Action Policies
ACTION POLICY PRECEDENCE, CRITERIA, AND PROCEDURES
Appropriate university actions will be selected and implemented based upon university precedence, procedures, and action selection criteria explained below.
University and College/ Department Policy Precedence
University policy takes precedence over any conflicting college or departmental policy. College and department policies may be more restrictive but may not be less restrictive than university policies administered by the Honor Code Office (HCO).
Selection Criteria
Based on the information accumulated during the investigation, the following criteria and attendant examples will guide the HCO in selecting appropriate actions.
Prior Honor Code violations
Seriousness of behavior
- Egregiousness
- Intent
- Duration and frequency
Impact on other students, university, and community
- Harm and potential harm
- Educational impact
- Extent that misconduct is known
Honesty and attitude
- Honesty, cooperation, and trustworthiness
- Acceptance of responsibility for behavior, including making restitution, and motivation for change
- Timely and voluntary self-report
- Relative maturity and emotional stability
Support
- Ecclesiastical leaders
- Counselors
- Parents
- Roommates and friends
- Nature and availability of support
Selecting and Implementing Action Procedures
Action selection
After the nature and extent of a violation have been determined, the HCO will select an action ranging from record retention to dismissal. While actions are related to the nature and extent of violations, suspension or dismissal are among the possible range of actions for any Honor Code violation. (See Action Options.) Determinations are based on the standard of "more probable than not" that the violation occurred.
Fairness and consistency
To facilitate fairness and consistency, all actions requiring a student to leave the university are reviewed and approved by the dean of students. Reasonable efforts will be made to inform the student's ecclesiastical leaders when the student is required to leave.
Communication with the student
For actions other than counsel and education, the Honor Code Office prepares a letter explaining the action and the conditions. Typically the letter is reviewed with the student personally. When a student is suspended or dismissed from the university, the student is informed in writing of the administrative review process. The process is also explained orally when possible. (See Administrative Review Process)
Graduation
To graduate, students must be in good Honor Code standing. In order to be returned to good standing, students are required to satisfactorily complete the specified conditions.
