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University Student Judicial Code
- General Principles Page
- Definitions Page
- Offenses Page
- Composition of the University Judicial System Page
- University Student Judicial Code Procedures Page
- Sanctions Page
- Appeals Page
- Record Retention Page
- Report on Student Conduct Page
- Temporary Suspension Page
- Amendment of the Code Page
- Titles and Successors Page
General Principles
- Purpose: The primary purpose for the maintenance of discipline in the University
setting is the protection of the campus community and the maintenance of an
environment conducive to learning and inquiry. Freedom of thought and expression
is essential to the University's academic mission. Nothing in this Code should be
construed to limit the free and open exchange of ideas and viewpoints, even if that
exchange proves to be offensive, distasteful, disturbing, or denigrating to some.
- Inherent Authority: The University reserves the right to take necessary and appropriate
action to protect the safety and well being of the campus community.
- Interpretation of Regulations and Standard of Conduct: To the extent feasible and
practicable, disciplinary regulations at the University are in writing in order to give students
general notice of prohibited conduct. The regulations are not a criminal code; they should
be read broadly and are not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive terms.
- Proceedings: Disciplinary proceedings conducted pursuant to the Code shall be
informal, fair, and expeditious. Procedures governing criminal or civil courts,
including formal rules of evidence, are not applicable. Deviations from the
procedures in this Code shall not invalidate a proceeding or decision, except where
such deviation has clearly resulted in significant prejudice to an accused student or to
the University.
- Violations of Local, State, and Federal Law: Students may be accountable to both
governmental authorities and to the University for acts which constitute violations of
law and this Code. Student conduct allegedly constituting a felony or misdemeanor
offense may be referred to appropriate law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
Disciplinary proceedings at the University will not be subject to challenge on the
ground that criminal charges involving the same incident have been filed, prosecuted,
dismissed, reduced, or otherwise resolved or that such proceedings constitute double
jeopardy.
- Violations of University Policies: Students alleged to have violated certain
University policies, such as the Research Integrity Policy, may be subject to
investigation and sanctions under both this Code and the other policy. Disciplinary
proceedings at the University will not be subject to challenge on the ground that other
charges involving the same incident have been filed or resolved or that such
proceedings constitute double jeopardy.
Definitions
- Student: Any person registered in one or more credit courses in any school, college,
or professional school of Washington University, at either the undergraduate or
graduate level. Teaching or research assistants if also registered as students are
classified as students for the purposes of this Code. Additionally within the scope of
this definition shall be any person who is, (1) not now a student, but is accused of
violating the Code during his or her period of enrollment, (2) who has been admitted
to a School, but has not yet matriculated, for example, a pre-freshman student, or (3)
not now a student, but has a continuous relationship with the University, including,
but not limited to, continuing to reside on University property or taking a leave of
absence.
- Campus: All property owned, leased, managed, or rented by Washington University
in St. Louis.
- Member of the University Community: Any Washington University faculty member,
student, employee, or Trustee, as well as any person on Campus who is an employee
of an entity with a continuous relationship with Washington University.
- Student Group: Any organization of two (2) or more Washington University students
that is recognized by Student Union, Congress of the South 40, the Interfraternity
Council, Women's Panhellenic Association, the Graduate-Professional Council, or
graduate student governments in any of the eight graduate-professional schools; or
utilizes (or seeks to utilize) Campus space; or attempts to take action, of any kind, in a
collective manner on Campus or at any officially arranged University activity.
Offenses
- The following forms of misconduct by a student or student group are subject to
disciplinary action when they occur on Campus or when they occur off Campus and
adversely affect the University community and/or the pursuit of its objectives.
Attempts to commit acts prohibited by this Code, agreements among two or more
students to commit acts prohibited by this Code, or inciting others by specific
direction to commit acts prohibited by this Code may be punished to the same extent
as commission of the prohibited act itself.
- Academic misconduct, including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism,
fabrication of data or records, unpermitted collaboration on assignments,
misrepresentation of student status, resume falsification, or otherwise
violating the Academic Integrity Policy. Knowingly making false allegations
of academic misconduct against any student will itself be considered a form of
academic misconduct.
- Interfering with the rights of other members of the University community or
visitors to the University to engage in educational, recreational, residential,
administrative, professional, business, and ceremonial activities, or other
functions.
- Physical abuse of any member of the University community or visitor to the
University.
- Threatening physical abuse, stalking, hazing, or any other conduct which
harasses, threatens, or endangers the safety or health of, any member of the
University community or visitor to the University.
- Sexual contact with any member of the University community or visitor to the
University without that person's consent, including, but not limited to, rape
and other forms of sexual assault. Conduct will be considered "without
consent" if no clear consent, verbal or non-verbal is given; if inflicted through
force, threat of force, or coercion; or if inflicted upon a person who is
unconscious or who otherwise would appear to a reasonable observer to be
without the mental or physical capacity to consent. For example, sexual
contact with a person who would appear to a reasonable observer to be
impaired in the exercise of his or her judgment by alcohol or other drugs may
be considered "without consent."
