The disciplinary sanction or combination of sanctions imposed upon a student usually depends upon the seriousness of the violation in question and any prior violations. When a student is found responsible for violations two or more times, sanctions become progressively harsher, ending eventually in dismissal. A student may be dismissed from the College the first time if found responsible for a Major Violation.
In administrative and Judicial Board hearings there is always an effort made to be consistent in treating similar violations alike; however, each case is different, and individual sanctions may vary according to the circumstances of a particular violation and prior disciplinary history. As noted in the introduction to this section of the Handbook, the College’s primary interest in disciplinary actions is to help individual students avoid further inappropriate behavior and become responsible members of the College community. One or more of the following sanctions may be imposed upon any student for a violation of the College’s Honor Code including community violations and Major Violations.
- Warning: An official written notice that the student has violated Cottey College policies and/or rules and that more severe conduct action will result should the student be involved in other violations while the student is enrolled at the College.
- Restitution: Compensation for damage caused to the College or any person’s property, which might include situations such as failure to return a reserved space to the proper condition – labor costs, and expenses. This is not a fine; rather, it is a repayment for labor costs and/or the value of property destroyed, damaged, consumed, or stolen.
- Fines: Reasonable fines may be imposed.
- Community/Cottey College Service Requirements: For a student or organization to complete a specific supervised Cottey College or community service.
- Loss of Privileges: The student will be denied specified privileges for a designated period of time.
- Confiscation of Prohibited Property: Items whose presence is in violation of Cottey College policy will be confiscated and will become the property of the College. Prohibited items may be returned to the owner at the discretion of the vice president for student life and enrollment or a designee.
- Behavioral Requirement: Requirements may include, but not be limited to, seeking counseling or substance abuse screening, writing a letter of apology, etc.
- Education Program: Requirement to attend, present, and/or participate in a program related to the violation. It may also be a requirement to sponsor or assist with a program for others on campus to aid them in learning about a specific topic or issue related to the violation for which the student or organization was found responsible. The audience may be restricted.
- Restriction of Visitation Privileges: This may be imposed on a resident or non-resident student. The parameters of the restriction will be specified.
- Cottey College Residence life Probation: Official notice that, should further policy violations occur during a specified probationary period, the student may immediately be removed from Cottey College residence life. Regular probationary meetings may also be imposed.
- Cottey College Residence Life Reassignment: Reassignment to another Cottey College residence life room, suite, or facility. The director of campus and residence life will decide on the reassignment details.
- Cottey College Residence Life Suspension: Removal from Cottey College residence life for a specified period of time after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for re-admission to Cottey College residence life may be specified. Under this sanction, a student is required to vacate Cottey College residence life within 24 hours of notification of the action, though this deadline may be extended upon application to and at the discretion of the vice president for student life and enrollment or a designee. This sanction may be enforced with a trespass action if deemed necessary. Prior to reapplication for Cottey College residence life, the student must gain permission from the vice president for student life and enrollment or a designee. This sanction may include restrictions on visitation to specified buildings or all College residence life during the suspension.
- Cottey College Residence Life Expulsion: The student’s privilege to live in or visit any Cottey College residence life structure is revoked indefinitely. This sanction may be enforced with a trespass action if deemed necessary.
- Cottey College Probation: The student is put on official notice that, should further violations of Cottey College policies occur during a specified probationary period, the student may face suspension or expulsion. Regular probationary meetings may also be imposed.
- Eligibility Restriction: The student is deemed “not in good standing” with the College for a specified period of time. Specific limitations or exceptions may be granted by the vice president for student life and enrollment and terms of this conduct sanction may include but are not limited to, the following
- Ineligibility to hold any office in any student organization recognized by the College or hold an elected or appointed office at Cottey College
- Ineligibility to represent Cottey College to anyone outside the Cottey College community in any way including participating in the study abroad or international experience program, attending conferences, or representing Cottey College at an official function, event, or intercollegiate competition as a player, manager, or student coach, etc.
- Cottey College Suspension: Separation from Cottey College for a specified minimum period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Eligibility may be contingent upon satisfaction of specific conditions noted at the time of suspension. Dismissal may be immediate or at the end of a semester depending upon the circumstances; however, the vice president for student life and enrollment or a designee must review cases involving disciplinary dismissal imposed by the Judicial Board before it takes effect. During the suspension period, the student is banned from Cottey College property, functions, events, and activities without prior written approval from the vice president for student life and enrollment. This sanction may be enforced with a trespass action as necessary. After serving the term of dismissal, a student may reapply to the College for admission. The appropriate board, committee, or administrative officer will determine the student’s fitness to return to the College.
- Cottey College Expulsion: Permanent separation from Cottey College. The student is banned from Cottey College property, and the student’s presence at any Cottey College-sponsored activity or event is prohibited. This action may be enforced with a trespass action as necessary. This sanction will be noted as a Conduct Expulsion on the student’s official academic transcript.
- Loss of Confidentiality in Disciplinary Sanctions: In rare and unusual circumstances, the Board may determine that the public disclosure of the name of a student violator, regulations that were violated, other relevant circumstances, and sanctions imposed by the Board are necessary and important part of the disciplinary process.The loss of confidentiality in disciplinary sanctions is considered a sanction because student disciplinary hearings and decisions are normally handled privately and confidentially. The Board may impose this sanction in addition to others for the good of the student or as a means of sharing appropriate information with those who have suffered (or are at risk of suffering) physical harm as the result of the student’s behavior. (See Student Records in Section 4.) The Board may also impose this sanction if the student’s behavior has “threatened the good of the College.” In this situation, the College may need the freedom to address the behavior of the student, or the issues involved in a public manner as a means of repairing its
“reputation.” - Creative Sanctions: These are penalties designed by the Board to fit the particular violation. For instance, students may be assigned to a work detail, assigned various amounts of community service hours (coordinated through the College’s volunteer program), required to submit to a mental health evaluation (as arranged by the College), and given the option to enter any treatment (at student expense) that may be recommended as a result of the evaluation in lieu of dismissal, required to attend a relevant educational program, or required to write a paper on a topic related to the violation. 20. Other Sanctions: Additional or alternate sanctions may be created and designed as deemed appropriate to the offense with the approval of the vice president for student life and enrollment or a designee.
The following sanctions may be imposed upon groups or organizations found to have violated the Honor Code, and other Cottey College policies
- One or more of the sanctions listed above and/or
- Deactivation, de-recognition, and loss of all privileges (including status as a Cottey College registered group/organization), for a specified period of time.