Conduct Process
The University views addressing student conduct concerns as a learning and growth experience that aims to repair harm and can result in personal understanding of one’s responsibilities and privileges. The Procedures are designed to provide learning opportunities dedicated to fairness to all involved in the Alternative Resolution and Conduct Processes (Resolution Process). Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for more specific information about the resolution processes.
Process Overview
1. Conduct Referral is Made
When anyone observes a possible violation of the Student Code of Conduct, they are asked to submit an incident report to our office. When we receive the report, we document the concern and begin gathering information to determine who was involved and what the next steps are.
2. Resolution Assessment
After gathering initial information, we determine how the matter should be resolved. This is a general framework in making the determination for the resolution.
| Is a conversation being requested? | |||
| Would it be a violation? | Yes | No | |
| Yes | Conduct Process: Formal Conduct or Restorative Justice | Policy Reminder Letter | |
| No | Informal Resolution | Case Closed - No action | |
3. Student is Contacted/Notice
In most situations, the student will be contacted by a Conduct Educator. The Conduct Educator will typically send a letter through Maxient to their university email. This email will have a summary of the reported incident and information related to the possible violation. If a meeting is being offered to the student, the letter will include information about the time, date, location of the meeting.
If the concern is being resolved through the Conduct Process, the student will be provided a link to the Desired Resolution Survey.
4. Initial Meeting
The student is invited to speak with the Conduct Educator at an Initial Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is NOT to discuss the incident, but is to discuss whether or not the student is interested in accepting responsibility and repairing harm, accepting responsibility but is not interested in repairing harm, or denies responsibility. This meeting helps the Conduct Educator know which resolution process will be utilized.
5. Resolution Processes
The Restorative Justice Process is a process students can opt into if they accept responsibility for the violation and are willing to repair any harm they caused.
The Restorative Justice Process is:
- Pre-Conference: Meeting with the parties to prepare them for the Circle.
- Circle: Combined meeting with involved parties and community members to discuss the matter and decide as a collective how to repair the harm.
- Repair Agreements: The person that caused the harm will agree to take actions to repair the harm they caused.
- Case Closed: Upon completion of the repair agreements, and after a period of disciplinary monitoring, the case will be closed.
In situations when a student does not believe they violated the Student Code of Conduct, or is not interested in going through a restorative process, the resolution will default to the Formal Conduct Process.
The Formal Conduct Process is:
- Conduct Conference: This is the student’s opportunity to share their perspective about the allegation with the Conduct Educator. At this meeting they are welcome to include a support person.
- Determination: Following the meeting with the student, the Conduct Educator will have to determine whether or not the Code was violated.
- Sanctions: If it was determined that the Code was violated, the Conduct Educator will assign sanctions. Sanctions can be disciplinary, educational, or advocacy in nature.
- Appeal: If the student disagrees with the Conduct Educator’s outcome, they can submit an appeal.