Sanctioning Guidelines

These guidelines are provided as general information to promote consistency and help students understand the range of possible outcomes for common violations of the Student Conduct Code. They are recommendations, not mandatory minimums or maximums, and do not predetermine any specific outcome.

Each case is evaluated individually, based on its own facts and circumstances. Where these guidelines refer to an “initial,” “elevated,” or “pattern response,” those references are meant only to illustrate how factors, including but not limited to prior conduct history, may inform a progressive response. This is not a three-strikes policy, and no set number of violations automatically triggers a mandatory outcome. Where prior conduct history is considered, it is not used to trigger automatic consequences; rather, it helps the decision maker understand the full context and respond appropriately to the situation.

All sanctions are considered educational in nature. Their purpose is to help students understand the impact of their actions on themselves, others, and the broader academic community, while supporting personal growth, accountability, and responsible decision making. At the same time, sanctions are also intended to protect the safety and well-being of the campus community.

These guidelines do not limit the University’s discretion. The University retains the authority to impose a greater or lesser sanction than what is described here, based on the facts and circumstances of each individual case.

Bias Sanction Enhancement Clause: Conduct motivated by bias against a targeted individual’s or group’s protected characteristic(s) can negatively impact students’ ability to succeed 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 status, reproductive health decisions, national origin, shared ancestry, 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, or any other status protected by applicable law or policy may result in more substantial sanction(s).

The Following Sanctioning Guidelines are in effect for the 2026-2027 Academic Year:

CATEGORY FIRST VIOLATION SECOND VIOLATION THIRD VIOLATION
Use, possession, or purchase of alcohol under prohibited circumstances Medical Amnesty (if applicable per Part 12)

Conduct Warning and educational activities including: community involvement referral and/or educational project(s)

Conduct Probation and educational activities including:

Substance Education 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 wellbeing of self and/or others Medical Amnesty (if applicable per Part 12)

Conduct Warning and educational activities including: Substance Education referral and educational assignments

Conduct Probation and educational activities including Substance Education 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 substance education referral

or

Suspension

Suspension or Expulsion Expulsion
Use or possession of cannabis or drug paraphernalia Medical Amnesty (if applicable per Part 12)

Conduct Warning and educational activities including: substance education referral, community involvement referral, community service, and/or other educational project(s)

Conduct Probation and educational activities including: substance education referral, community involvement referral, community service, and/or other educational project(s) Suspension
Manufacture, sale, purchase, or distribution of cannabis or cannabis/other drug paraphernalia Conduct Probation with educational activities

or

Suspension

Suspension Expulsion
Use or possession of illegal drugs (other than cannabis) or controlled substances without an appropriate prescription Conduct Probation and educational activities including: substance education referral, community involvement referral, community service, and/or other educational project(s)

or

Suspension

Suspension Suspension or Expulsion
Extreme drug intoxication or abuse-related behavior posing a substantial risk to the health and wellbeing of self and/or others Conduct Probation and educational activities including: substance education referral, community involvement referral, community service, and/or other educational project(s)

Residential Relocation

Suspension Suspension or Expulsion
Manufacture, sale, purchase with intent to distribute, or distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substances other than cannabis Suspension or Expulsion Expulsion

CATEGORY SANCTION
Possession of a prohibited weapon or other dangerous object(s), including, but not limited to, firearms, BB-guns, slingshots, airsoft guns, air rifles, explosive devices, fireworks, or any other dangerous, unlawful, or hazardous object or material Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) with other conditions as appropriate; or

Suspension (at least 1 semester); 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 (at least 2 semesters); or

Expulsion

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Theft or damage of personal or University property Conduct Warning or Conduct Probation (at least 1 semester) with educational sanctions and campus/housing restrictions as appropriate; orSuspension (at least 1 semester); 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 SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Disorderly or disruptive behaviors, or actions which breach the peace or intentional or reckless actions which impact the health and/or safety of others, including but not limited to bullying or harassment that is not related to a protected category, but is still severe or pervasive Conduct Warning or Conduct Probation (at least 1 semester) with educational interventions or conditions as appropriate; orSuspension (at least 1 semester); or

Expulsion

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Failure to comply with the lawful directives of University employees performing the duties and responsibilities of their position or office. Conduct Warning or Conduct Probation (at least 1 semester) with educational sanctions and campus/housing restrictions as appropriate; orSuspension (at least 1 semester); or

Expulsion

Failure to comply with University processes or directives (e.g., No Contact Orders, properly issued sanctions). Conduct Probation (at least 1 semester) with educational sanctions and campus/housing restrictions as appropriate; orSuspension (at least 1 semester); or

Expulsion

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Unauthorized entry into the residence/property of another individual (University-owned or private). Conduct Warning or Conduct Probation (at least 1 semester) with educational sanctions and campus/housing restrictions as appropriate; orSuspension (at least 1 semester); or

Expulsion

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Tampering with smoke detectors in on-campus residential facilities Conduct Warning or Conduct Probation (at least 1 semester), educational sanctions and campus/housing restrictions as appropriate
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 (at least 1 semester) with educational sanctions and campus/housing restrictions as appropriate; or

Suspension (at least 1 semester)

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Sexual harassment including unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and some verbal and/or physical conduct of a sexual nature Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) with appropriate educational sanctions; or

Suspension (at least 2 semesters)

Sexual assault, including, but not limited to, sexual touching without consent, forcible touching Suspension (at least 2 semesters); or

Expulsion

Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse Suspension (at least 2 semesters); or

Expulsion

Sexual Exploitation Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) with appropriate educational sanctions; or

Suspension (at least 2 semesters); or

Expulsion

Dating and/or Domestic Violence without a weapon or physical injury Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) with appropriate educational sanctions; or

Suspension (at least 2 semesters)

Dating and/or Domestic Violence with a weapon or physical injury Suspension (at least 2 semesters); or

Expulsion

Stalking without threats or acts of violence Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) with appropriate educational sanctions; or

Suspension (at least 2 semesters); or

Expulsion

Stalking with threats or acts of violence Suspension (at least 2 semesters); or

Expulsion

Retaliation against an individual who has filed a report or participated in an investigation of gender-related violence/harassment Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) with appropriate educational sanctions; or

Suspension (at least 2 semesters); or

Expulsion

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Evidence that the student’s conduct violation was motivated by bias regarding a targeted individual or group’s real or perceived protected status or identity Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) with appropriate educational sanctions; or

Suspension (at least 1 semester); or

Expulsion

Evidence that a student’s conduct was motivated by bias and materially threatened the health or safety of a targeted individual or group Suspension (no less than 1 semester); or

Expulsion

 

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Participation in, promotion of, or perpetuation of hazing Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) and other educational sanction; or

Suspension (at least 1 semester); or

Expulsion

Knowledge of hazing and failing to report or intervene in a situation that threatens the health and safety of another individual Conduct Probation (at least 2 semesters) and other educational sanctions; or

Suspension (at least 1 semester); or

or Expulsion

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
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 (no less than 2 semesters) and educational sanctions; or

Suspension (no less than 1 semester)

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 (no less than 2 semesters) and educational sanctions; or

Suspension (no less than 1 semester)

CATEGORY SUGGESTED SANCTION(S)
Participation in, or promotion of a student organization that has lost University recognition on a temporary or permanent basis Conduct Probation (no less than 2 semesters) and educational sanctions; or

Suspension (no less than 1 semester)