NOTIFICATION OF PARENTS

The University may, in its discretion, send notice and/or copies of disciplinary documents to the parents or legal guardians of students involved in disciplinary matters. The University, in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), may send reports to parents or legal guardians of a dependent student as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. The University may also contact parents or legal guardians of students involved in alcohol or drug violations if the student is under 21 at the time of the violation. In some cases, as a condition of remaining at Gonzaga, a student may be required to notify his/her parents or legal guardians of his/her disciplinary standing within the University.

APPEALS PROCESS

Disciplinary actions taken by members of the Student Life staff normally will be appealed to a judicial officer one professional level up from the person who rendered the decision. With the recommendation of the appeal judicial officer the student may have their appeal heard by the Student Judicial/Conduct Board.

The sanctions resulting from a disciplinary decision will be considered in place and enforced until such time as determined otherwise by the appeals process. The filing of an appeal does not relieve a student from complying with the sanctions from the time they are initially imposed. The appeal must be made by the student in writing within three (3) class or business days of the delivery of the written statement of the disposition of the case to the student in person or to the student’s official school address. The written appeal must be delivered to the office of the appeal judicial officer, whose name will be provided by the person who rendered the original decision. The appeal judicial officer will decide whether or not to hear the appeal. In appealing a judicial decision, said appeal must fall into one of the following categories

a. The student has new information available that was not available prior to the original hearing.

b. The judicial process as outlined in this publication was not adhered to during the student’s original hearing.

c. The sanctions do not relate appropriately to the violation for which the student has been determined to have committed.

d. The Student Conduct Code violations cited in the disciplinary finding do not seem to be applicable to the behaviors alleged and discussed.

The appeal judicial officer will review the file, including the reasons for the appeal, and will then determine if: 1) an appeal hearing is appropriate; or 2) make a determination of the appeal based upon the information contained in the written request and file. Should an appeal hearing be held, the appeal may result in one of the following actions:

a. Affirmation of the original decision and sanction(s).

b. Reversal of the original decision and sanction(s).

c. Affirmation or reversal of the original decision and/or alteration of the sanction(s) to include modification that could cause either an increase or decrease in the level of sanction(s).

A written decision regarding the appeal hearing will be given to the student in person or sent to the student’s office school or permanent address. The decision of the Vice President for Student Life or her/his designee will be the final appeal authority for the University in all cases of a disciplinary nature.

ABUSE OF THE UNIVERSITY JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Abuse of the University judicial system will be treated as a separate disciplinary matter. Abuse includes, but is not limited to, failure to obey the request of a judicial body or official; falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a judicial body; attempting to influence or discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the judicial system; verbal or physical harassment and/or intimidation of a member of a judicial body or any other participant in a disciplinary process. It also includes failure to fulfill sanctions, pay fines or return requested documents on time.

RECORD REQUESTS BY OUTSIDE ENTITIES

Students should be aware that information maintained in their disciplinary file or University record may be requested by entities outside the University in the future. Such requests include employment background checks, military or civilian clearances for sensitive information, graduate or other college admissions processes, professional licenses and certifications and court orders.