DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS
Sanctions in a disciplinary action are a developmental tool, whose purpose is to redirect the student’s behavior towards a pattern more acceptable with the University community:
- If such redirection is feasible
- To protect the University community from possible harm or injury by the student
- To give redress to a person for loss, harm, or destruction of property resulting from the action of the accused student
- To allow students an opportunity to heal damage done to a community, to other individuals, to the campus environment, or to student social network.
- To allow students to place themselves in other people’s shoes and to both learn about and feel the true impact of their attitudes and behavior on others.
It is important to note that a student’s behavioral/disciplinary history is cumulative. Increased sanctions may be imposed to take into consideration the student’s overall record of violations of all types, not simply of a particular type.
Representatives of the Student Life Office may impose the following sanctions on a student or group of students:
1. POSITIVE ACTIONS: Positive Actions are required activities that are intended to engage the student in a positive learning experience related to the student’s inappropriate behavior. Positive Actions are intended to allow students to reflect upon their inappropriate behavior, to learn about the behavior in which they engaged and understand why it is inappropriate or unacceptable. This action may include, but is not limited to, engaging in a campus or community service project, attending or presenting a program related to the implications of the student’s conduct, writing a paper, interviewing someone, or engaging in some type of personal assessment or counseling. Please note: There may be some costs associated with participation in sanctioned educational programs.
2. RESTORATIVE ACTIONS: Restorative actions are assignments given to students that help them reflect upon the impact their behavior has made on people, communities, or environments while also providing them opportunities to restore the health of those entities and/or heal the damage their behavior has done. These actions may include but are not limited to: sincere written apologies, designing action plans for positive contributions to the people or communities damaged, and joining on-going task forces, or committees that are addressing the topics and social forces from which the student’s behavior arose.
A. Restitution: Student actions can damage, deface, or destroy university property or private property on or off campus. In addition, certain behaviors and attitudes can cause less quantifiable harm to other people, to the general campus community, and to the environment that houses the community the student lives within or even environments off campus. Restitution is an assignment to pay back the entities harmed by the behavior. Even when there are times when less quantifiable damage has been done, restitution can be used to help supplement programming accounts which fund major community building activities throughout the campus community.
B. Fines: A reasonable monetary fine may be assessed against a student as a resolution to and deterrent from violations of student conduct code. This sanction can be rendered in conjunction with other sanctions.
C. Non-Paid Work/Compensatory Service: Non-paid work for the University or for a specified area of the University may be assigned to a student as a disciplinary sanction in addition to any other sanction which may be imposed.
3. LOSS OF PRIVILEGES/RESTRICTIVE SANCTIONS:
A. Restrictions on institutional representation and participation: (including leadership positions and University events)
B. Loss of eligibility for campus employment, institutionally-arranged internships and possibly off-campus state workstudy
C. Communication and contact restrictions with other members of the Gonzaga Community
D. Ineligibility to receive financial aid
E. Campus facility restrictions
F. Withholding a recommendation for study abroad or other similar opportunity
G. Residence-Related Sanctions:
Extension Of Residence: A student may be mandated to live on campus in campus owned residence halls for a specified time after normally qualified to be released from the on campus residence requirement. Normally, this is reserved for students exhibiting entrenched violations of student conduct code which may indicate the student is not ready to represent GU in the local community as a positive citizen and neighbor.
Removal From Residence: Serious infractions of residence regulations or patterns of misconduct may lead to the removal of a student from the residence. This sanction may require the immediate removal of the student from the residence environment, cancellation of the housing contract, and forfeiture of residence fees. This may mean short term removal for a fixed period of time as well as permanent removal and ineligibility to reside in University housing in the future. Restriction from visiting University facilities may also be imposed, which may include a criminal trespass warning. In some cases the student may also be suspended from the University since the University requires freshmen and sophomores to live on-campus.
Mandated Relocation of On-Campus Residence: In some instances students may be moved to a different residential facility if it is deemed more appropriate for helping that student achieve his or her academic goals, positive behavioral patterns and uphold a more peaceful community on campus.
Loss of Priority Housing Selection: A student may have his or her position to select priority housing set aside and be placed in a lower, less desireable position to select on-campus housing for the next academic year.
4. CONDUCT STATUS LEVELS:
A. Warning: Notice to a student, either verbally or in writing that he/she has failed to meet the University’s standards of conduct. The warning will include a caution that the continuation or repetition of the conduct involved or other misconduct will result in a more serious sanction.
