Guide to Residence Life Handbook

The student conduct process is designed to enforce university and residence hall policy while maintaining educational principles.  Community living requires standards of conduct, cooperation, and respect for students and staff.  This disciplinary process functions cooperatively with both the Student Affairs Office and Suffolk University Police and Security Department.   

The following policies and procedures apply to all resident students of Suffolk University, including students that live at 150 Tremont Street, the Holiday Inn Boston at Beacon Hill, the Hyatt Regency, Miller Hall and Ten West Street.  Any Suffolk University student (resident and non-resident) who is documented in the residence halls for a policy violation is entitled to due process.  If at any time a student feels they are being unjustly or inappropriately addressed it is expected that the student will conduct themselves in a respectful and dignified manner, and will bring a formal complaint against the addressing staff member by notifying the staff member’s immediate supervisor or going to the Student Affairs—Community Standards website at http://www.suffolk.edu/campuslife/24113.html. 

Student Conduct Procedures
If you are documented for a violation in the residence halls, you will receive a Residence Hall Violation Notice from a staff member.  You may receive the notice electronically to your Suffolk University email address or by a staff member.  This notice will clearly state the date, time and location of the alleged policy violation(s), who will serve as the hearing officer as well as the date, time and location of your prescheduled hearing.  It is the student’s responsibility to attend the scheduled hearing.  Hearings may only be rescheduled for academic conflicts or emergency situations, as defined by the hearing officer.   Documentation of such conflicts must be provided upon the request of the hearing officer. If the hearing is cancelled, the hearing officer will work with the student to reschedule the hearing for the next available time.  

The hearing will start with an introduction of the hearing officer and student. 
During this hearing,  the student is expected to be honest and encouraged to ask questions.  The hearing officer will then read the alleged violations.  Next is the opportunity for the student to provide a description of the events that occurred.  The hearing officer will then give a description of the events as documented.  The hearing officer will then ask questions for clarification, listen to any possible witness statements and then offer the student a closing statement. 

After the hearing has been completed, the hearing officer may, at his/her own discretion , conduct any follow-up investigation and determine the outcome of the case.  If necessary, the hearing officer may receive the testimony of the accuser and witnesses prior to rendering a decision.  The hearing officer alone may determine what, if any, sanctions will be imposed upon the resident. 

Decision notification letters typically will be prepared within 3 business days after the hearing officer has heard the last case involved in the incident. 

If a student fails to attend the scheduled meeting, the hearing officer may adjudicate the case in the absence of the student. 

All Suffolk University commuter students may be held accountable for violations of University or Residence Life policy. All Suffolk University commuter student violation notices will be emailed to their Suffolk University email address. Commuter students are entitled to a Residence Life Student Conduct Hearing and will follow the same process for resident students.  Commuter students may be banned from all buildings until the resolution of hearing.  

Non-Suffolk students that are involved in on campus incidents may be immediately escorted out of the residence areas.  Non-Suffolk Students may receive a letter from the Residence Life & Summer Programs Office stating how long they are banned from entering any of the residence areas. 

Disciplinary Bodies

Graduate Residence Director, Residence Life & Summer Programs
Assistance Residence Director, Residence Life & Summer Programs
Assistant Director, Residence Life & Summer Programs
Associate Director, Residence Life & Summer Programs
Director, Residence Life & Summer Programs
Designee from the Student Affairs Office
Student Conduct Board Hearings

Appeal Process

You may appeal a decision to the Associate Director of Residence Life & Summer Programs if your hearing officer was, either, an Assistant Director or a Graduate Residence Director.  If the Associate Director was your Hearing Officer, an appeal should go to the Director.  In rare cases where the Director hears a case, an appeal should go to the Office of  Student Affairs.  All appeals must be made in writing within two (2) business days after the hearing resolution is delivered.  The Appeal Officer may waive the two (2) business day requirement for just cause.   Extended time at the discretion of the Hearing Officer, will be given for students that live off campus.

