Sanctions
Warning/Probation/Suspensions
Additional Sanctions
Possible Grade Implications
Parent or Guardian Notification
Warning/Probation/Suspensions
NOTE: Students sanctioned with Preliminary Suspension, Disciplinary Suspension or Permanent Separation lose the privilege of Study Abroad for one year (from date of incident). All deposits or payments for Study Abroad will be forfeited without reimbursement. Students also lose the right to hold a leadership position for any student club/organization or university program. Students should also be aware that judicial records for this level of offense are maintained by the university for five years and may be damaging when applying for graduate school or employment.
Reprimand
An incident may be considered to be minor and spontaneous in nature (no planning or pre-meditation) by the student. The reprimand is notification to the student that s/he has been found responsible for a violation and that any other violations of university regulations for which the student is found responsible will result in more serious sanctions. A reprimand remains in effect for one calendar year. If there are no additional violations during that time, the reprimand is removed from the student's record.
Official Warning
The official warning is notification to the student(s) that s/he has been found responsible for a violation and that any other violations will result in more serious sanctions. An incident may be considered to be mild in nature and outcome but one that could have negatively influenced/affected the community. Official warning is a statement to the student(s) that s/he needs to reevaluate his/her behavior before serious action has to be taken.
Disciplinary Probation
A probationary status, imposed for a specific time period, during which a student is expected to show a positive change in behavior. A letter will be sent home to the parent(s) or legal guardians of a student placed on disciplinary probation with notification of probationary status. Alcohol and/or drug violations will be specified in this letter to the parents.
Preliminary Suspension
A unique probationary status in which the student is expected to immediately exhibit a marked improvement in behavior or face suspension from the university. The sanction of disciplinary suspension was considered for the student but was not deemed necessary. If the student does not meet all special stipulations associated with the preliminary suspension or if s/he is found responsible of violating any other rule, regulation, policy or law, s/he may be sanctioned with disciplinary suspension from the university.
If a student is placed on preliminary suspension, a letter is sent home to his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) with notification of preliminary suspension status. Alcohol and/or drug violations will be specified in this letter. Please see the note above in regards to Study Abroad and student leadership positions.
Disciplinary Suspension
The removal of a student from the university which permits the student to apply for readmission at the end of the sanction imposed. While a student is suspended, s/he may not return to the campus or participate in any programs or activities of the university without written permission from the assistant dean of students for judicial affairs or the assistant vice president for academic affairs. If the student returns to the campus without written permission during the suspension period, his/her eligibility to return to Elon in the future may be jeopardized. It is expected that s/he will make every effort to rectify any previous misconduct by displaying irreproachable behavior in the future.
While a student is suspended for Academic policy violations, s/he may not enroll in Elon University classes either on or off campus; nor may students transfer credits back to Elon for any course s/he may choose to take off-campus while on suspension.
Suspended students will be refunded Board and Tuition only using the refund schedule outlined in the Academic Catalog, all other fees and charges are forfeited. If a student is suspended from the university, a letter will be sent to his/her parent(s) or legal guardians with notification of the suspension. Alcohol and/or drug violations will be specified in this letter. Please see the note above in regard to Study Abroad and student leadership positions.
Permanent Separation
Permanent removal from the university. Students separated from the university will be refunded Board and Tuition only, using the refund schedule outlined in the Academic Catalog. All other fees and charges are forfeited.
If a student is permanently separated from the university, a notation will be made on the official transcript and a letter will be sent to his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) notifying them of the separation. Alcohol and/or drug violations will be specified in this letter.
Students who are permanently separated from the university may not return to the campus or participate in any programs or activities of the university without written permission from the assistant dean of students for judicial affairs or the assistant vice president for academic affairs. If the student returns to the campus without written permission, s/he may face criminal charges.
Additional Sanctions
Alcohol Education Class
Students found in violation of the Alcohol Policy may be assigned to complete an alcohol education program such as e-chug, College Alc, Alcohol 101 Plus, and/or complete a related educational project. The fee, if any, for these programs is the student's responsibility and must be paid before the program begins.
Campus/Community Restitution Hours
Campus and/or community restitution hours are intended to benefit the individual and the campus (such as working in a campus office or completing an assigned project). Hours must be completed with an Elon University office or organization unless pre-approved by the Hearing Officer. If a student does not complete the assigned restitution hours by the required date, hours may be increased, a fine may be assessed, and/or student may be additionally charged with Failure to Comply with the Lawful Directive of a University Official.
Counseling Assessment
Students may be required complete a psychological or psychiatric assessment by a certified provider. Students must follow any treatment or referral recommendation resulting from the assessment. Students are responsible for any cost associated the assessment and treatment.
