Appeal Grounds

A decision made by a university conduct board may be appealed to the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or designee. Decisions for a Conduct Conference may be appealed to the Community Standards Officer or designee. The implementation of sanctions will be deferred during the pendency of the review, unless the sanction of suspension or expulsion is imposed. In cases of suspension or expulsion, the student is immediately removed from campus pending the completion of the appeal process. Appeals may be based only on the following grounds:

  • material procedural error that likely would have significantly impacted the outcome of the hearing;
  • new relevant evidence to present that was previously unavailable and likely would have significantly impacted the outcome of a hearing; or
  • sanctions imposed were substantially disproportionate to the findings.

Procedures:

  • Within five (5) business days from the date the conduct decision is issued, the respondent shall submit a written statement to the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or Community Standards Officer requesting review of the decision or sanction and detailing the grounds for appeal.
  • The Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students may request additional information from the conduct board/officer or others, if deemed necessary in reviewing the appeal request and making a determination.
  • The Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or Community Standards Officer will typically decide the appeal within ten (10) business days.
    • If the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or Community Standards Officer determines there was procedural error that likely would have significantly impacted the outcome of the hearing, the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students will order a new hearing before a new Conduct Board/Officer.
    • If the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or Community Standards Officer determines that previously unavailable relevant information is presented that likely would have significantly impacted the outcome of the hearing, the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or Community Standards Officer will ask the original Conduct Board/Officer to consider the information and render a determination after considering the new information.
    • If the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or Community Standards Officer determines the sanction substantially disproportionate to the findings, the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or Community Standards Officer may revise the sanction or order a new hearing before a new Conduct Board/Officer solely for the purpose of sanctioning.
  • The Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or Community Standards Officer will provide written notification (which may include by email) of the result of the appeal to the Respondent. The complainant, if any, will be notified to the extent consistent with law. All appeal decisions are final.

Sanctions

There are six primary conduct sanctions (Disciplinary Warning, Disciplinary Reprimand, Disciplinary Probation, Disciplinary Suspension, Disciplinary Deferred Suspension, and Expulsion) that are accumulative and kept in the student’s conduct file while a student and seven (7) years post departure with the exception of expulsion which is reflected on the student’s record permanently. Sanctions imposed in accordance with this Code of Student Conduct are applied to individual students, group of students, student teams, or student organizations for one to two semesters.

Failure to complete sanctions by their assigned due date and/or according to instruction may result in additional conduct proceedings; fines and/or the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students placing a Hold on the student’s University record which affects their ability to register for classes with the Registrar. The Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students will lift the Hold once sanctions are completed as originally instructed. Violations of the Code of Student Conduct may result in appropriate sanctions from the university, unless specific and significant mitigating factors are present. Attempts to commit acts prohibited by this code may be sanctioned to the same extent as completed violations.

Notification of Conduct Outcomes and Sanctions to individuals other than Respondent

The outcome and sanctions of a conduct process are considered part of the educational records of the respondent(s) and is protected under FERPA, except under certain conditions.

Complainant’s Right to Receive Notification of Conduct Outcomes and Sanctions

As allowed by FERPA, when a student accepts responsibility for or is found responsible of a violation of the Code of Student Conduct that would constitute a crime of violence or forcible or non-forcible sex offense, Susquehanna University will inform the victim or party serving as complainant in the process in writing of the outcome of the conduct process.

FERPA defines “crimes of violence” to include:

  • Arson
  • Assault offenses (including stalking)
  • Burglary
  • Criminal Homicide-manslaughter by negligence
  • Criminal Homicide-murder and non-negligent manslaughter
  • Destruction/ damage/ vandalism of property
  • Kidnapping/ abduction
  • Robbery
  • Forcible sex offenses
  • Non-forcible sex offenses

Maintenance of Conduct Records

Student conduct records are maintained in a secure online file management system by the Office of the Dean of Students. In order to verify compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, all student conduct records are retained for seven (7) years after student’s last enrollment. These records are only released to the authorities to which information must be made available under federal and/or state law or as otherwise required or permitted by law. Generally, sanctions of disciplinary warning and reprimand are not reported unless specifically requested by the student.

Student Files and Degrees, Student File Encumbrances

In pending cases that could result in suspension or expulsion, a temporary encumbrance may be placed on a student’s records by the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students or designee.

Revocation of degrees

The university reserves the right to revoke an awarded degree for fraud in receipt of the degree or for serious conduct violations committed by a student prior to the student’s graduation.