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Student Conduct Processes

Student Conduct Processes

Student Conduct Processes are governed by UHD Student Rights and Responsibilities policy, PS 04.A.01, and the processes are conducted by the University Student Conduct Officer.  The processes are defined for the “academic environment” (section 4.1.1) and the “university level” (section 4.1.2). 

Discipline in the Academic Environment

According to the policy the classroom instructor is responsible for decorum in the academic environment. The instructor should address the problematic behavior to the student and attempt to guide the student to stop the behavior. If the behavior persists and is disruptive, the instructor may ask the student to leave the classroom and attend a meeting with the instructor and the department chair, before the student is allowed to return to class. If the student refuses to leave the classroom, the instructor may call UHD police. The instructor should document the incident on the Student Incident Report Form which is attached to the policy. If the student accepts responsibility for the behavior, he or she may return to class. If the situation cannot be resolved by following these steps, the matter must be reported to the Student Conduct Officer in 380-S.

Discipline at the University Level

When a student conduct matter in the classroom cannot be resolved by following the steps in (PS 04.A.1, Section 4.1.1) of the Student Rights and Responsibilities policy, or when any student conduct issue occurs outside of the classroom, the Student Conduct Officer will receive, investigate/review, and manage the reports. If the University believes that the student’s presence on campus constitutes an imminent danger to persons or property, the Student Conduct Officer may invoke “interim suspension,” under which a student may be denied access to class, UHD computer networks, and or UHD property during the Student Conduct Process. (PS 04.A.01, Section 4.2)

When a report is received, the Student Conduct Officer will investigate and/or review the report.  In most cases, the student will not be denied access to educational resources during the investigation/review.  The steps for the Student Conduct processes include:

  1. Notification to the student of the report: The student will be notified in writing by the Student Conduct Officer that a Conduct Code violation was reported. The student will be required to attend a “procedural interview” (PS 04.A.01, Section 4.1.2.2) with the Student Conduct Officer. During the Procedural Interview, the student will receive a copy of the report and an overview of the Student conduct process. In some cases, depending on the seriousness of the report, the matter may be resolved at this stage. If the matter cannot be resolved at this stage, the next step is an investigation/review.

  2. Investigation/review: The Student Conduct Officer will investigate/review the report. This may include interviewing the person who made the report, the student involved and possible witnesses. This will also include an examination of the policy to determine a specific policy violation. The officer will arrange either an “Administrative Review” by the Student Conduct officer or a Hearing with the Student Discipline committee. The student has the option to decide between the Officer or the Committee.

  3. If the student is found to have violated any UHD or UH System policy, the Student Conduct Officer or the Student Discipline Committee may impose a sanction. The possible sanctions, defined in detail in section PS 04.A.01, section 3.3 of the policy, include, but are not limited to :
    a.
    		 A warning
    b.
    		 Restricted privileges
    c.
    		 Restitution
    d.
    		 Disciplinary Probation
    e.
    		 Withholding Transcripts
    f.
    		 Non Re-admission
    g.
    		 Suspension
     
    i.
    		 If the university determines that a student’s presence on campus constitutes an imminent danger to persons or property, Interim Suspension may be invoked.
     
    ii.
    		 If a student is subjected to Interim Suspension, he or she may be denied access to class, UHD computer networks, and or UHD property during the Student  Conduct Process.
    h.
    		 Expulsion

A student may appeal any finding or sanction from the Student Conduct Officer or the Student Discipline Committee to the Dean of Students and/or designee.