Disciplinary Procedures

The Dean of Students is ultimately responsible for student discipline. The Dean is aided by the Student Life Committee, which serves as a board of appeals in cases of suspension, dismissal and/or designated cases of campus violations. Final authority in cases that are properly appealed rests with the Dean of Students. The College attempts to be consistent, unbiased and sensitive in its disciplinary matters.

Disciplinary Process

• A student code of conduct violation should be reported to Student Life personnel, which may include but is not limited to a Residence Life staff member or Dean of Students. When possible, a Campus Conduct Form, located on the Student Portal, and/or Incident Report should be used to document the alleged violation.
• If there is a reasonable likelihood that the reported violation was committed, an investigation will ensue.
• Alleged violator(s) and other parties involved may be contacted and asked to give statements verifying or countering the statements made in the report. Documentation is kept by those investigating and passed on to appropriate parties involved in the disciplinary decision. Reports based on hearsay or unverifiable information may be dismissed based on lack of evidence. This process will occur within a reasonable time frame.
• Upon completion of the investigation, the Student Life Committee will determine a reasonable disciplinary plan.
• The violator(s) will meet with the appropriate Student Life personnel to discuss the discipline decision and future compliance to the student code of conduct.
• Written documentation of the violation and resulting discipline will be issued to the violator(s) and filed in the student discipline records.
• Students who are suspended or dismissed have the right to appeal (see Student Appeal Process section).

Discipline files are not included as a part of a student’s permanent record unless noted. Discipline files reside in the Student Life Office and are only accessible by the deans and their supervisors or upon written request from the disciplined student. Discipline files are expunged after seven years unless they have been included in the student’s permanent record, and this is done only in cases of dismissal or special circumstances that would warrant such action.