- Conduct which is disorderly, lewd, indecent, or which disturbs the peace on
University premises or at functions sponsored by, or participated in by,
Washington University or a Washington University student group.
- Possession (concealed or otherwise), storage, or use on Campus of firearms or
a facsimile, explosives, explosive fuels, fireworks, dangerous chemicals, or
other dangerous weapons, except as specifically authorized in advance by the
Washington University Police and appropriate University officials.
- Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of narcotics or other controlled
substances except as expressly permitted by law, or possession on Campus of
drug paraphernalia as defined by Washington University.
- Use or possession of a hookah on the Danforth Campus or in any Residential
Life managed facility.
- Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of alcoholic beverages except as
expressly permitted by law or University policy.
- Unauthorized or fraudulent use of the University's resources, including, but
not limited to, facilities, telephone system, mail system, electronic
communication devices, electronic databases, course management programs,
computer systems, or use of any of the above for any illegal act.
- Knowingly furnishing false information to a University official, or anyone
acting on the University's behalf, including, but not limited to, (a) the
falsification of information in applications for admission or financial aid, (b)
the intentional passing of an insufficient funds check or fraudulent money
order in payment of any financial obligation to the University, or (c) filing a
false police report.
- Intentional dishonesty before any decision-making individual or body of the University, including knowingly making false allegations against any student
or student group.
- Knowingly making a false claim to represent the University or a student group
of the University.
- Refusal to identify oneself, failure to display a University identification card
or other identification, possessing, or providing false identification to any
appropriate University official or designee upon reasonable request.
- Failure to comply with the reasonable and lawful request of University
officials or designees acting in the performance of their duties.
- Theft, attempted theft, unauthorized taking, or use of any University, public,
or private property.
- Knowingly possessing stolen property.
- Unauthorized entry, deliberate destruction of, damage to, malicious use of, or
abuse of any University, public, or private property.
- Knowingly or recklessly violating a published University policy, rule, or
regulation; or participating in conduct which one should reasonably know to
be a violation of a published University policy, rule, or regulation.
- Failure to appear before the University Judicial Board (UJB) or Judicial
Administrator as directed, or to properly comply with or complete a sanction
imposed under the University Judicial System.
- Intentionally or recklessly disabling, or causing the false activation of life safety
equipment, including, but not limited to, exit door alarms, emergency telephones,
fire safety equipment, closed circuit television systems, and door access systems.
- Formally charged with, convicted of, or found guilty of a crime such that the
student's continued presence on the University Campus poses a substantial threat to
the ability of others to continue their normal University functions and activities.
- Offenses by Student Groups: Student groups or organizations and their officers may
be held responsible for violations of this Code by members or others associated with
the group or organization who has received the tacit, or overt consent, or
encouragement of the group or organization or its leaders, officers, or spokespersons.
Student groups or organizations are subject to the same sanctioning provisions set
forth in this Code as individual students, including but not limited to revocation of
student group status.
Composition of the University Judicial System
- The University Judicial System shall consist of the following:
- Judicial Administrator
- Responsibilities: The Judicial Administrator receives and investigates complaints
of violation of this Code; and, if a violation is found, imposes appropriate
sanctions. The Judicial Administrator does not hear allegations of academic
misconduct, and does not have the authority to suspend, expel, or otherwise
directly terminate the status of a student found in violation of this Code.
- Selection: The Judicial Administrator is appointed by the Chancellor, or his
designee, following consultation with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Students
and Dean of Students. The appointee may be a faculty member or staff member.
- University Judicial Board
- Composition: The UJB is composed of six (6) faculty members, six (6)
undergraduate student members, six (6) graduate – professional student members,
six (6) administrative or staff members, and one additional member who shall
serve as Chairperson.
- Responsibilities:
- The UJB hears and decides cases referred to it by the Judicial Administrator,
the undergraduate School or College Academic Integrity Officers or Panels,
Graduate – Professional schools, and the suspending authority following a
temporary suspension; and cases involving allegations of academic
misconduct in the absence of a School or College Academic Integrity Panel.
The UJB hears and decides appeals from temporary suspensions, appeals
referred to it by the Chairperson of the UJB, and appeals from sanctions
issued by the Judicial Administrator. The UJB also performs other duties as
called for by this Code.
- The Chairperson of the UJB presides over all hearings conducted before the
UJB and convenes pre-hearing proceedings as needed; rules on appeals from
decisions of the Judicial Administrator and undergraduate School or College
Academic Integrity Panels; and performs other duties as called for by this
Code.
