Disciplinary Procedures
Any academic or administrative official, faculty member, or student may file a complaint with the Office of Student Affairs against any student for violations of University policies and procedures.
If a student does not exhibit conduct that warrants immediate suspension and/or expulsion under the Suspension for Harassment or Violence policy, the following procedure will be followed for a violation of University policies and/or procedures:
Level I (Warning) – If a University staff member observes, or is told by a Faculty member or staff member of, a violation of the Code of Student Conduct, the University staff member will notify the Campus Dean who will immediately investigate the matter. If the Campus Dean finds that the Code of Student Conduct has been violated, the Campus Dean will issue a written admonition to the student, with a copy forwarded to the Office of Student Affairs. The student will have the opportunity to submit his or her written response, including written statements by any persons the student deems relevant, to the admonition to the Campus Dean with a copy to the Office of Student Affairs within five (5) business days after receiving the admonition. The Office of Student Affairs will maintain a record of the admonition letter and student response. Violations of a serious nature may proceed to Level II or Level III without a warning.
Level II – If additional disciplinary action is warranted, due to a violation of the Code of Student Conduct by a student, the University staff member will immediately investigate the matter. The University staff member will also immediately inform the Regional Vice Provost and/or the Regional Vice President of the possible violation. If the Regional Vice Provost and/or the Regional Vice President finds that the Code of Student Conduct has been violated, then the Regional Vice Provost and/or the Regional Vice President will issue a sanction, which may include an additional written admonition to the student. The student will have the opportunity to submit his or her written response to the admonition to the Regional-Level official with a copy to the Office of Student Affairs within five (5) business days after receiving the admonition. The Office of Student Affairs will maintain a record of the admonition letter and student response Violations of a serious nature may proceed to Level III without a warning.
Level III - If additional disciplinary action is warranted, due to a violation of the Code of Student Conduct, or if the violation is considered to be of a serious nature, then the Regional Vice Provost and/or the Regional Vice President, or University staff member, will forward the case to the Dean of Students for further action. Within ten (10) business days after receiving the referral, the Dean of Students will provide written notice to the student that the matter has been referred to the Office of Student Affairs, the section of the Code of Student Conduct the student has violated, and the sanction that will be imposed. The Dean of Students, will also provide the student with the opportunity to appeal the decision within ten (10) business days after receiving notice.
Appeal to Disciplinary Committee
The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of the Chair, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer, the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Services, Senior Vice President for Financial Services, and the Vice President of Academic Operations or Dean of JWMI (or other designee specified by the University Provost).
- If a student requests an appeal, the request must be in writing to the Dean of Students. The request must be dated, or be postmarked within ten (10) business days of the disciplinary decision letter. The Dean of Students will forward the appeal to the Disciplinary Committee along with all other information collected in the matter.
- The Disciplinary Committee will schedule a disciplinary hearing via teleconference, giving the student reasonable time to prepare for the hearing. The student has the right to be accompanied by counsel and/or other advisers such as parents or relatives. The counsel and/or advisers will be at the student’s own expense. (No more than three (3) of the aforementioned shall be present in the hearing at any one time.) Although counsel and/or advisers may be present for the teleconference hearing, counsel and/or advisers may not speak or participate directly in the hearing. The student must speak for him or herself. A student also has the right to remain silent at disciplinary hearings; such silence will not be used as a factor in the determination or outcome of the matter.
- Witnesses may be called on the student’s behalf or on the University’s behalf and the student may confront all adverse witnesses. Witness names should be presented at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing .
- A recording of the hearing will be kept by the University. A copy of the recording will be furnished to the student upon request at the student’s own expense.
- A written decision will be issued by the Disciplinary Committee within ten (10) business days after the hearing. This decision will be final.