About Student Accountability
As a student of the University of Utah, individuals are members of our campus community and have a responsibility to conform to certain standards of behavior. Your actions should benefit, rather than detract from, your academic progress and the health and wellbeing of other community members.
What You Need to Know
Reasonable regulations are necessary for group interaction and living. Students are expected to uphold Policy 6-400: Student Rights and Responsibilities. Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to the following: dishonesty, disruption, assault, theft, unauthorized use of resources or equipment, unauthorized entry into University premises, and possession of controlled substances* or alcohol.
The rights of students and student organizations will be respected in the student accountability administration process. Students are expected to cooperate in the investigation and resolution of student accountability matters. Participants in the student accountability administration process shall take reasonable steps to protect the rights and, to the extent appropriate, the confidentiality of all parties involved in any proceedings under the Student Rights and Responsibilities policy.
The University intends that students who violate the Student Rights and Responsibilities policy learn from their mistakes. The student behavior process is designed to be part of a student’s educational experience. Each accountability case is to be viewed separately and there is no set disciplinary response for each incident. The variables of each case will dictate unique outcomes.
*Note about marijuana: New legislation in some states that decriminalizes marijuana for medical or recreational use has led to questions for university campuses across the country. To be clear, the University of Utah adheres to federal policy and Utah state law on marijuana which declares it to be a controlled substance that must be prohibited. Regardless of your home state's law or the possession of a medical use license from another state, marijuana is not legal on campus.
Any person directly aggrieved by an alleged violation of the Student Rights & Responsibilities Policy or any faculty member, student, or staff member may submit an oral or written complaint to the Office of the Dean of Students (270 Union, phone 801-581-7066, fax 801-585-5114) within 45 business days of the date of discovery of the alleged violation.
Reports of Discrimination or Sexual Misconduct are handled through the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in accordance with Policy and Procedures 5-210.
All complaints or reports of a possible violation of the Student Rights & Responsibilities policy are investigated by a Student Accountability case manager appointed by the Dean of Students. Each individual identified as having information relevant to the matter is provided an opportunity to make a statement of his or her thoughts, concerns, or questions regarding the investigation either through an interview with a case manager or the submission of a written statement.
Students against whom a complaint is lodged will also have the opportunity for an interview with the case manager and to submit written statements or supporting materials. At the conclusion of the inquiry, the case manager shall determine whether there is a reasonable basis for believing that the student is responsible for a violation of the Student Rights and Responsibilities policy.
If the Student Accountability case manager finds that the student has not violated the Student Rights and Responsibility policy, the complaint is dismissed and the matter is closed. If the case manager finds that the student has violated the Student Rights and Responsibility Policy, the case manager may offer an 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 case manager, 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. The Committee is made up of two faculty, two staff members, and two current students who are appointed by the president of the university to serve for a multiple-year term. The Student Behavior Committee will hold a hearing that is closed to the public to discuss the matter with the complaining party and the responding student. If a majority of the Committee finds that the student is responsible for violating the Student Rights and Responsibilities policy, they will recommend behavioral sanctions. The findings and recommendations of the Committee will be presented to the Vice President for Student Affairs who will issue a decision on the matter.
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 hearing 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).