Educational Sanctions
The administrative hearing officer or hearing board may choose to assign an educational project or task to be completed. Some examples of these sanctions include papers, book reports and program development and implementation. Students may be required to complete a follow-up meeting with the Hearing Officer for this sanction to be considered complete.
Fines
Students may be required to pay a reasonable sum of money as a sanction. Fines double if not paid by due date. Students who do not complete restitution hours by the assigned deadline may be assessed an additional $200 fine.
Loss of Financial Aid
The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 state that any student who has been convicted of any offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance may not be deemed eligible to receive any grant, loan or work assistance under this title during the period beginning on the date of such conviction and ending after the interval specified by law.
Loss of University Housing
A student may be removed from residing in university-owned or leased housing as part of an imposed sanction. If a student loses housing privileges, a letter will be sent to his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) with notification of his/her housing status. Room rent for the remainder of the student's housing contract period may not be refunded.
Residence Hall/Apartment/Greek House Relocation
A student or group may be required to move to another room, residence hall, apartment, or residence area because of their lack of willingness to live within the rules of his/her present residential community, or uphold university policies. For individuals, this sanction will be assigned in situations where the hearing board or hearing officer believes the student would benefit from a change of environment in order to conform to acceptable group living standards. This includes university-leased housing as well.
Restitution
Reimbursement for damage or loss to person(s) or property or misappropriation of property, either through appropriate repairs or monetary compensation, may be imposed as a sanction.
Substance Abuse Assessment
Students found responsible for alcohol- or drug-related violations may be required to complete an assessment at the Ellington Health and Counseling Center or by on certified provider. Students must follow any treatment or referral recommendations that result from the assessment. Students are responsible for any cost associated the assessment and treatment.
Suspension of Social Privileges
An individual student, residence hall floor, suite, apartment, or student organization may lose social privileges that are specified with a particular sanction. The student or organization may not participate in extracurricular events or represent the university on or off the campus, except for activities that are required to meet class assignments. Level of participation in varsity sports will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Course Grade Implications
For violations of Academic Policy for which students are found "responsible," instructors may elect to fail the student for the assignment, for a related unit in the course, or for the entire course.
Academic Censure
Censure is the minimum sanction assigned for Academic policy violations. A disciplinary record will be created and maintained in the Judicial Affairs Office. The file will contain all documents pertaining to the incident and judicial process. A letter will be sent home to the parents or legal guardians of a student placed on academic censure.
A grade of "F" for the course: When an instructor elects to fail a student in a course based on a student's having been found responsible for an academic policy violation, the grade recorded by the registrar on the student's permanent record will be an "F," (with no notation that the grade originated from an honor code violation). The student may repeat the course at a later time; however, the credit hours and quality points for the original class will be retained, thus lowering the student's overall grade point average. The standard course-repeat-rule in the Elon University Academic Catalog is not applicable for courses in which an instructor has elected to give a course "F" based on an honor code violation. Students who receive a course "F" given by the instructor based on the student's being found responsible for an honor code violation may not grieve that failing grade through the University's grade grievance policy.
A grade of "F" for the assignment/unit: When an instructor elects to give the student an "F" for an assignment or a related unit of the course based on an academic honor code violation (not intending for the student to fail the entire course based on the honor code violation), the instructor will calculate the student's course grade based on the standard for the entire class. The final grade submitted for the course will not contain any notation indicating that an honor code violation has occurred. While students may grieve a course grade through the University's grade grievance policy, they may not base their grievance on the instructor's assignment of an "F" for the assignment or unit based on the academic policy violation.
In cases where a student receives an "F" in a course in which the student has been found responsible for an academic policy violation, but the instructor has elected not to fail the student in the entire course, the instructor is responsible for notifying the registrar that the course "F" is an earned "F" and not an honor code "F." Students who receive an earned "F" may repeat the course and the University's course-repeat-rule will apply.
Parent/Guardian Notification
Elon University greatly appreciates the involvement of parents and guardians in the educational process. Parents will be notified when their student is found responsible for violating any section of the Alcohol or Drug Policy. We will also notify parents/guardians when their student is placed on academic censure, disciplinary probation, preliminary suspension, disciplinary suspension, permanent separation or loss of housing privileges.
The student's parents or legal guardian(s) will be notified concerning the disciplinary action unless the student can provide documentation of independent status. All violations of the alcohol or drug policy will be noted in the letter. Students who do not complete sanctions by the assigned due date will not be returned to "good standing" status until the sanctions are completed.
