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FAQs for Accused Students

Frequently Asked Questions: Student Accountability for Accused Students

I have received a letter from the Office of the Dean of Students. What does it mean?

When the Office of the Dean of Students is made aware of a possible violation of  Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities, we first contact the accused student through their official UMail account and request a meeting to discuss the issue. You need to set up an appointment to meet with the Student Accountability Officer assigned to the case to engage in the informal resolution process.  If you do not, the Student Accountability Officer may resolve the issue formally and determine a sanction.

What will happen during my meeting with a Student Accountability Officer?

The student who is accused of a possible violation of Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities  meets with a Student accountability Officer who has been appointed by the Dean of Students in their office in 270 Union. This meeting is an opportunity for the student to tell their side of the story and answer the Student accountability Officer’s questions about the details of the case. The investigation of the issue may require more than one meeting and at the conclusion, the Student Accountability Officer determines if they believe that there has been a violation of the policy.

If the Student Accountability Officer finds that the student has not violated Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities, the complaint is dismissed and the matter is closed. If the Student Accountability Officer finds that the student has violated Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities, the Student accountability Officer may offer appropriate resolution/sanctions to be agreed to by the responding student. If the student agrees to the informal resolution and complies with the terms and conditions set out by the Student accountability  Officer, the matter will be closed. If an informal resolution is inappropriate, or the responding student declines to agree to the informal resolution offered, the complaint will be submitted to the Student Behavior Committee.

What are my rights as a student?

The Student Bill of Rights can be found under Section III-A of Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities.

How is it decided if I violated Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities?

The Student Accountability Officer investigating a case asks questions of the accused student, the person or department making the complaint of the possible violation, police reports, incident reports, witnesses, and others who might have information on what happened. The Student accountability Officer uses all of this information to determine if more likely than not a violation of the policy occurred.

If the Student Accountability Officer finds that the student has not violated Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities, the complaint is dismissed and the matter is closed. If the Student Accountability Officer finds that the student has violated Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities, the Student Accountability Officer may offer appropriate resolution/sanctions to be agreed to by the responding student. If the student agrees to the informal resolution and complies with the terms and conditions set out by the Student Accountability Officer, the matter will be closed. If an informal resolution is inappropriate, or the responding student declines to agree to the informal resolution offered, the complaint will be submitted to the Student Behavior Committee.

If I did violate Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities, how will I be punished?

Sanctions are intended to provide an appropriate response to the student behavior and a learning opportunity for the parties involved with the conflict. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, a written reprimand, the imposition of a fine or payment of restitution, community service, probation, suspension or dismissal from the University. Suspensions and dismissals are reflected on a student’s transcript.

Sanctions that require action on the part of the responding student will be assigned a deadline for completion and should be fully understood. Where appropriate, the Student Accountability Officer may grant a responding student’s request for minor alterations to the sanctions (e.g., a deadline for completion could be extended due to mitigating circumstances).

What's the worst thing that can happen?

Suspensions and dismissals are the most serious sanctions for violations of Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities. The sanctions of suspension or dismissal from the University for behavioral standards violation may be imposed: (1) if agreed upon in informal resolution between the responding student and the Dean of Students or designee; (2) if recommended by the Student Behavior Committee to the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee; (3) by the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee notwithstanding the recommendation of the Committee; or (4) by the President notwithstanding the decision of the Vice President for Student Affairs. A student who has been suspended or dismissed from the University shall be denied all privileges accorded to a student.

Suspension from the University shall be for a minimum time of one semester following the semester the student is found responsible for the behavioral standards violation. The Office of the Dean of Students shall notify the student in writing of the suspension, conditions for reinstatement, and of the obligation of the student to petition for reinstatement. Notice of the suspension shall also be provided to the student’s department chair. Petitions for reinstatement shall be submitted to the Office of the Dean of Students and shall explain how the conditions for reinstatement have been met. The Office of the Dean of Students shall consider the petition and shall issue a decision regarding the student’s reinstatement in a timely manner. The Office of the Dean of Students may grant conditional reinstatement contingent upon the student meeting written requirements specified by the Office of the Dean of Students or by the chair of the Student Behavior Committee in the original sanction to the extent that such conditions pertain to the original offense in the original sanction.

Dismissal from the University is final. A student dismissed from the University for a behavior standards violation may not petition for reinstatement. Permanent records of dismissal shall be kept in the Office of the Dean of Students. Notice of the dismissal shall be provided to the student’s department chair. The dismissed student’s transcript will reflect their dismissal. Dismissal is reserved for only the most egregious of offenses.

Can I have someone with me during the meeting with a Student Accountability Officer?

The student may have an adviser with them during a meeting with a Student Accountability Officer or a hearing of the Student Behavior Committee. However, the adviser does not speak for the student or represent the student in the process. It is up to the student if they wish to have a parent or family member present.

I know others did the same thing but did not get caught or were assigned a different sanction. What about them?

All campus community members are encouraged to report violations of Policy 6-400 Student Rights and Responsibilities to the Office of the Dean of Students. We cannot initiate a possible violation without credible information.

Each case of a behavioral standards violation is considered individually with information from all parties involved. Appropriate sanctions are determined on a case-by-case basis to provide a relevant learning opportunity for the parties involved in the violation, so they can be different for each student and situation.

Can I appeal the decision?

Complaints dismissed by a Student Accountability Officer and informal resolutions are not eligible for appeal.

If the Student Accountability Officer offers an informal resolution with which a student does not wish to agree, the complaint will be submitted to the Student Behavior Committee. The findings and recommendations of the Student Behavior Committee are presented to the Vice President for Student Affairs who will issue a decision on the matter.

Any party involved in the complaint may appeal the Vice President's decision by filing a written notice of appeal with the University President in a timely fashion. The decision of the President is final.

Last Updated: 2/26/24