Serious departures from acceptable conduct may lead to one or more of the following outcomes: restitution fines, conduct warning, conduct probation, deffered finding of responsibility, behavioral expectations (including a “no contact” order), residence hall suspension, residence hall dismissal, suspension, or dismissal from the College, withholding of registration or degree, or, rehabilitative measures decided by a college conduct body.
Conduct Warning
A conduct warning is a recognition of general lack of cooperation in campus citizenship or the breaking of some specific rule. The terms of this warning are defined in each case by the body imposing the sanction. This is a warning that severe discipline will be imposed if the student is again reported for a similar lack of good campus citizenship and conduct.
Conduct Probation
Conduct probation is a recognition of a very serious lack of good campus citizenship and conduct or a serious or repeated violation of a College regulation. This probation is a warning that a person’s status as a student at Grinnell College is in jeopardy and that any further violation may result in suspension or dismissal from the College.
Deferred Finding of Responsibility
A deferred finding of responsibility allows for the dismissal of specific policy violation charges, pending good conduct during a specified period of time. This rarely used educational outcome may be recommended by the adjudicating body and is assigned at the discretion of the vice-president for student affairs (or designee). A deferred finding allows for the withdrawal of formal charges for good cause after a specified period of time (to last no longer than the student’s graduation date from the College). Factors to be considered in providing a deferred finding of responsibility include: a.) the present demeanor of the student; b.) the conduct of the student subsequent to the violation; c.) the nature of the violation and severity of any damage, injury, or harm resulting from it; and/or d.) the student has not received any other deferred finding of responsibility as an outcome from a previous student conduct matter while enrolled at the College. If a student complies with the conditions and requirements attributed to a deferred finding, the administrative charges will be dismissed at the end of the deferral period and there will be no conduct record of this case. Failure to comply with the conditions and requirements of the deferred finding may result in a finding of responsibility and, as a result, become part of the student’s conduct record. In this instance, additional educational outcomes may apply.
Behavioral Expectations Letter
In instances of repeated or serious offenses, behavioral expectations will be clearly identified and provided in writing to responsible students. Future Student Handbook or policy violations may result in separation from the College. A “no contact” order may also be issued between students as an outcome. These limited “no contact” orders are used rarely and are intended to help provide distance between students when deemed necessary.
Parental/Guardian Notification
A fundamental goal of Grinnell College is to support students’ independence and maturity, in part by expecting them to assume responsibility for their own educational and personal matters. However, under laws and policies that govern the privacy rights of students, Grinnell College has the authority and reserves the right to contact parents or guardians of dependent students about a variety of serious matters and the parents or guardians of all students in emergencies regarding serious injury or life or death situations. The cases in which Grinnell would, in extraordinary circumstances, notify parents or guardians cannot in the nature of things be completely enumerated or described; but it is, for example, the belief of Grinnell that a serious injury to a student, or a violent crime committed upon a student, is a sufficiently grave occurrence as to constitute an extraordinary circumstance. Parental or guardian notification may also occur under the following circumstances: hospitalization; hospital visits for alcohol poisoning or drug overdose; behavior that will likely result in residence hall suspension or expulsion, conduct suspension, or dismissal; acts of violence or significant abuse toward others or a student’s own self; arrest; drug or alcohol use that results in police action; or serious mental health concerns. For more information, please review the Parental and Guardian Notification Policy.
Residence Hall Suspension
Separation of the student from the residence halls for a stated period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Students who are placed on residence hall suspension will not receive any refund for their board payments.
Residence Hall Dismissal
Permanent separation of the student from the residence halls. Students who are dismissed from the residence halls will not receive any refund for their board payments.
Suspension
Suspension is a recognition of the temporary termination of the person’s status as a student. He/She/Zi loses all privileges of a regularly-enrolled student and is required to leave the campus. No refunds apply in such cases. Students placed on conduct suspension after the end of the third week of classes will have “W” entries recorded on their transcripts for all currently enrolled courses. Any suspended student who returns to the campus during the suspension period is subject to dismissal unless she/he/zi has made prior arrangements with the Vice-President for Student Affairs.
Dismissal
Dismissal is the termination of a student’s status at the College. Any time a violation of a College regulation is rendered by a College student conduct body, a record of disciplinary action is kept in the Division of Student Affairs and may be used in part to determine whether a student should be dismissed.
Withholding of Registration or Degree
Student Conduct sanctions may include the withholding of registration for continuing students or withholding the posting of the degree for graduating students. This sanction is used to ensure that students comply with other sanctions such as, but not limited to, the reimbursement to the College for damages or payment of fines and the performance of service to the College or community. Current students who do not meet the deadline stipulated for completion of sanctions will have their registration withheld and be suspended for a minimum of one semester or until sanctions are satisfied, if longer. The posting of the degree will be withheld for students who are in, or who have completed, their final semester at the College until the prescribed sanctions have been satisfied.
Other
Other sanctions may be recommended by certain student conduct bodies including assessment, treatment, community service, and restitution fines. The Vice-President for Student Affairs, or designee, would impose such sanctions.