- Selection
- Members of the UJB are appointed for two (2) year terms, beginning on
January 1. Faculty members are appointed by the Faculty Senate Council;
student members are appointed by the Student Union and the GraduateProfessional Student Council; and administrative or staff members are
appointed by the Chancellor. Each year, three (3) faculty members are
appointed; three (3) undergraduate student members are appointed; three (3)
graduate – professional student members; and three (3) administrative or staff
members are appointed. If a vacancy exists members may be appointed
throughout the year. Members may be reappointed, but no member shall
serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. Members of the Faculty Senate Council, Student Union Executive Council, officers of the Graduate and
Professional Student Council, and officers of the University shall not serve on
the UJB.
- The Chairperson of the UJB is appointed annually by the Chancellor. The
Chairperson must be a member of the University community. The
Chairperson may be appointed, without limitation, for consecutive terms.
- The panel convened for a hearing normally consists of three (3) student members
and either three (3) faculty members or three (3) members of the administration or
staff, plus the Chairperson. A quorum consists of four (4) members, plus the
Chairperson. Student members shall comprise a portion of the hearing panel in
every case. Every attempt shall be made to provide peer representation for both
graduate and undergraduate students. The Chairperson shall determine whether
faculty or administrative (or staff) members shall comprise the remainder of the
panel. In making this determination, the Chairperson shall designate faculty
members whenever the sole allegation is academic misconduct. If, at the sole
discretion of the Chairperson, the allegations do not relate solely to matters of
academic misconduct, faculty, administrative, staff members, or any combination
thereof may serve.
- Authority Retained by Individual Schools, the Office of Residential Life, and Greek
Life
- Each School or College of the University may establish a panel to hear and decide
cases of alleged academic misconduct involving undergraduate students of that
School.
- The composition of such a panel shall be determined by appropriate persons in
each School or College.
- Such a panel may impose sanctions other than suspension or expulsion in any
case where academic misconduct is found. No School or College panel may
suspend or expel an undergraduate student for academic misconduct;
however, upon a finding of academic misconduct serious enough to warrant
suspension or expulsion, a panel may recommend the suspension or expulsion
of an undergraduate student to the UJB.
- Each Graduate or Graduate Professional School of the University may establish a
panel to hear and decide cases of alleged academic or professional misconduct by
graduate or graduate professional students of that School.
- Appropriate persons in each school shall determine the composition of the
panel and the scope of the panel's authority, which shall not exceed the
parameters set out immediately below.
- Such a panel may impose or recommend to the Dean of the student's Graduate
or Graduate Professional School appropriate sanctions, including suspension
or expulsion, in any case where academic or professional misconduct is found.
- Any appeal from a decision of a Graduate or Graduate Professional School
academic and professional integrity panel, including, where the panel is vested
with such authority, the panel's decision to impose the sanctions of suspension
or expulsion, shall be made to the Dean of that School. His or her decision
shall be final. Each Graduate or Graduate Professional School is permitted,
but not required, to establish an intermediate level of appeal that the student
must complete prior to initiating a final appeal to the Dean.
- Except for cases falling within Section IV.A.3.b(3) above, any appeal from a
decision of a Dean of a Graduate or Graduate Professional School to suspend
or expel a student shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section
VII.B.1 of this Code.
- If a School or College does not establish an academic integrity panel or if an
established panel fails to function, complaints of academic or professional
misconduct shall be heard by the UJB.
- Complaints filed with individual Schools or Colleges shall be governed by the
procedures created by those bodies. The procedures created by these Schools or
Colleges shall be approved by the Chancellor or his designee.
- The Office of Residential Life may, in consultation with student representatives of
the appropriate residential community, establish rules and regulations, in addition
to this Code, to govern the conduct of students living in the University residential
colleges and other housing subject to Residential Life regulations. The Office of
Residential Life may impose sanctions upon students who violate such rules.
Repeated violations of such rules, or serious offenses, may be referred to the
Judicial Administrator for further disciplinary proceedings. The foregoing
authority supplements, but does not supersede rights retained by the University in
Housing contracts and leases. Nothing in this paragraph precludes further
proceedings under this Code.
- The Executive Director of Campus Life / Director of Greek Life may, in
consultation with student representatives of the Greek community, establish rules
and regulations, in addition to this Code, to govern the conduct of organizations
and persons who are members of the Greek community. The Executive Director
of Campus Life / Director of Greek Life may impose sanctions when such rules
are violated. Repeated violations of such rules or serious offenses may be referred
to the Judicial Administrator for further disciplinary proceedings. The foregoing
authority supplements, but does not supersede rights retained by the University in
Housing contracts and leases. Nothing in this paragraph precludes further
proceedings under this Code.
- Student Decision-Making Bodies
Certain student groups have established decision-making bodies which receive and
investigate all allegations of violations of their legislation, procedures, or policies. The
pendency before the decision-making body of any student group of any case arising from an incident alleged to constitute a violation of this Code, shall not bar or postpone
proceedings under this Code.
University Student Judicial Code Procedures
- Initiation of Proceedings
- Proceedings concerning an alleged violation of this Code are initiated with a written
complaint. The complaint is a brief written statement describing the conduct alleged
to be in violation of the Code.
- Complaints of alleged violations of this Code may be filed against any student or
student group by any member of the University community.
