not permitted to participate in study abroad/away programs or hold leadership positions within recognized student organizations. This probationary period is designed to assist with a smooth transition back into the university community. Students on post-suspension disciplinary probation are required to abide and compete all terms and conditions of their return. Any misconduct or non-compliance will be reviewed and may result in disciplinary suspension or permanent separation from the university.

Permanent Separation: Permanent removal from the university. Students separated from the university will be refunded board and tuition only, using the refund schedule outlined in the Academic Catalog. All other fees and charges are forfeited.

If a student is permanently separated from the university, a notation will be made on the official transcript.

Students who are permanently separated from the university for violations of the Code of Conduct may not return to the campus or participate in any programs or activities of the university without written permission from the associate vice president for Student Life / dean of students (or designee), or the associate provost for academic excellence and operations. If the student returns to the campus without written permission, they may face criminal charges for trespassing.

D. Additional Outcomes/Restrictions

Alcohol Education Class/Program: Students found in violation of an alcohol-related policy may be assigned to complete an alcohol education class or a program such as e-chug, Under the Influence, or BASICS. The fee, if any, for these programs is the student’s responsibility and must be paid before the program begins.

Cease Contact Directive:  As a result of one or more significantly negative interactions, the cease contact directive is put in place for all involved parties. Each person is instructed to have no further contact with the other(s) including but not limited to speaking to them in person, through friends/acquaintances, via telephone or text message, via e-mail or any other form of social media, or in writing. Additional parameters may be stipulated in the directive. If any party violates this request to refrain from contact, it will result in a referral to the Office of Student Conduct for a violation of the Code of Conduct policy of “Failure to Comply with the Directive of a University Official” in addition to any other applicable university policies. (A cease contact directive can also be administratively assigned as an interim administrative action without assumption of responsibility for any violation.)

Confiscation of Prohibited Property: Items whose presence is in violation of University policy will be confiscated and will become the property of the University. Prohibited items may be returned to the owner at the discretion of the director of student conduct and/or Campus Safety and Police.

Mental Health Assessment: Students may be required to complete a psychological or psychiatric assessment by a licensed mental health provider. Students must follow any treatment, additional assessment or referral recommendation resulting from the assessment and provide documentation of compliance. Students are responsible for any cost or fees associated with the assessment and treatment.

Drug Education Class/Program: Students found in violation of a drug-related policy may be assigned to complete a drug education class or a program. The fee, if any, for these programs is the student’s responsibility and must be paid before the program begins.

Drug Testing: Students are required to complete random drug tests during the period indicated in the hearing decision. Students will be notified via university email and given directions for completing the drug test within one business day. They are responsible for checking their email daily during this time period. (Notifications will not be sent on holidays, weekends or during times when classes are not in session.) Testing is available at Student Health Services, Urgent Care, or a site pre-approved by your hearing officer. Off-campus tests must include a formal chain of custody, five-panel screening (or higher), and validity testing. All costs associated with drug testing are the responsibility of the student. Results must be mailed, faxed or emailed from the testing site to the Office of Student Conduct.

Educational Project/Plan: This may include an educational project, task, or participation in a program/activity individually tailored to the specific violation and intended learning outcomes. Some examples include papers, book reports, online academic integrity seminars, interviews, or program development and implementation. Assignments must be presented to and approved by the hearing officer or designee in order for the requirement to be considered complete. Students may be required to complete a follow-up meeting for this requirement to be considered complete.

Fines: Fines support honor code awareness initiatives, substance education, and substance-free programming. Fines not paid by due date will be added to the student’s bill/account with a $50 additional fee. Students with high demonstrated financial need as documented by the Office of Financial Planning may petition the hearing officer to consider alternative outcomes in lieu of a fine. The student must make the request at the time of the initial hearing.

Loss of Organization Recognition:  The student organization loses its official recognition for a given or indefinite period of time. If re-registration is allowed, the organization must comply with all other requirements prior to being recognized again. While an organization is suspended, it may not use University resources unless otherwise stated in the hearing decision. (When a student organization fails to complete outcomes of a conduct violation, this outcome may be assigned as a consequence of that compliance failure.)

Relocation of University Owned or Operated Housing: A student or group may be required to move to another room, residence hall, apartment, or residence area because of their lack of willingness to live within the rules of their present residential community or uphold university policies. For individuals, this outcome will be assigned in situations where the student would benefit from a change of environment in order to conform to acceptable group living standards or to restrict the student from being in the same neighborhood as a reporting party. This includes university-leased/operated housing as well.

Removal from University Housing: A student may be removed from residing in university-owned or leased housing as part of an imposed outcome. Room rent for the remainder of the student’s housing contract period may not be refunded.

Residence Life /Housing Probation: Official notice that, should there be further violations of the Code of Conduct, Residence Life or Fraternity and Sorority Life policies, or other University policies occur during a specified probationary period, the student may immediately be removed from University housing.

Restitution: Reimbursement for damage caused to the University or any person’s property. This is not a fine but, rather, a repayment for labor costs and/or the value of property destroyed, damaged, consumed, or stolen.

Restorative Actions/Projects:  Student(s) are required to engage in actions that attempt to make amends for the negative impact of a violation and repair the harm that resulted from the misconduct. These actions may include activities such as letters of apology, drafting and implementing a plan of resolution, providing restitution services, engaging in restorative justice conferences, or developing plans for reintegration.