B. Reprimand: Formal action censuring the student for failure to meet the University’s standards of conduct. Reprimands are always made in writing to the student by the official taking the action.
C. Conduct Review Period: An official warning that the student’s conduct is in violation of our code of conduct and behavioral expectations, but is not sufficiently serious to warrant expulsion, dismissal, suspension, or probation. A student on conduct review shall have their conduct under review for a specified period of time. This sanction may require regular meetings with an appropriate official to ascertain and evaluate compliance with student conduct expectations. Additional restrictions or conditions also may be imposed, depending on the nature and seriousness of the misconduct. Students placed on this sanction remain in good standing with the University. If there is a finding of responsibility for subsequent violations of policies, rules and expectations during this period of time, more severe sanctions will be administered.
D. Conduct Probation: Conduct probation recognizes a serious offense for which is contrary to the policies, rules and expectations of the University and for which action needs to be taken by the Student Life Staff. The student is placed on conduct probation status with the University for a specified period of time. In addition to the period of time listed in the written notice, a behavioral contract may also be set forth. The behavioral contract will include specific obligations which the student must meet. Notification may be sent to the student’s academic advisor as well as to other University personnel on a need-to-know basis. Any violation of conduct probation will be handled immediately by the Student Life Staff.
E. Disciplinary Probation: Disciplinary Probation is a notice to the student that his or her behavior is of such a nature as to place that student in danger of removal from the University. The student is placed on disciplinary probation for a specified period of time, a behavioral contract is set forth, and specific obligations are outlined. Dependent students must notify their parents of the probationary status and have them verify this notification with the Student Life Staff. Notification is sent to the student’s academic advisor as well as to other University personnel on a need-to-know basis. Any violation of this probation or other University policies, rules and expectations may cause the student to be immediately removed from the University. While probation is usually reserved for repeated infractions, it may be imposed for any serious violation. When a student is placed on disciplinary probation, at least one of the following restrictions combined with other sanctions will be imposed:
1. Restriction from representing the University in any public performance, athletic event, committee, organization, or from holding any student governmental office or office in any recognized student organization, or participating in any organized University function.
2. Ineligibility to receive financial assistance from any funds provided by the University, including grants, scholarships, waivers, etc. This sanction may not be imposed until the beginning of the following semester.
3. Ineligibility to hold an on-campus job paid for by University or third-party funds.
4. Withholding a recommendation for study abroad or other similar opportunity
F. Interim Suspension: A student may be suspended for a period of time following a serious violation of policy if it is determined a danger may exist to him/herself, others, or property. This suspension may be done immediately and the disciplinary hearing will follow.
G. Suspension: Suspension from the University involves the exclusion of the student from participation in any academic or other activities of the University for a specified period of time. Written notification of this action will be provided to the student and his/her parents or guardian if the student is a dependent (as defined by FERPA). Suspension from the University further involves the following: notation of the suspension on the student’s disciplinary record; the student will be withdrawn from all courses carried that semester; the student will forfeit fees according to the normal refund schedule of the University; the student will be restricted from visiting the University premises (which may include a criminal trespass warning) except when engaged in official business approved in writing by the Student Life staff; the suspension may include any other disciplinary action that is judged to be of value to the student or necessary for the community.
Reinstatement from Suspension: When a student has concluded the suspension period and completed the conditions accompanying the suspension, he/she must submit a letter to the Vice President for Student Life requesting reinstatement and provide evidence that he/she has satisfied the terms of the suspension. In some cases, the student may need to reapply to the University. The student may return to the University only after an affirmative decision has been made by the Vice President for Student Life and the student has been readmitted by Admissions (if applicable).
H. Dismissal: Dismissal is permanent expulsion from the University; it may be ordered as a result of very serious violations or for repeated offenses. In addition to forfeiting all tuition paid, the student suffers all the other losses and restrictions imposed upon suspended students, and is not eligible to apply for re-admission at any time. The student must leave the campus on the date determined by the Vice President of Student Life or Chief Judicial Officer. The student will be restricted from visiting the University, which may include a criminal trespass warning.
I. Participation In, Or Postponement Of Activity/Participation And Conferring Of Honors And Degrees: The University reserves the right to prevent, delay or postpone the involvement of a student in any University-related activity, or delay or postpone the conferring of any honor or degree as a form of sanction, or while any of the student conduct procedures or actions are pending.