- Complaints limited to alleged academic misconduct or professional misconduct.
a. Complaints limited to alleged academic misconduct or professional misconduct
shall be filed with the Academic Integrity Panel of the School or College in which
the misconduct allegedly occurred or, where no such panel exists, with the UJB.
b. If a complaint involving alleged academic misconduct against an undergraduate
student is filed with a School or College Academic Integrity Panel and the case is
viewed as serious enough that suspension or expulsion is a possible sanction, the
complaint shall be referred to the UJB for hearing. In such a case, a
representative of the School or College shall prepare a statement of charges and
have it served, by mail or personal service, upon the original charging party and
the student charged.
- Complaints involving alleged offenses other than academic or professional
misconduct.
- Complaints alleging any offense other than academic or professional misconduct
shall be filed with the Judicial Administrator.
- When a complaint is filed with the Judicial Administrator, he or she shall
promptly consider and investigate the complaint, notify the student or student
group against whom the complaint has been filed, and give the charged student(s)
an opportunity to be heard. The Judicial Administrator shall conduct meetings
with the parties in an informal manner, seek to obtain relevant information, and
shall render a decision promptly, in writing, and mail or hand deliver it to the
charged student(s). The Judicial Administrator shall, to the extent permitted by
law, inform the complainant of the decision and any sanctions.
- If the Judicial Administrator determines that there are not reasonable grounds to
believe that a violation of the Code occurred, the complaint shall be dismissed and
the complainant and student or student group complained against shall be
informed, in writing, of this action.
- If the Judicial Administrator determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of the Code has occurred, the Judicial Administrator shall
either:
- determine whether a violation of the Code has occurred and, if so, impose a
sanction; or
- refer the complaint to the UJB for hearing. The Judicial Administrator shall
refer to the UJB any case in which suspension or expulsion is a possible
sanction and may, at his or her discretion, refer to the UJB any other case.
- If the complaint is referred to the UJB the Judicial Administrator shall prepare a
statement of charges, which shall include the provision(s) of the Code allegedly
violated, and have it served by mail or hand delivered to the student or student
group charged and the Dean of the School or College in which the student(s)
is/are enrolled. The Judicial Administrator shall also furnish a copy to the
charging party. A hold shall be placed on the student's academic records until
disposition of the case.
- The pendency of any case arising from an incident alleged to constitute a violation of the
Code in any municipal, state, federal court, or agency shall not bar or postpone
proceedings under this Code unless (1) the Judicial Administrator elects to defer
proceedings until a final resolution of the case in the court or agency system; or (2) the
student has been charged with a felony offense and requests a deferral of proceedings.
The request for deferral shall result in the student's immediate withdrawal from student
status and removal from all University premises until the matter is heard and resolved
under this Code. The student's request must precede the initiation of a hearing by the
UJB. Postponement of a hearing shall not postpone a charged student's obligation to
fulfill sanctions imposed by the Judicial Administrator.
- Organizational Procedures of the University Judicial Board
- The UJB shall set times and places for hearings, and establish procedures not
inconsistent with this Code to govern the conduct of its hearings. Hearings may be
scheduled at any time, including during the summer and during University breaks.
- No student shall be subject to more than one UJB hearing on a charge or charges
resulting from any act or series of related acts alleged in violation of the Code. The
UJB may consolidate all charges pending against a student at the time of hearing.
Nothing in this provision shall prohibit a hearing on charges arising from acts which
take place or are discovered after earlier charges are filed.
- The UJB shall not conduct a hearing until the charged student has received the
statement of charges against him or her. If the charged student fails to appear for the
hearing, the UJB may postpone the hearing or, in the alternative, may conduct a
hearing to determine whether a violation of the Code occurred and impose sanctions
if appropriate. If the UJB decides to postpone the hearing, the UJB may decide to
suspend the student from the University until the student does appear before the UJB
for the hearing on the charges.
- Prior to a UJB hearing, the Chairperson of the UJB may convene a pre-hearing
conference with the parties. The student charged and the charging party each may
choose (at his or her own expense) to be assisted by and accompanied to the hearing
by one individual, for example, a friend, faculty member, advisor, or parent. Where
the victim of alleged misconduct is not a party, but a testifying witness, he or she may
be accompanied by an individual, subject to the limitations below. If the
accompanying individual is an attorney, the student shall provide the attorney's name
and telephone number to the Judicial Administrator at least one week before the
scheduled hearing.
- The function and role of the accompanying individual is to provide support, advice,
or assistance to the person requesting his or her presence. The accompanying
individual (including attorneys) shall not be permitted to testify, serve as a witness,
examine parties or witnesses, or provide statements to the UJB. Therefore, if the
individual witnessed the events at issue or has other information relevant to the
proceedings, he or she shall not accompany the student. The student charged and the
charging party are each responsible for stating his or her own case to the UJB.