An appeal may only be considered for one, of two, reasons: 1) for failure to follow the process or procedures outlined in the Student Discipline System; or 2) new information has become available which was not available during the hearing.  Students must include a statement of why the additional information should be considered and why it was not presented at the time of the original hearing.   An appeal is not a new hearing on the matter.  Disagreement with the sanction is not grounds for an appeal.
There may be times when, as determined by the Director of Residence Life & Summer Programs, an alleged violation may be diverted to the Suffolk
University Student Discipline System for resolution. Student Discipline System guidelines and procedures may be found in the Student Policies and Procedures Handbook. In any hearing, if you are found to be not responsible for the violation, you are not sanctioned.  If you are found to be responsible for the violation, you may be issued a sanction.  An explanation of sanctions follows.

Sanctions

Sanction Options and Definitions:

• Written Warning:  This is a formal written warning to be placed in the student’s file within the Office of Residence Life and Summer Programs.  Should similar violations occur after a written warning, more serious action may be warranted.
• Restitution:  Requires that a student compensate the university/individual for loss, damage or injury that the student is found responsible for causing.  Students may also be required to write a letter of apology to the other individuals involved.
• Restriction:  Denial of access to any campus facility, activity, class or program. This includes “orders of no contact.”
• Fine:  Fines are collected from the student and returned back to the community through building improvements and programming.
• Participation in a workshop or community/university service project:  The particular workshop or project will be determined based on the violation.  "Participation"  is defined as being on time, devoting appropriate hours and completing any necessary paperwork.
• Confiscation of property:  Items, which are not permitted in university housing and found in plain view in a room, will be confiscated by staff.  Personal items (candles, appliances, etc.) may be returned to the student upon his/her departure from university housing.  If other items — such as stereos, televisions, and radios — are the source of on-going problems they may be confiscated.
• Loss of Privileges:  The student loses privileges in university housing which may include, but is not limited to, guest privileges, early arrival/late stay status, vacation period housing or removal from a floor, room or building.  Should space not be immediately available, relocation may take place at an arranged time.
• Educational Assignment: An educational project designed to assist the student in better understanding the overall impact of their behavioral infraction(s) may be imposed.  Such assigned projects might include online course, research papers, the creation of educational materials, or the planning and/or presentation of educational programs related to the policy infraction.  Assigned projects may not include physical labor unless they are directly related to the violation(s) and are not designed to cause humiliation or degradation to the resident.
• Parental/Guardian Notification:  The University may notify parents/guardians when students under the age of 21 have been found responsible for violating the University’s alcohol or other drug policies, or when there is a serious health or safety issue regarding a student. 
• Housing Probation:  During this period, if a student is found to be in violation of any policy, the sanction will be more severe than if it was a first time violation.  If an off-campus student is placed on Housing Probation and receives additional violations of Residence Life and/or University policy, the student will lose visitation privileges to Suffolk University Housing. 
• Disciplinary Probation:  A period of time to which a students behavior is subject to close examination.
• Housing Jeopardy:  Status as a resident student is being placed in jeopardy.  Students are placed on Housing Jeopardy for a minimum of six months.  Students on housing jeopardy are not eligible to return to campus early during vacation periods or request late-stays.  Students on housing jeopardy may not be eligible to participate in room selection process for the following academic year.  Parents are notified if a student is placed on housing jeopardy. 
• Referral:  A student may be referred to the Student Affairs Office, Counseling Center, Health & Wellness Services and/or another on or off campus office or local agency  for consultation and/or assessment.
• University Housing Relocation: Required reassignment to another residence hall.
• University Housing Suspension: Separation from university housing for a specified period of time.  The student is not permitted to enter any university housing.   Parents are notified if a student is suspended from university housing.
• University Housing Dismissal:   Permanent separation from university housing (this includes visitation).  The student is not eligible for re-admission to university housing.  Parents are notified if a student is dismissed from university housing.

The Department of Residence Life & Summer Programs may share student conduct information with other University offices where students may apply or hold student leadership positions, (including the Athletics Department) that represent the University in some capacity.

Notification to parents may occur in instances referenced under "Sanctions" and Disruptive or Life Threatening Behavior.  Such notification is applied to resident students regardless of age.  In any other matters, federal privacy laws (FERPA) apply to all resident students regardless of age.

