Disciplinary Policy and Procedures

Disciplinary Policy and Procedures

Disciplinary Policy and Procedures

Through the admissions process, students entering the College of Arts & Sciences at Bethel University agree to live by all Bethel University  Covenant for Life Together and community commitments. When a behavioral violation of any one of these commitments occurs, the procedures outlined below will be followed. The procedures may be accelerated at the discretion of the Student Life staff.

A. Confrontation and Referral Procedure

Personal confrontation will occur with the appropriate Student Life staff member. An incident report will be completed and retained for an appropriate time period in a student’s conduct records in the Office of Student Life.

B. Disciplinary Action

Disciplinary action is determined by a staff member in the Office of Student Life or Residence Life. Disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to:

• Fines.  A student may be subject to fines for rule violations and certain behaviors, particularly those causing harm to property, expense to the University, or disruption to the processes of the University.

• Community Service.  A student may be asked to perform community service hours on or off campus as part of the disciplinary outcome.

• Written warning. A student may receive a written notice, by letter or email, stating the nature of the violation and stating that further violations may lead to additional disciplinary steps.

• Behavioral Agreement. The student and the Office of Student Life enter into an agreement, often signed by both parties, stating the nature of the student’s violation and the steps that the student and/or the Office of Student Life will take as a result of the student’s behavior.

• Behavioral Probation.  The student is permitted to remain on campus and continue in classes and academic activities with particular conditions specified. These conditions are often stated in the form of a Behavioral Agreement (see above). Special housing approvals, participation in varsity sports, and other co-curricular privileges may be affected.  Community service hours may be required.  Students will be asked to notify their parents and/or other adults important in their lives.  A temporary record is kept in the Office of Student Life.

• Removal from Campus Housing. A student is not permitted to continue living in campus housing and is required to receive clearance from a dean in order to be eligible for future semesters in campus housing. A student is permitted to continue in classes and academic activities.

• Suspension.  The student is involuntarily separated from the University for a specified length of time and is not permitted to continue in academic or co-curricular activities during that period of time.  They are also not permitted to remain in campus housing.  Suspensions range from 3 to 14 days.  When a suspension occurs during interim the student may be suspended for the entire interim.  Parents are notified and a temporary record is kept in the Office of Student Life.  The student is asked to notify professors.

• Withdrawal.  The student is permitted to withdraw without privilege of returning until a time specified by the deans.  A temporary record is kept in the Office of Student Life. 

• Dismissal. The student is withdrawn by a dean of students.  The student may be permitted to reapply to Bethel after a specified period of time and after completing any requirements given at the time of dismissal.

• Expulsion.    The student is permanently separated from the University. A permanent record of expulsion is noted on the student’s academic transcript.

• Additional Disciplinary Responses: In addition to the responses delineated above, staff members in the Office of Student Life may use other disciplinary actions when deemed necessary and appropriate.  These may include, but are not limited to, educational responses, parent notification, notification of faculty or coaches (or other staff members when appropriate), a chemical dependency assessment, restitution of personal or institutional damages, reconciliation to individuals or offended groups, and follow-up sessions with a student life staff person, faculty member, or other individual agreed upon by the student and the Office of Student Life.

C. Compliance

Students are expected to comply with the requests, sanctions, and expectations resulting from the disciplinary and non-disciplinary processes. Failure to comply may result in further consequences, including dismissal. In addition, failure to respond to a request for a meeting with Student Life staff may result in a disciplinary response up to and including dismissal from the university.

D. Disciplinary Standings

The following disciplinary standings will be assigned at the discretion of the designated Student Life staff member. A student's specific behavior will determine the disciplinary level from which consequences are considered. The levels are not consecutive, but provide parameters to determine the seriousness of a behavior and an appropriate consequence (e.g., a behavioral violation may warrant a level III or IV response even if the student has had no prior violation).

Level I

Level I violations are generally first-time policy infractions or situations requiring an initial meeting with an appropriate Student Life staff member. Some common behaviors that would be considered in this category include, but are not limited to:

• Visitation violations

• Quiet Hours violations

• Other housing violations

• Minor vandalism

Level I educational consequences are determined by a resident director and/or the Student Life dean after an appropriate Student Life staff member has met with the student implicated in the policy violation and has determined that:

• The student was innocently or naively caught in a behavioral violation.

• The student's attitude evidences a positive and cooperative spirit.

• The student has the maturity to monitor his or her own behavior in the future.

The student will be informed of this status through personal contact, a confrontation report, or a written letter of warning. Consequences may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Clean up or repair of affected area

• Restitution for damage or loss

• Letter of apology to affected person(s)

• Assignments as deemed appropriate by Student Life staff (research paper, journal, etc.).

• Written documentation of incident placed in student's conduct record and retained for an appropriate time period in the Office of Student Life.