- A list of expected witnesses, the name and title of the accompanying individuals, and
copies of any documents expected to be presented in support of the charges, or in
defense of the charged party, shall be provided to the Judicial Administrator at least
five (5) business days before the hearing. Where a student includes the opinion or
recommendations of medical professionals, such opinions or recommendations shall
be submitted ten (10) business days prior to the hearing. A student submitting
documentation from a medical professional also should submit a copy of the medical
professional's curriculum vitae. If additional witnesses or documents are obtained
after the submissions period described above, the hearing may be postponed at the
sole discretion of the Chairperson of the UJB. A party is not obligated to call all
witnesses on the list. Each party is permitted to call witnesses to rebut testimony
offered by the other party. The Chairperson may recess a hearing if he or she
concludes that the Board requires additional evidence or information.
- The following persons may be present during a UJB hearing: the Chairperson of the
UJB and Board members, the charged student and an accompanying individual; the
charging party and an accompanying individual; witnesses and their accompanying
individuals, where authorized by the Chairperson; the Judicial Administrator; and a
member of the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel.
Witnesses and their accompanying individuals, if any, may be present only when
testifying unless the Chairperson specifically requests a witness be present for any
other portion of the hearing.
- The Chairperson of the UJB may, at his or her discretion, direct any student to appear
as a witness at a hearing of the UJB. The Chairperson also may call witnesses,
including, but not limited to, medical experts, on his or her own initiative. The failure
of a student to appear at a UJB hearing following receipt of such a directive shall
subject that student to disciplinary action under this Code.
- The procedure at a hearing before the UJB shall be as follows:
- The charging party and the charged student shall have the opportunity to present
statements summarizing their respective cases and the evidence to be presented.
- The charging party shall present his or her evidence. The charging party may
decide whether or not to testify during the hearing. The charged student and
members of the UJB may question the charging party's witnesses.
- The charged student shall have the opportunity to present evidence. The charged
student may decide whether or not to testify during the hearing. The charging
party and members of the UJB may question the charged student's witnesses.
- The charging party and the charged student shall have the opportunity to present
concluding remarks.
- In cases referred to the UJB by the Judicial Administrator, the Judicial
Administrator may be called as a witness by the charging party or the charged
student, or by the UJB itself.
- In any hearing before the UJB, members of the UJB may ask questions of any
participant in the hearing (including the charging party, the charged student, and
any witness) at any time during the hearing, and may also recall witnesses and/or
request that additional witnesses be called.
- In cases where a student accuses another student of a violation under Section III
Offense numbers 3, 4 or 5, the Judicial Administrator may propose alternative
procedures or mechanisms for resolution, subject to agreement by the parties. If a
hearing before the UJB is to be held and the parties have not entered into an
agreement regarding alternative hearing procedures, the charging student may
elect to proceed under the following procedures, which shall apply to the entire
proceedings.
These procedures will supersede contrary provisions in provision 9 above.
- The Judicial Administrator shall appoint for each party a Case Coordinator to
provide support, assistance, and advice. The Case Coordinator shall be a faculty
or staff member and may be a former or current member of the UJB who is not
otherwise involved in the particular case. The Case Coordinator shall not be
permitted to testify as a witness.
- The Case Coordinator shall be responsible for calling witnesses, presenting
evidence, and questioning the other party, and the witnesses on behalf of the party
to whom the Case Coordinator is assigned. No party may directly question the
other party or any other witness, but shall advise his or her Case Coordinator of
the questions she or he wants to be put to the other party or witness.
- The Chairperson shall schedule a pre-hearing conference in advance of the
hearing. At that conference, parties and their Case Coordinators shall be
prepared to discuss the witnesses and evidence they intend to introduce, the issues they anticipate, and any matters that may require resolution by the Chairperson.
The Chairperson may, at his or her sole discretion, confer separately with the
charging party (and his or her Case Coordinator), and the charged student (and his
or her Case Coordinator).
- If, after all other questions have been put to a party or other witness, a party
believes that there are further questions that need to be put to the other party or
witness, the party may advise the Chairperson that she or he has additional
questions. The Chairperson will recess the hearing and meet with the party, his or
her accompanying individual, both Case Coordinators, the Judicial Administrator,
and the member of the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and General
Counsel for the limited purpose of discussing the additional questions that the party
wishes to pose. The Chairperson will then resume the hearing and ask such
questions at his or her sole discretion. All such discussions will be tape-recorded.
- The student charged and the charging party are responsible for presenting opening
statements and closing remarks to the UJB.
- Evidence shall be considered which tends to prove or disprove the charges. Prior
conduct and offenses unrelated to the charges shall not be considered in determining
whether the student charged has committed the offense except in unusual
circumstances. The Chairperson of the UJB shall rule on whether evidence or
testimony will be considered.
- If the UJB concludes that the evidence presented does not warrant a finding that the
student charged committed the charged offense(s), the proceedings are terminated.
