INTRODUCTION 

The Student Life Staff is responsible for the implementation of the student conduct and disciplinary system at the University. Members of the Student Life Staff, The University Discipline Board for Students, and/or the Student Conduct Board will hear disciplinary cases and sanctions may be imposed as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Criminal courts make a determination of guilt or innocence of an accused. Civil courts resolve non-criminal disputes between parties, usually for a money judgment. Gonzaga’s disciplinary hearing process makes a determination of responsibility, that is, whether the accused more likely than not committed the alleged act.

Gonzaga University Hearings are not criminal or civil judicial proceedings. Information for a finding is based on a standard that an act was "more likely than not" to have occurred. The information does not have to be in the form of physical "evidence" nor does the alleged violation have to be witnessed. Circumstantial information can be sufficient in some instances for the University to determine that an act was "more likely than not" to have occurred. The University’s standard for determining whether a violation has occurred is different from criminal law.

Although the terms and procedures may be similar to criminal law or the criminal court system, they are specific to Gonzaga University and limited to the meaning and use given them by the University. An act not criminally prosecuted may still violate University policy.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

The Chief Judicial Officer is responsible for initiating disciplinary proceedings for infractions where there is sufficient information to believe that a violation may have occurred and disciplinary action is appropriate.

Any member of the University community may file a complaint against any student or student organization for misconduct. Complaints involving conduct in the residence halls can be filed with the appropriate Residence Life staff member and will generally be processed under the residence hall judicial system. Other complaints can be filed with the Student Life Office and processed through the campus judicial system. Complaints may also arise from information documented in Security Department reports or forwarded to the Student Life staff by other University departments.

Jeopardy

A student may be placed in "jeopardy" while pending criminal, civil and/or University charges are being resolved. The term jeopardy is defined as a student being placed on notice that they have been alleged to have been involved in an incident that is in the process of being investigated. While the case is under investigation the student is expected to be aware of their jeopardy status, to fully comply with the investigation, and to understand that their violation of any University policy during this period may result in an immediate interim suspension. Jeopardy may be imposed concurrently with or independent of other actions or sanctions.

General

The Chief Judicial Officer manages the overall disciplinary system for the Student Life division. Specific responsibilities for disciplinary interventions and resolutions rest with various departments and judicial bodies. There is also a mutual and shared responsibility which Gonzaga promotes, allowing for cooperation and collaboration between University departments regarding student conduct issues.

Student disciplinary records are maintained in the Housing/Residence Life Office and the Student Life Office. These records usually include copies of incident reports, hearing records, and any sanctions issued. For information about misconduct and discipline that is academic in nature, please refer to the Academics section of the student handbook.

University Residence

The Office of Housing and Residence Life is empowered to maintain a disciplinary system which applies to students residing in University facilities. These processes are consistent with those of the Student Life Office although some procedures may be different for off-campus conduct. A particular case may be transferred from one office to the other at any time.

In matters of discipline pertaining to group or individual misconduct within the residence life facilities, the Housing/Residence Life staff members are immediately responsible for the communication and enforcement of policies, rules and expectations. The authority and responsibility of the Housing/Residence Life staff member extends to all areas of campus and University-sponsored events.