Level II

Level II violations are behaviors that result in a second meeting with a Student Life staff member or any incident determined to be of a more serious nature. Behaviors that would be considered in this category include, but are not limited to:

• Second-time violations

• Intentional vandalism

• Tobacco use

• Uncooperative behavior or attitude, disrespect for staff, or dishonesty

Level II educational consequences are determined by the Student Life deans after an appropriate staff member has met with the student implicated in the policy violation and has determined that a behavioral violation has taken place. Consequences may include, but are not limited to:

• Written disciplinary warning

• Behavioral agreement

• Assignments as deemed appropriate by Student Life staff (research paper, journal, etc.)

• Written documentation of incident placed in student's conduct record in the Office of Student Life

• Follow-up sessions with appropriate Student Life staff member

• Restitution for damage or loss

• Parental notification if deemed necessary by Student Life staff

Level III

Level III violations are behaviors that result in a third meeting with a Student Life staff member or any incident determined to be of a nature that calls for more serious consequences. Some incidents in this category include, but are not limited to:

• Any infraction that occurs in violation of an existing Behavioral Agreement

• Third-time violations

• Destruction of university property

• Cohabitation violations

• Computer crimes

• Gambling

• Gross violations of community standards

• Failure to cooperate with or comply with an official request from a Safety and Security staff person, Student Life staff person, or college official.

Level III consequences are determined by the Student Life deans after an appropriate staff member has met with the student implicated in the policy violation to give the student an opportunity to be heard, and to determine whether a behavioral violation has taken place. To remain in school, the student must:

• Discontinue the violating behavior

• Comply with stipulations as designated by the Student Life staff

Consequences may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Disciplinary probation

• Disciplinary suspension from the campus (including classes) for up to 7 days (suspensions occurring immediately before or during interim are likely to include the entire interim)

• Completion of appropriate assignments as determined by Student Life staff

• Written documentation of incident placed in student's conduct record in the Office of Student Life

• Restitution for damage or loss

• Follow-up sessions with appropriate Student Life staff member

• Suspension/resignation from participation in student leadership position(s) as determined by the supervisor/advisor

• Suspension or removal from college housing

The student will be informed of this status through personal contact and/or written notification from a Student Life staff member,, Students placed on disciplinary probation will be informed in writing of the length and stipulations of his or her probation. Failure to comply with stipulations given by Student Life staff will result in consequences consistent with Level IV behaviors, placing the student in jeopardy of suspension, dismissal from school, and/or from current or future college housing. Dismissal can be immediate or at the close of a term.

Level IV

Level IV violations are those considered to be some of the most severe infractions of college policy. Some incidents that might be considered Level IV violations include, but are not limited to:

• Any violation that occurs while the individual is on behavioral probation

• Premarital sexual activity

• Possession or use of alcohol

• Hosting a party with alcohol or purchasing/supplying alcohol for other Bethel students

• Providing alcohol to a minor

• Repeated or extensive alcohol use

• Possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs

• Possession of weapons on campus

• Serious violations of security and safety standards

• Harassment

• Hazing

• Physical abuse

• Violent acts or threats toward individuals or the community

• Sexual assault

Criminal activity Level IV consequences may include suspension for up to 14 days (suspensions occurring immediately before or during interim are likely to include the entire interim), dismissal or expulsion from the University, and any other sanction determined by the appropriate dean of students and or the Student Care and Concerns Committee. 

Additional consequences may include, but are not limited to:

• Disciplinary probation

• Disciplinary suspension

• Completion of an alcohol assessment

• Completion of an alcohol educational program

• Coach/advisor notification as determined by Student Life staff

• Parental notification as determined by Student Life staff

• Suspension/resignation from participation in campus activities such as athletics, choir, gospel teams, or campus ministries groups as determined by the supervisor/advisor

• Notification of students’ course instructors

Violations of the Covenant for Life Together or of Bethel community expectations at Level IV or above will be processed under the direction of one of the deans of student life. The dean may hear the case themselves, choose to refer the case to the appropriate Student Care and Concern Committee or, in some circumstances, may refer the case to the Student Conduct Board, consisting of faculty, staff, and student members (See Bethel University Student Conduct Board Policy and Procedures).

Level V

Level V violations are behaviors that cannot be tolerated within the community (e.g., selling of illegal drugs, violence toward others) and are likely to result in immediate dismissal or expulsion from school.

E. Notification of Parents

It is the policy of the Office of Student Life to notify parents regarding the use of alcohol or illegal drugs. If a student is placed on behavioral probation, suspended, or dismissed for other reasons, parents are likely to be notified unless unusual circumstances exist. Students are encouraged to share information regarding any disciplinary sanctions with their parents. Official notification of parents is at the discretion of the Student Life staff. This policy applies to all students up to 24 years of age.

F. Notification of Faculty

It is the policy of the Office of Student Life to notify faculty regarding the suspension of a student or other serious disciplinary actions that may impact a student's attendance in class. Faculty will be informed of the length and specific dates of the suspension and encouraged to contact the Office of Student Life regarding questions related to the disciplinary process. Faculty may, at their discretion, determine whether or not to accommodate a student for academic work missed during a suspension.