- If the UJB concludes that the student committed the charged offense(s), or if the
student charged decides to admit to the charge(s), the charging party, the charged
student, and the University shall be given an opportunity to present additional
evidence for consideration by the UJB in deciding what sanction(s) to impose. The
additional evidence may consist of evidence of prior conduct (including prior
offenses) by the charged student, evidence as to the charged student's character, the
charged student's applicable University records, or any other evidence which could
assist the UJB in determining an appropriate sanction. Any such additional evidence
shall be presented at a hearing before the UJB conducted in accordance with the
procedures set forth above.
- A verbatim record (which may be in the form of a tape recording) shall be kept of all
pre-hearings and disciplinary hearings conducted by the UJB at the expense of the
University. A verbatim record may be kept of any proceedings before other panels or
persons at the request and expense of the party charged. The party charged must
make such a request no more than two days in advance of the hearing. Deliberations
of the UJB or other hearing panels shall not be recorded. Both parties, but not the
witnesses, shall have the right to review such records in the Office of the Judicial
Administrator, but may not make copies. All tape recordings shall remain the
property of the University and shall be destroyed upon closure of the case by the Judicial Administrator unless required by law to be maintained.
- Decisions
- A decisionmaker (whether the Judicial Administrator or the UJB) must find in favor
of the charged student unless the decisionmaker is persuaded that it is more likely
than not that the student committed the offense(s) charged. The charged student shall
be afforded the benefit of the presumption of innocence.
- If a charged student elects not to provide his or her version of events to the
decisionmaker (whether the Judicial Administrator or the UJB), the decisionmaker
may, but is not required to, draw adverse inferences from the student's silence.
- In cases decided by the UJB, the following shall apply:
- A majority vote of the members of the UJB participating in the case shall be
required for a decision.
- The Chairperson of the UJB may participate and vote.
- Any decision of the UJB shall be made in writing. Copies of the decision,
redacted as necessary, shall be mailed or delivered to the charging party, the
student charged, the charged student's parents if the parents will receive
notification pursuant to this Code, and other University officials with a need to
know as determined by the Judicial Administrator or the Chairperson of the UJB.
Sanctions
- Subject to the limitations described in paragraph C of this section, sanctions or
combinations of sanctions, may be imposed following a determination that a violation of
the Code has occurred:
- Warning: notice of a finding that it is more likely than not that an offense has been
committed and that continuation or repetition of such violation within a specified time
period will result in more severe sanctions.
- Deferred Penalty and Probation: any of the listed sanctions may be deferred by the
adjudicatory body or person for a specified time period, not to exceed two (2)
calendar years. Should the student, during the period of probation, be determined to
have committed another violation of this Code, the deferred penalty shall take effect,
in addition to the sanction imposed for any new offense.
- Restitution: reimbursement for actual damage or loss caused by the violation of the
University Judicial Code, either through appropriate repairs or monetary
compensation.
- Fine: monetary penalty of not more than Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($750.00).
- Educational Remedies: meetings with University officials or others, unpaid
University or community service, or other educational assignments. These may
include, but are not limited to, referrals to Student Health Services, attendance at workshops or panel discussions, letters of apology, and reflective essays. Service
assignments may occur on or off Campus. Conditions may be specified for the
completion of the sanction. Where a violation involves drug use, the Judicial
Administrator or UJB also may require the student to participate in drug screening on
a scheduled or random basis. Any and all costs associated with the screening are the
responsibility of the student.
- Disciplinary Activity Limitation: ineligibility for participation in any or all elected
and appointed positions within the University; also ineligibility for participation in all
forensic, athletic, dramatic, musical, social, or other University recognized activities
for a specified period of time.
- Denial of Access to Certain University Facilities: exclusion from University owned or
leased facilities, including housing, athletic fields, grounds, or parts of these facilities
indefinitely or for a specified period of time.
- Temporary Removal from University Housing: ineligibility to reside in University
Housing, including off Campus University owned, leased, managed, or rented
apartments, for a specified period of time.
- Permanent Removal from University Housing: permanent ineligibility to reside in
University Housing including off Campus University owned, leased, managed, or
rented apartments.
- Suspension: removal from student status in the University for a specified period of
time. This sanction will be permanently noted on a student's official transcript.
- Expulsion: permanent removal from student status in the University. This sanction will
be permanently noted on a student's official transcript.
- A student's entire academic integrity and disciplinary record may be considered in
determining appropriate sanction(s).
- The sanctions of expulsion and suspension may only be imposed by: (i) the UJB; (ii) the
Dean of a Graduate or Graduate Professional School; or (iii) in Graduate and Graduate
Professional Schools that grant such authority, the Academic and Professional Integrity
Panel. The Judicial Administrator and the other University judicial panels without
authority to expel or suspend may impose any of the other sanctions, except as such
authority is limited by Section IV. A. 3 of this document.
- Academic Misconduct: if academic misconduct is determined to have occurred, the body
making the determination may recommend to the faculty member responsible for the
course in which academic misconduct occurred that the grade of the student involved be
lowered, or no credit given. However, the final decision in any grading determination shall
rest with the faculty member. The UJB may recommend this sanction in addition to any
other sanctions imposed.
