Responses to Misconduct

Creating a space that allows members of the University community to live and work in a safe and respectable environment is an important component of the conduct process. A major goal of the conduct process in particular and the University in general is to teach why something is wrong as well as to prevent its repetition. This goal is often difficult to carry out, but an effort is made to create a response that will best educate the student or group involved. 

Common Responses

This list is by no means inclusive of all options open to conduct officers and boards in creating appropriate responses for individual offenses.

  • Disciplinary Warning, including an official letter of reprimand to the student stating that his or her behavior is in violation of University policy and may not recur.
  • Community Restitution, which may require individuals or groups to write a letter of apology, participate in a designated service project, or give an identified community (on or off campus) a number of service hours to be completed within a specified time period. When appropriate, the individual or group may be required to devise its own community restitution plan to be approved by the judicial officer or his/her designee.
  • Counseling Intervention, which may be recommended, and in some cases required, when behavior indicates that the counseling may be beneficial to the student. Specific circumstances will determine an appropriate mental health service referral, which may include drug, alcohol, and other educational workshops.  Such mandated interventions may be at the student’s cost.
  • Financial Restitution, which may require individuals or groups to restore or replace within a specified time, property which has been damaged, defaced, lost, or stolen.
  • Revocation or Restriction of Privileges, for the use of designated University facilities or programs.
  • Disciplinary Probation, which normally consists of an official notice that further violation of University policy will result in serious consideration being given that the individual or group not be permitted to continue as a student or group at the University of Rochester. This is a serious warning which serves as a check on the student’s or group’s future behavior. Once a student or group is on probation, any further disciplinary action will be more severe. Probation is given for a period of time and can limit the activities or privileges of a student or group. For example, students on probation are not able to join a fraternity or sorority nor are they permitted to study abroad.
  • Groups that are placed on probation may be placed in one of two probationary categories:
    • Social Probation: A group on social probation is not permitted to hold functions/gatherings where alcohol is present.
    • Formal Disciplinary Probation: A group on formal disciplinary probation is not permitted to hold any functions or gatherings, including those gatherings that only involve its members.
  • Suspension from University Housing, which involves revocation of the privilege of living in University housing for a certain period of time. Students or groups who have their housing contracts or leases terminated for disciplinary reasons are not entitled to a reimbursement.
  • Suspension, which generally involves the revocation of the privilege of attending the University and using its facilities for a certain period of time. Conditions for re-entry may be specified.
  • Expulsion, which means the student is permanently separated from the University. He or she may not apply for readmission to any program.

Other common responses may include alteration of housing selection privileges; research assignments; project, program, and presentation requirements; revocation of other University privileges (e.g., access to computer systems, dining venues, sports and recreation facilities); mandated follow-up meetings with University officials; mandated supervised study hours.

Once a response is issued, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the response is completed in a timely fashion. Failure to complete an assigned response will result in an additional charge, and will be handled administratively by the judicial officer or his/her designee. Students failing to complete judicial responses normally have their student accounts placed on hold (making them unable to register for classes or receive transcripts) until such response is completed. 

COMMON RESPONSES BY POLICY VIOLATION

The responses listed below are used as a guide to demonstrate the expected consequences from typical cases involving the specific charge alone and without mitigating circumstances. In all cases, conduct officers and boards are expected to use discretion and good judgment, and are in no way bound by these recommendations.

  • Alcohol and Other Drug Offenses: Please see common responses to violations of the Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy on page 15.
  • Computer Misuse: Typical response ranges from up to one academic year’s disciplinary probation and/or loss of computer privileges for the same amount of time (reconnection fees may apply) and/or community restitution.
  • Disorderly Conduct: Typical response ranges from letter of apology to expulsion from the University. Students who assault another person should expect to be suspended from the University for at least one academic year.
  • Failure to Comply: Typical response ranges from letter of apology to removal from residence.
  • Providing False, Misleading, or Incomplete Information: Typical response ranges from a letter of apology to removal from residence.
  • Fire Safety: Generally, responses range varies widely depending on the nature of the violation, but generally includes at least one academic year’s disciplinary probation and can result in expulsion from the University.  If, however, a student is found to be tampering with a fire safety device (i.e. smoke detector), that student will be placed on deferred removal from residence for the remainder of their time at the University.  Any subsequent fire safety violations will result in the student being removed from his or her residence and being prohibited from entering all campus housing.  If the student violates a different University policy while on this response the outcome may result in the student being immediately removed from University housing and banned from campus residential areas.
  • Harassment: Typical response ranges from six weeks’ disciplinary probation to suspension from the University.
  • Hazing: Typical response ranges from up to two years’ disciplinary probation and educational assignment to expulsion from the University.
  • Vandalism and Damage: Typical response ranges from six weeks’ disciplinary probation and restitution fines to removal from residence.
  • Sexual Harassment and Assault: Typical response ranges for harassment is up to three years’ disciplinary probation, active avoidance (restraining) order, prohibition from various areas and events, and educational assignment to expulsion from the University. Students responsible for assaulting another student should expect to be suspended from the University for at least one academic year.
  • Theft or Attempted Theft: Typical response ranges eight weeks’ disciplinary probation and restitution fines to suspension from the University.
  • Trespassing/Misuse of University Property or Facilities: Typical response ranges from a letter or apology to removal from residence.