Sample Sanctions for Alcohol and Illegal Drug Violations

Often, students ask what the sanctions may be for violating the Student Alcohol and Illegal Drug Policy. Sanctions are generally a combination of educational and punitive sanctions with the goal being that the University first strives to educate students about acceptable behavior while also holding students accountable for their misconduct. In determining sanctions, hearing officers or the Student Conduct Board may consider students’ present demeanor, past disciplinary record; the nature of the misconduct; and the severity of any damage, injury, or harm resulting from the misconduct or other factors. The following sanctions are sample sanctions in response to student misconduct. Therefore, sanctions may be more or less severe than the ones listed below.

Alcohol Possession
1st Offense  Written warning and an educational program and a $35 fine.

2nd Offense Disciplinary probation and an educational program and a $50   fine.
  If a residence student, add Housing probation.

3rd Offense:  Extended disciplinary probation and an educational program   and a $100 fine.
  If a residence student, add housing jeopardy.

Hosting an On-Campus or Off-Campus Party
1st Offense:  Disciplinary probation and an educational program and a   $100 fine and parental notification if under 21. If a residence   student, add housing probation.

2nd Offense:  Extended disciplinary probation and an educational program   and a $125 fine and parental notification if under 21.
  If a residence student, add housing jeopardy.

3rd Offense:  Deferred suspension and loss of housing and a referral to the   Counseling Center and an educational program and a $150   fine and parental notification if under 21.

Attendance at an On-campus or Off-campus Party or Being in the Presence of Alcohol

1st Offense:  Written warning and an educational program and a $35 fine.

2nd Offense:  Disciplinary probation and an educational program and a $50   fine.
  If a residence student, add housing probation.

3rd Offense:  Extended disciplinary probation and an educational program   and a $100 fine.
  If a residence student, add housing jeopardy.

Possession of a False ID

1st Offense:  Disciplinary probation and an educational program and a   $100 fine and parental notification if under 21.
  If a residence student, add housing probation.

2nd Offense:  Extended disciplinary probation and an educational program   and a $125 fine and parental notification if under 21.
  If a residence student, add housing jeopardy.

3rd Offense:  Deferred suspension and loss of housing and a referral to the   Counseling Center and an educational program and a $150   fine and parental notification if under 21.

Drug Possession or Drug Paraphernalia

1st Offense:  Disciplinary probation and an educational program and a   $100 fine and parental notification if under 21.
  If a residence student, add housing probation.

2nd Offense:  Extended probation and an educational program and a $150   fine and parental notification if under 21.
  If a residence student, add housing jeopardy.

3rd Offense:  Deferred suspension and loss of housing and a referral to the   Counseling Center and an educational program and a $200   fine and parental notification if under 21.

Drug Sales

Likely dismissal from the University.

Students who do not complete educational sanctions such as AlcoholEdu, Innerview, Etoke, Students’ Guide to Living in Boston/Neighborhood U video, reflection papers, etc. or fines by the due date will be responsible for a $25 non-compliance fine for each item in addition to the previous fine (if applicable).

Students will still be required to complete AlcoholEdu, Innerview, Etoke, Students’ Guide to Living in Boston/Neighborhood U video, reflection papers, etc.

If found responsible for violating alcohol and drug policies, a non-resident student may lose visitation privileges.  Guests who are not Suffolk University students and violate any Residence Life policy while visiting university housing, may lose visitation privileges permanently. 

Interim Restriction(s)

The Dean of Students, or designee, may impose restriction(s) upon a student pending disciplinary proceedings. Interim restrictions become effective immediately without prior notice whenever the Dean of Students, or designee, believes the student may pose a serious threat to self or others, property or cause serious disruption to the University community.

Interim restrictions may include, but are not limited to: suspension from the University and/or residence areas; relocation of residence; restriction to designated University residence areas or other campus facilities by time or location; restriction of communication with named individuals or groups within the University community; or the requirement to obtain advance authorization to engage in a specified activity.

Return to Guide to Residence Life Contents