- Notification of Dean and Parents or Legal Guardians:
- The parents or legal guardians of any student who is legally dependent upon his or her parents or legal guardians and who is suspended or expelled shall be informed of
the decision of the UJB.
- The parents or legal guardians of any student under the age of 21 who has admitted
committing or been found under this Code to have committed an offense under
Section III.A.8 or III.A.10 may be notified of such violation or violations by the
Office of the Dean of Students. The Office of the Dean of Students shall have
discretion to determine when a violation or violations of Sections III.A.8 or III.A.10
are of sufficient severity or number to warrant notifying parents or legal guardians.
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the University from
disclosing to parents or legal guardians information relating to a health or safety
emergency involving the student or as otherwise permitted by law.
- The Dean of the School or College in which the student is enrolled shall be informed
of any UJB decision involving the student. If the student is visiting Washington
University but regularly enrolled elsewhere, notice of the outcome of any judicial
matter may be provided to the student's home college or university.
- Decisions of decision-making bodies (or persons) other than the UJB, which do not involve
academic misconduct, shall be reported to the Dean of Students.
- Student Union, the Graduate-Professional Council, and/or the sponsoring student
governing body will be made aware of specific details regarding violations of the
Code by a student group under its auspices at the time that the matter is resolved.
- Failure to Comply with Sanctions
1. If a student fails to comply in a timely fashion with any of the sanctions assigned a hold
may be placed on his or her University records. The hold will be removed upon full
completion of the sanctions assigned.
Appeals
- Time Limit for Appeals: any appeal authorized by the Code must be filed within
fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of the written decision by the decision-making
body or person. An appeal is filed when personally delivered to the appellate authority or
bearing a United States Postal Service postmark or other documentary evidence of timely
presentment to an independent delivery service.
- Appeals of UJB Decisions and Decisions of Deans of Graduate or Graduate Professional
Schools to Suspend or Expel a Graduate or Graduate Professional Student:
- A student determined by the UJB to have violated this Code, or a graduate student or
graduate professional student suspended or expelled by the Dean of a Graduate
School or Graduate Professional School shall, within the period of time specified by
this Code, have the right to appeal to the person designated by the Chancellor to serve
as the appeal officer, or his or her designee. Such appeal shall be made in writing to
the appeal officer and shall be limited to grounds that a fair hearing was not provided or that the sanction imposed was excessive. A student appealing a UJB decision shall
also deliver a copy of the appeal to the Judicial Administrator. When such appeal is
taken, the appeal officer shall not substitute his or her judgment of the facts for that of
the UJB or of the Dean. The scope of the appeal officer's review shall be limited to
determining whether a fair hearing was provided and whether the sanction imposed,
given all the relevant facts and circumstances, was excessive.
- The appeal officer, if he or she grants the appeal, may order a new hearing, or may
reduce or modify, but not increase, the sanctions assessed by the UJB or the Dean.
The decision of the appeal officer is final.
- In the event of the absence or disqualification of the appeal officer, the appeal will be
determined by the Chairperson of the Faculty Senate Council, or his or her designee.
- The University may not appeal any adverse decision of the UJB.
- Sanctions will be stayed pending the disposition of any appeal, except that a
temporary suspension will remain in effect. If a hold has been placed on a student's
records, it will remain until final disposition of the case.
- Appeals of Decisions of the Judicial Administrator and Academic Integrity Panels of
Undergraduate Schools and Colleges:
- Any final decision of the Judicial Administrator or an Academic Integrity Panel of an
Undergraduate School or College may be appealed, in writing, to the UJB within the
period of time specified by this Code. An appeal may be filed either by the charging
party or the charged student(s) or student group.
- The Chairperson of the UJB, upon receiving an appeal, shall provide a copy of the
appellant's request and supporting materials to the appellee. The Chairperson of the
UJB, or his or her designee, shall not substitute his or her judgment of the facts and
the scope of his or her review shall be limited to determining whether the written
material submitted by the appellant in support of the appeal indicates that either no
fair hearing had been provided to the appellant or that the sanction imposed, given all
relevant facts and circumstances, was excessive.
- If the Chairperson, or his or her designee, determines that an unfair hearing has
occurred, he or she shall take one of the following actions:
- Remand the case to the Judicial Administrator or Academic Integrity
Panel with specific instructions to assure a fair hearing. Upon remand, the
Judicial Administrator or the Academic Integrity Panel may reduce or
modify, but not increase, the sanctions previously imposed.
- Convene a hearing of the UJB to hear the matter de novo. Should the UJB
hold a hearing de novo, the hearing shall be conducted in accordance with
the procedures set out in Section V.C. of this Code. The UJB may impose a
sanction in excess of that imposed by the prior adjudicator.
- If the Chairperson, or his or her designee, determines that the sanctions were excessive, he or she may reduce or modify the sanctions previously imposed.