Restriction of Visitation Privileges: May be imposed on a resident or non-resident student. The parameters of the restriction will be specified.

Substance Abuse Assessment: Students found responsible for alcohol- or drug-related violations may be required to complete an assessment by a certified substance abuse counselor/provider. Students may meet with a member of the Student Health Services or Counseling Services staff for assistance in a referral to a certified provider. Students must follow any treatment or referral recommendations that result from the assessment and forward appropriate additional documentation to the Office of Student Conduct. Students are responsible for any cost associated with the assessment and treatment.

Suspension or Restriction of Privileges: An individual student, residence hall floor, suite, apartment, or student organization may lose specified privileges for a designated period of time. The student or organization is barred from or limited in engaging in, participating in, hosting, or sponsoring social events (formal or informal) or other non-academic activities. The purpose of this outcome is to allow students/organizations the opportunity to create socially responsible habits/environments that are sustainable and demonstrate the ability to abide by community standards and expectations. The exact parameters may vary based on the specifics of the incident and will be specified in writing.

Other Outcomes: Additional or alternate outcomes may be created and designed as deemed appropriate to the violation with the approval of the director of student conduct, assistant dean of students, associate provost for academic excellence and operations, or designee.

E. Course Grade Implications

For academic policy violations in which a student accepts responsibility or is found responsible, the instructor has full authority to assign any grade sanction deemed appropriate. For example, he or she may elect to fail the student for the assignment, for a related unit in the course, or for the entire course.

Lowered grade for the assignment/unit:  An instructor may lower the grade or give the student an “F” for an assignment or a related unit of the course for a violation of the academic integrity policy (not intending for the student to fail the entire course based on the violation). The violation is recorded in the Office of Student Conduct and documentation is kept in the student’s conduct file.

Transcript implications:  The final grade submitted for the course will not contain any notation indicating that a violation has occurred.

Course Repeat Policy:  The student may repeat the course consistent with the University’s course repeat policy.

Grade Appeal policy: While students may appeal a course grade through the University’s grade appeal policy, they may not base their appeal on the instructor’s assignment of an “F” for the assignment or unit resulting from the academic policy violation.

Lowered grade for the course:  An instructor may lower a grade or fail a student in a course for a violation of the academic integrity policy. The violation is recorded in the Office of Student Conduct and documentation is kept in the student’s conduct file.

Transcript implications: the grade recorded by the Office of the Registrar on the student’s permanent record will be as assigned with no notation that the grade originated from a violation.

Course Repeat Policy: The student may repeat the course consistent with the University’s course repeat policy.

Grade Appeal policy: Students may not appeal a failing grade in a course with an academic integrity violation through the University’s grade appeal policy.

A grade of “Academic Integrity F” for the course:  An instructor may assign the grade of “Academic Integrity F” for a violation of the academic integrity policy. The violation is recorded in the Office of Student Conduct and documentation is kept in the student’s conduct file.

Transcript implications: the “Academic Integrity F”  will be recorded by the Office of the Registrar on the student’s permanent record; however, it will not be noted as an academic integrity violation on the student’s grade report or permanent academic transcript.

Course Repeat Policy: The student may repeat the course at a later time; however, the credit hours and quality points for the original class will be retained, thus lowering the student’s overall grade point average. The standard course-repeat-rule in the Elon University Academic Catalog is not applicable for courses in which an instructor has elected to assign a student an “Academic Integrity F” based on an academic integrity violation.

Grade Appeal policy:  Students who receive an “Academic Integrity F” for a course given by the instructor based on the student’s being found responsible for an academic integrity violation may not appeal that failing grade through the University’s grade appeal policy.

F. Recognized Student Organization Outcomes

The following outcomes may be imposed upon groups or organizations found to have engaged in prohibited conduct to create a developmental action plan:

• A disciplinary status level;
• One or more of the additional requirements or restrictions listed previously; and/or
• Loss of recognition or loss of privileges (including status as a recognized student organization) for a specified period of time, until sanctions are complete, or indefinitely.
• An organization fine or education program fee
• An alternate outcome as identified to align with the violation(s)

G. Failure to Complete Outcomes or to Comply with Required Actions/Restrictions

All students, as members of the University community, are expected to comply with required actions/restrictions within the time frame specified in the hearing decision. Students or organizations who do not complete required actions  by the assigned due date, whether by refusal, neglect or any other reason, may be referred to the student conduct process for a potential policy violation of  “Failure to Comply with the Directive of a University Official,” receive additional or more serious outcomes (including suspension for a student or loss of recognition for a student organization, and/or an administrative hold may be placed on the student record until the required action is complete. An administrative hold prevents a student from registering for classes.

To re-enroll or regain recognition as an organization, a student/group must have satisfactorily completed all (including any additionally assigned) required actions. This determination will be made by the Office of Student Involvement, in consultation with Dean of Students or designee.

Students who have pending cases with alleged policy violations may remain in a “graduate pending” status and may not be considered in “good standing” until a resolution is identified and applicable outcomes are fulfilled. Additionally, students who graduate with incomplete outcomes may be considered  “not in good standing” with the University and restricted from returning to campus until the required conditions are met.