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:
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The Following Sanctioning Guidelines are in effect for the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
Sanctioning Guidelines for Substance-Related Violations
CATEGORY FIRST VIOLATION SECOND VIOLATION THIRD VIOLATION Use, possession, or purchase of alcohol under Prohibited circumstances Amnesty
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 Amnesty
Conduct Warning and educational activities including Options Program referral and educational assignmentsConduct Probation and educational activities including Options Program referral, community involvement referral, and/or other educational project(s)
Residential RelocationSuspension 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 or Expulsion Expulsion Use or possession of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia Amnesty
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 or 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)
SuspensionSuspension 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 relocationSuspension 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 Sanctioning Guidelines for Weapons-Related Violations
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, Suspension, or Expulsion
Expulsion from student housing
Community service and/or other educational sanctions
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 Sanctioning Guidelines for Violence-Related Violations
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 sanctionsPhysical harm without a weapon resulting in significant physical injury to another person Suspension or Expulsion Targeted bullying without physical violence Conduct Probation or Suspension Sanctioning Guidelines for Safety and Fire-Related Violations
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 Sanctioning Guidelines for Gender-Related Violence/Harassment
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 projects
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
ExpulsionSexual intercourse without affirmative consent Suspension of two (2) semesters or greater
ExpulsionRetaliation against an individual who has filed a report of gender-related violence/ harassment Conduct Probation with appropriate educational projects
Suspension
ExpulsionSanctioning Guidelines for Bias-Related Violations
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
SuspensionEvidence that a student’s conduct was motivated by bias and forcibly threatened the physical health, mental health, or safety of a targeted individual or group. Enhanced sanction may include:
Suspension
ExpulsionSanctioning Guidelines for Hazing-Related Violations
CATEGORY SANCTION Participation in, promotion of, or perpetuation of hazing. Suspension
ExpulsionKnowledge of hazing and failing to report or intervene in a situation that threatens the health and safety of another individual. Suspension
ExpulsionSanctioning Guidelines for Student Leaders
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
SuspensionSanctioning Guidelines for perpetuating an unrecognized organization
CATEGORY SANCTION Assistance, 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).
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The Following Sanctioning Guidelines were in effect for the 2022-2023 Academic Year:
Sanctioning Guidelines for Substance-Related Violations
Category First Violation Second Violation Third Violation Use, possession, or purchase of alcohol under Prohibited circumstances Use or possession of alcohol under prohibited circumstances
Disciplinary Warning and educational activities including: Community Involvement referral and/or Educational project(s).Disciplinary 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). Disciplinary Probation and educational activities including: Community Involvement referral or Community Service project(s) and/or Educational project(s). Suspension Suspension
ExpulsionExtreme alcohol intoxication posing a substantial risk to the
health and well-being of self and/or others.Disciplinary Warning and educational activities including: Options Program referral and Educational assignments. Disciplinary Probation and educational activities including: Options Program referral and Community Involvement referral and/or other educational project(s) Residential relocation. Suspension Manufacture or sale of alcohol under prohibited circumstances. Disciplinary Probation and educational activities including: Community Involvement referral or Community Service project(s) and/or Educational project(s). Suspension Suspension
ExpulsionDriving any motor vehicle while intoxicated or while under the influence of unlawful drugs. Suspension Suspension or Expulsion Suspension
ExpulsionUse or possession of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia. Disciplinary Warning and educational activities including: Options Program referral and/or Community Involvement; Community Service referral and/or Other Educational project(s). Disciplinary Probation and educational activities including: Options Program referral and/or Community Involvement; Community Service referral and/or Other Educational project(s). Suspension Manufacture, sale, purchase, or distribution of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia Disciplinary Probation with educational activities or suspension Suspension Suspension
ExpulsionUse or possession of illegal drugs other than marijuana or controlled substances without an appropriate prescription. Disciplinary Probation and educational activities including: Options Program referral and/or Community Involvement; Community Service referral and/or Other Educational project(s). Suspension Suspension
ExpulsionExtreme drug intoxication or abuse-related behavior posing a substantial risk to the health and well-being of self and/or others. Disciplinary Probation and educational activities including: Options Program referral and/or Community Involvement referral and/or Other Educational project(s)
Residential relocation.Suspension Suspension
ExpulsionManufacture, sale, purchase, or distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substances other than marijuana. Suspension or Expulsion Expulsion Sanctioning Guidelines for Weapons-Related Violations
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 Disciplinary Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion. Expulsion from student housing. Community Service and/or other Educational sanctions. Any improper use, attempted use, 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 Sanctioning Guidelines for Violence-Related Violations
Category Sanction Physical harm or threat of physical harm without a weapon resulting in little or no physical injury to involved persons. Disciplinary Probation or Suspension. Participation in the Conflict Resolution Program, and the Options Program referral 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 Sanctioning Guidelines for Safety and Fire-Related Violations
Category Sanction Tampering with smoke detectors in on campus residential facilities. Disciplinary 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. Disciplinary Probation with appropriate educational sanctions or Suspension. Sanctioning Guidelines for Gender Related Violence/Harassment
Category Sanction Sexual harassment including unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and some visual and physical conduct of a sexual nature; Stalking. Suspension or Disciplinary Probation with appropriate educational projects. 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 or Expulsion Sexual intercourse without consent. Suspension or Expulsion Retaliation against an individual who has filed a report of gender related violence/ harassment. Suspension or Expulsion or Disciplinary Probation with appropriate educational projects. Sanctioning Guidelines for Bias-Related Violations
Category Sanction Evidence that the student’s conduct was motivated by bias regarding an individual or group’s real or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and/or veteran status may result in more severe disciplinary action through the student conduct process. Disciplinary Probation or Suspension Evidence that a student’s conduct was motivated by bias and threatened physical health, mental health, or safety of anyone. Suspension or Expulsion Sanctioning Guidelines for Hazing-Related Violations
Category Sanction Assistance, participation in, promotion of, or perpetuation of hazing. Suspension or Expulsion Knowledge of hazing and failing to report or intervene in a situation that threatens the health and safety of another individual. Suspension or Expulsion Sanctioning Guidelines for Student Leaders
Category Sanction For student leaders, failure to intervene or notify the University when a student knows of a situation that threatens the health and safety of another individual or the campus community. Disciplinary 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. Disciplinary Probation and educational sanctions or Suspension Sanctioning Guidelines for Perpetuating an Unrecognized Organization
Category Sanction Assistance, participation in, or promotion of a student organization that has lost University recognition on a temporary or permanent basis. Suspension