Sanctioning guidelines have been adopted by Syracuse University to respond to substance abuse-related and other serious violations of the Student Conduct Code. Syracuse University seeks to deter students from engaging in conduct that poses risks to the safety and well-being of the individual student and/or the University community as a whole. Sanctioning guidelines are intended to alert students and other members of the University community to the seriousness of the following types of violations:
The Following Sanctioning Guidelines are in effect for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:
| CATEGORY | FIRST VIOLATION | SECOND VIOLATION | THIRD VIOLATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use, possession, or purchase of alcohol under Prohibited circumstances | Medical Amnesty (refer to Part 12)
Conduct Warning and educational activities including community involvement referral and/or educational project(s) |
Conduct Probation and educational activities including: Options Program referral and Community Involvement referral and/or other educational project(s) |
Suspension |
| Supplying alcohol to underage person(s) | Conduct Probation and educational activities including community involvement referral, community service, and/or educational project(s) | Suspension | Suspension or Expulsion |
| Extreme alcohol intoxication posing a substantial risk to the health and well-being of self and/or others | Medical Amnesty (refer to Part 12)
Conduct Warning and educational activities including Options Program referral and educational assignments |
Conduct Probation and educational activities including Options Program referral, community involvement referral, and/or other educational project(s)
Residential Relocation |
Suspension |
| Manufacture or sale of alcohol under prohibited circumstances | Conduct Probation and educational activities including community involvement referral, community service, and/or educational project(s) | Suspension | Suspension or Expulsion |
| Driving any motor vehicle while intoxicated or while under the influence of drugs | Conduct Probation and referral to Substance Abuse Counselors Program
Suspension |
Suspension or Expulsion | Expulsion |
| Use or possession of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia | Medical Amnesty (refer to Part 12)
Conduct Warning and educational activities including Options Program referral, community involvement referral, community service, and/or other educational project(s) |
Conduct Probation and educational activities including Options Program referral, community involvement referral, community service, and/or other educational project(s) | Suspension |
| Manufacture, sale, purchase, or distribution of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia | Conduct Probation with educational activities
Suspension |
Suspension | Expulsion |
| Use or possession of illegal drugs (other than marijuana) or controlled substances without an appropriate prescription | Conduct Probation and educational activities including Options Program referral, community involvement referral, community service, and/or other educational project(s)
Suspension |
Suspension | Suspension or Expulsion |
| Manufacture or sale of alcohol under prohibited circumstances | Conduct Probation and educational activities including community involvement referral, community service, and/or educational project(s) | Suspension | Suspension or Expulsion |
| Extreme drug intoxication or abuse-related behavior posing a substantial risk to the health and well-being of self and/or others | Conduct Probation and educational activities including Options Program referral, community involvement referral, and/or other educational project(s)
Residential Relocation |
Suspension | Suspension of two (2) semesters or greater |
| Manufacture, sale, purchase with intent to distribute, or distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substances other than marijuana | Suspension or Expulsion | Expulsion |
| CATEGORY | SANCTION |
|---|---|
| Possession of a prohibited weapon or other dangerous object, including but not limited to, firearms, BB-guns, sling shots, airsoft guns, air rifles, explosive devices, fireworks, or any other dangerous, unlawful, or hazardous object or material | Conduct Probation
Expulsion from student housing Suspension or Expulsion |
| Any improper use, attempted use, brandishing, or threat of use of a weapon or other dangerous, illegal, or hazardous object; any improper use as a weapon of any otherwise permitted object or material | Suspension or Expulsion |
| CATEGORY | SANCTION |
|---|---|
| Physical harm or threat of physical harm without a weapon resulting in little or no physical injury to involved persons | Conduct Probation or Suspension
Participation in the Conflict Resolution Program and the Options Program if alcohol or other drugs were a factor in the incident Community service and/or other educational sanctions |
| Physical harm without a weapon resulting in significant physical injury to another person | Suspension or Expulsion |
| Targeted bullying without physical violence | Conduct Probation or Suspension |
| CATEGORY | SANCTION |
|---|---|
| Tampering with smoke detectors in on-campus residential facilities | Conduct Warning, educational projects, and residential probation |
| Interference with, improper activation of, or damage to any elevator, or safety or emergency equipment, including, but not limited to: fire alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and blue lights; lighting any unauthorized fire on University property | Conduct Probation with appropriate educational sanctions or Suspension |
| CATEGORY | SANCTION |
|---|---|
| Sexual harassment including unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and some visual and physical conduct of a sexual nature; stalking without threats of violence | Conduct Probation with appropriate educational requirements
Suspension |
| Sexual assault, including, but not limited to sexual touching without consent, forcible touching; stalking with threats of harm; use of physical violence in a dating or sexual relationship | Suspension
Expulsion |
| Sexual intercourse without affirmative consent | Suspension of two (2) semesters or greater
Expulsion |
| Retaliation against an individual who has filed a report of gender-related violence/ harassment | Conduct Probation with appropriate educational projects
Suspension Expulsion |
| CATEGORY | SANCTION |
|---|---|
| Evidence that the student’s conduct violation was motivated by bias regarding a targeted individual or group’s real or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, reproductive health decisions, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and/or veteran status. | Enhanced sanction may include:
Conduct Probation Suspension |
| Evidence that a student’s conduct was motivated by bias and materially threatened the health or safety of a targeted individual or group. | Enhanced sanction may include:
Suspension Expulsion |
| CATEGORY | SANCTION |
|---|---|
| Participation in, promotion of, or perpetuation of hazing. | Suspension
Expulsion |
| Knowledge of hazing and failing to report or intervene in a situation that threatens the health and safety of another individual. | Suspension
Expulsion |
| CATEGORY | SANCTION |
|---|---|
| For student leaders, failure to intervene or notify the University when the student leader knows of a situation that threatens the health and safety of another individual or the campus community. | Conduct Probation and educational sanctions |
| For student leaders, participating and/or assisting in a situation that threatens the health and safety of another individual or the campus community. | Conduct Probation and educational sanctions
Suspension |
| CATEGORY | SANCTION |
|---|---|
| Participation in, or promotion of a student organization that has lost University recognition on a temporary or permanent basis. | Suspension |
Sanctions are designed to provide meaningful consequences for violations of University expectations and ensure that students are provided opportunities to access education, counseling, and support. In all cases, the appropriate sanctions will be determined on a case-by-case basis in light of all the circumstances. The presence of substantial mitigating or other appropriate circumstances may result in the reduction or augmentation of sanctioning guidelines.
Bias Sanction Enhancement Clause: Conduct motivated by bias against a targeted individual’s or group’s protected characteristics can negatively impact students’ ability to succeed to their fullest in our community and may also threaten health and safety. Evidence sufficient to show it is more likely than not that a student’s misconduct was motivated by bias regarding an individual or group’s actual or perceived creed, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, reproductive health decisions, national origin, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, marital status, political or social affiliation, age, race, color, veteran status, military status, religion, sexual orientation, domestic violence status, genetic information, gender identity, and/or gender expression may result in more substantial sanction(s).