The Undergraduate Disciplinary System

The purpose of the undergraduate disciplinary system is to promote honesty, fairness, respect, and accountability within the university community and to provide a fair and effective mechanism for resolving cases in which an undergraduate student (or group) is alleged to have violated the standards or policies of the university.

All complaints of inappropriate student behavior may be filed with or forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct in the Dean of Students Office. Staff within the Office of Student Conduct will determine the most appropriate means by which to handle a complaint. Resolution may include mediation, arbitration, informal resolution, or disciplinary action.

Organization

• The Office of Student Conduct, within the Dean of Students Office, is designated to oversee the undergraduate disciplinary system.
• Hearing officers are designated to resolve disciplinary matters through informal or formal disciplinary resolution.
• The Undergraduate Conduct Board (UCB) is designated to resolve formal disciplinary matters that involve complicated circumstances, serious infractions of university policy, and/or repeated misconduct. The UCB is comprised of students, faculty and staff. At all times, consideration shall be given to the appointment of a board reflective of the population of the university community. Rising juniors and seniors are selected each spring semester to serve as student members. (Once selected, student members will serve for the remainder of their undergraduate careers, as long as they meet expectations.) Student co-chairs will be elected by the board immediately following the completion of the new member selection process. Faculty members are appointed/approved by the dean of Trinity College or the Pratt School of Engineering. Staff members are appointed/approved by the vice president for Student Affairs.
• The Greek Conduct Board (GCB) hears cases involving university-recognized fraternities and sororities. The Office of Student Conduct reserves the right to administratively resolve cases involving such organizations. Generally, however, all alleged violations of university policy and/or recruitment and intake rules of the Interfraternity Council, Inter-Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, or Panhellenic Association will be resolved through the GCB. The GCB is comprised of students selected from each of the above umbrella organizations.
• The Appellate Board considers appeals of students/groups found responsible and sanctioned through a formal disciplinary hearing. The Appellate Board is currently chaired by the dean and vice provost for undergraduate education or designee and includes the vice president for Student Affairs or designee, the senior associate dean from Trinity College or designee, and the associate dean from the Pratt School of Engineering or designee.
• Disciplinary advisors are available to assist students/groups through the disciplinary process. Advisors include students and staff who have been trained and are familiar with the disciplinary system. A list of advisors is maintained by the Office of Student Conduct and will be made available at any time.

Disciplinary Action While Civil/Criminal Charges Pending

Students may be accountable to both civil authorities and to the university for acts that violate local, state or federal laws. (Students are encouraged to seek advice of legal counsel when they face criminal charges.) Disciplinary action through university processes concurrent with criminal action does not subject a student to “double jeopardy.”

The university operates under different policies, procedures and standards and thus, will not be bound by the findings of a court of law. If the court’s outcome satisfies the university’s interests, such outcome may be recorded on the student’s disciplinary record without invoking the university disciplinary process. Should any criminal proceeding result in a felony conviction, as a result of an incident on or off campus, the vice president for Student Affairs reserves the right to summarily dismiss a student.

University disciplinary action will normally proceed during the pendency of a criminal or civil action. A student may request, however, that the university disciplinary process be placed on hold until criminal actions are resolved. The conduct officer or designee will decide whether this request will be granted. In such a case, interim restrictions may be imposed. If resolution of a criminal case is protracted, the conduct officer or designee may decide to proceed with the disciplinary process.