- Sanctions will be stayed pending the disposition of any appeal. If a hold has been
placed on a student's records, it will remain until final disposition of the case.
- The decision of the UJB, or its Chairperson, shall be final in any appeal from the
Judicial Administrator or Academic Integrity Panel, and no appeal to the appeal
officer shall occur.
- Appeals of Decisions of the Office of Residential Life or Greek Life:
- Any final decision of the Office of Residential Life or Greek Life may be appealed in
writing to the Judicial Administrator within the period of time specified by this Code.
The Judicial Administrator, or his or her designee, shall not substitute his or her
judgment of the facts. The scope of his or her review shall be limited to determining
whether the written material submitted by the appellant in support of the appeal
indicates that either no fair hearing had been provided to the appellant or that the
sanction imposed, given all the relevant facts and circumstances, was excessive.
- If the Judicial Administrator decides to sustain the contentions of the appellant, in
whole or part, he or she shall fashion a remedy or form of relief appropriate to the
facts and circumstances of the case.
- Sanctions will be stayed pending the disposition of any appeal; provided however,
that nothing contained in this Code shall in any way impair the enforcement of the
terms of the housing contracts and leases entered into between the University and
students residing in residential housing, including, but not limited to, reassignment
and cancellation.
Record Retention
Subject to Section V (14), records of the University Judicial Administrator and the UJB
directly related to non-academic cases heard under the University Judicial System shall
be destroyed after a period of ten years from the date of final adjudication. If a student
withdraws from the University prior to final adjudication, the records shall not be
destroyed. Records of the University Judicial Administrator and the UJB directly related
to allegations of academic misconduct or cases resulting in suspension or expulsion shall
be maintained indefinitely.
Report on Student Conduct
Each semester the Judicial Administrator shall prepare a Report on Student Conduct
summarizing the complaints filed in the previous semester, the types of conduct involved,
and the outcomes, including a description of the sanctions, if any. The Report shall be
circulated to the University administrators at the discretion of the Judicial Administrator and
the Vice Chancellor for Students.
Temporary Suspension
- The Chancellor, or his designees, may suspend a student for a temporary period if (1)
there is evidence that the student has committed an offense under this Code or the student
has been indicted or otherwise formally charged with a crime; and (2) there is evidence
that the continued presence of the student on the University Campus poses a substantial
threat to himself or herself or to the ability of others to continue their normal University
functions and activities.
- The suspending authority (the person imposing the suspension) shall limit the scope of the
temporary suspension to that necessary to protect those possibly affected by the actions of
the suspended student. Access to parts of University owned, leased, managed, or rented
property, the Campus, or to certain activities, may be limited. In cases of seriously
disruptive or dangerous behavior, the suspending authority may deny the student access to
the University owned or leased property, Campus, and/or prohibit class attendance.
- If a student is suspended for a temporary period, the suspending authority shall prepare a
written notice of the suspension and shall have the notice served, by mail or hand
delivered, on the suspended student. The written notice shall include a brief statement of
the scope of the suspension and the reasons therefore, and a brief statement of the
procedures provided in cases of temporary suspension under this Code.
- A student suspended for a temporary period shall be given an opportunity to appear
personally before the suspending authority within five (5) business days from the date of
service of the notice of temporary suspension. If the student asks to appear personally
before the suspending authority, only the following issues shall be considered:
- Whether the suspending authority's information concerning the student's conduct is
reliable;
- Whether under all the circumstances, there is a reasonable basis for believing that the
continued presence of the student on Campus poses a substantial threat to the student
or to the rights of others to engage in their normal University functions and activities;
and
- Whether the scope of the temporary suspension is reasonable.
- Within ten calendar days of the date of a temporary suspension, the suspending authority
shall file a statement of charges against the suspended student with the UJB, and shall
have the statement of charges served, by mail or hand delivered, upon the suspended
student and the Dean of the School or College in which the student is enrolled.
- A temporary suspension shall end when rescinded by the suspending authority, or upon
the failure of the suspending authority to file a statement of charges within a reasonable
time or, if not rescinded and if a statement of charges is promptly filed, when the case is
heard and decided by the UJB.
Amendment of the Code
The amendment process may be initiated by any member of the campus community, the
Student Union, the Graduate-Professional Council, the Faculty Senate Council, or any
faculty, staff or student group by the submission of proposed changes to the Office of the
Dean of Students. The Associate Vice Chancellor for Students and Dean of Students, or
his or her designee, shall promptly distribute copies of the proposed changes to the Office
of the General Counsel, Student Union, the Graduate-Professional Council, and the
Faculty Senate Council for adoption or rejection. Review of the Code shall be initiated
by the Office of the Dean of Students no less than every three years.
Titles and Successors
Because the titles, positions, or groups stated in this Code may change, the functions or
responsibilities assigned by this Code shall be performed by persons or groups that
assume the functions of the positions or groups stated in this Code.
Effective July 1, 2011