Sanctions Guidelines

The following charts provide a range of sanctions for each violation, assuming the student has no prior record of honor or conduct violations. If a student has a prior record, the nature of that history will be reviewed by the assigned Case Administrator or, in the case of a Panel, the Director/designee. A history of prior conduct similar to the nature of the current violation generally will result in escalation of the presumed sanctions below (for example, a student who has received Probation for a prior violation likely would receive Suspension for a subsequent violation of a similar nature. Subsequent violations that are of a similar nature typically will result in more substantial sanctions than those reflected in the Guidelines on this page.

The university issues sanctions/measures in two categories: Primary and Secondary. Upon a finding of responsibility, the student will receive at least one Primary Sanction and one or more Secondary Sanctions/Education Measures.

Disruptive Behavior

Violation

Examples

1st Violation

2nd Violation

3rd Violation

A pattern of minor disruptions that are akin to a nuisance

Loud conversations in quiet areas; violating quiet hours in a residence hall; minor interference with university activities; interrupting others in class or continually engaging in off-topic conversation

Warning and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate

Probation plus secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate

If violations occur in on campus housing, relocation of residence and/or housing probation could occur

Probation plus relocation or loss of on campus housing plus other secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate

Moderate disruptions that interfere with the orderly conduct of university activities and actions that may provoke disturbances

Disrupting a speaker or event; preventing others from seeing or hearing a speaker; blocking passageways or vehicular traffic; continuing the conduct following an instruction from a university official to cease

Continuing disruptive conduct in the classroom following instruction to cease

Probation and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate

Suspension or dismissal

Major disruptions that involve violent, forceful, or abusive behavior posing a clear risk to others

Violent behavior; property damage; erecting physical barriers to impair others' movement; failing to comply promptly with an instruction from a university official to cease or depart resulting in the event/activity needing to be stopped or ended; disruptive behavior that involves other violations of policy (ex: occupying a university building)

Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Permanent Dismissal

Permanent Dismissal

Alcohol Policy Violations

Violation	Examples	1st Violation	2nd Violation	3rd Violation
Minor alcohol policy violation	Underage possession without significant intoxication; possession of open container of alcohol in public; possession of alcohol containers in excess of 750ml	Warning and referral for alcohol education as appropriate	Probation and referral for alcohol education as appropriate; housing probation is possible	Probation or suspension; loss of housing is likely if violations occurred in housing
Major alcohol violation	Significant intoxification; transport to hospital; providing alcohol to underage students; possession of kegs/common containers or a large quantity of alcohol	Probation and referral for alcohol education as appropriate; other secondary sanctions as appropriate	Probation or Suspension; if Probation, loss of related privileges; loss of housing possible	Suspension

Fire Safety Violations

Violation	Examples	1st Violation	2nd Violation	3rd Violation
Possession of items that violate fire safety regulations	Non-compliant extension cords	Warning and removal of non-compliant item; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Probation and possible Housing Probation; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Probation and loss of Housing; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate
	Open flame such as candles in a university building	Warning or Probation; other secondary sanctions as appropriate; Housing Probation	Probation and loss of housing; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate
Failing to Evacuate During a Fire Alarm		Warning, secondary sanctions as appropriate	Probation and Housing Probation; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Probation and Loss of Housing; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate
Causing a false fire alarm	Smoking in a university building that results in an alarm	Probation and Housing Probation; secondary sanctions as appropriate	Probation or Suspension with loss of appropriate privileges; if not suspended, Loss of Housing	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate
	Intentionally pulling a False Fire Alarm	Probation and loss of housing; secondary sanctions as appropriate	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Permanent Dismissal
	Intentionally starting a fire in a university building	Permanent Dismissal

Violence and/or Threatening or Alarming Behavior

Violation	Examples	1st Violation	2nd Violation	3rd Violation
Behaving in a manner that a reasonable person would find alarming or intimidating	Threatening physical violence	Probation and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Suspension	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal
Committing acts of violence	Fighting, physically hitting another	Probation and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Suspension; if not suspended, loss of housing is possible If significant harm was inflicted, Dismissal is possible	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal
	Holding or transporting another person against their will; impeding another's ability to exit a property	Probation and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Suspension	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal
Reckless Behavior that Results in Injury to Another	Throwing items that hit another person	Probation or Suspension if harm was significant; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal	Dismissal

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Examples	1st Violation	2nd Violation	3rd Violation
Driving with a BAC in excess of law (currently 0.8)	Probation and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Suspension	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal	Dismissal
Driving with a BAC in excess of law (currently 0.8) resulting in an accident or injury	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Dismissal
Driving while impaired by cannabis or other drug	Probation or Suspension; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal	Dismissal

Damaging Property

Violation	Examples	1st Violation	2nd Violation	3rd Violation
Negligent conduct that results in minor damage to property	Throwing a ball that breaks a window	Warning or Probation; restitution and other appropriate secondary sanctions	Probation or Suspension; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate
Intentional conduct that results in minor damage to property	While locked out of their room, a student sticks an object into their door lock resulting in damage	Probation; restitution and other appropriate secondary sanctions	Probation or Suspension; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate
Intentional conduct that results in significant damage to property	A student throws a ball inside their residence hall; the ball hits the fire alarm strobe light resulting in damage of $1000	Probation or Suspension; restitution and other appropriate secondary sanctions; Housing Probation or Loss of Housing	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal

Possession of Drugs

Violation	Examples	1st Violation	2nd Violation	3rd Violation
Possession of cannabis; possession of psilocybin (psychedelic mushrooms)		Probation; referral to counseling; other secondary sanctions as appropriate; if in housing, Housing Probation	Suspension	Suspension or Dismissal
Possession of cannabis with intent to sell or distribute	Growing cannabis in residence hall room; possession of quantity inconsistent with personal use	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal, depending on scope and circumstances	Dismissal
Possession of other drugs	Possession of LSD, Ecstasy, Cocaine, Opiates	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Dismissal
Possession of other drugs with intent to sell or distribute	Possession of quantity inconsistent with personal use	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal	Dismissal
Possession of prescription medication without a prescription	Possessing a stimulant without a prescription	Probation or Suspension, referral to counseling; if in housing, Housing Probation or Loss of Housing; other secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Dismissal

Possession of Weapons, Combustibles, or Explosives

Violation	Examples	1st Violation	2nd Violation	3rd Violation
Possession of weapon	Possession of a knife with a blade in excess of 3"	Warning and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Probation and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate; Housing Probation possible	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate
	Possession of a firearm	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate or Dismissal	Dismissal
	Possession of gasoline or other flammable item in a campus building	Probation or Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate; Housing Probation or Loss of Housing	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Dismissal
	Possession of bow and arrow, sword, nun chucks	Warning or Probation; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Probation or Suspension; secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate; Loss of Housing is possible	Suspension
Possession of an item that resembles a weapon	Toy gun that appears to be an authentic gun	Warning and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Probation and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate	Suspension and secondary sanctions/measures as appropriate