CHAPTER FIVE
Student Conduct

The primary purpose for the imposition of discipline in the University setting is to protect the health, welfare, and educational mission of the campus community.  The university’s student judicial system emphasizes the development of each individual’s acceptance of his/her own personal and social responsibilities.  Since behavior which is not in keeping with standards acceptable to the university community is often symptomatic of attitudes, misconceptions, and emotional crises; the treatment of these attitudes, misconceptions, and emotional crises through reeducation and rehabilitative activities is an essential element of the disciplinary process.

 

 

Cases of alleged violations by students of stated University policies will be reported to the University Judicial Officer (UJO).  Matters of Academic Honesty will be addressed by the Committee on Academic Honesty as part of the Academic Division of the University.  Please contact the Provost’s Office for additional information.

DEFINITIONS

The term “student” includes all persons:

• taking courses at the University of Bridgeport, either full-time or part-time,
• and/or persons pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies;
• and/or persons who withdraw after allegedly violating the Student Conduct Code,
• and/or persons who are not officially enrolled for a particular term, but have a continuing relationship with the university,
• and/or persons who have been notified of their acceptance for admission are considered “students”,
• and/or persons who are living in university residence halls, although not enrolled at the university;
• and/or persons who have not yet received their degree.

This Student Conduct Code applies at all locations of the university, including campuses in foreign countries and satellite campuses in and out of State.  All students at the University of Bridgeport are subject to the provisions of the Student Conduct Code and the laws of the United States, the State of Connecticut, and the City of Bridgeport..  As the University attempts to maintain a safe environment, for minors, students, and staff from other cultures who may not be familiar with their rights in our community; the University may take such action(s) as it deems necessary to protect the community and its members under all circumstances.

 

The term “faculty member” means any person hired by the university to conduct classroom or teaching activities or who is otherwise considered by the university to be a member of its faculty.

 

The term “university official” includes any person employed by the university performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.

 

The term “member of the university community” includes any person who is a student, faculty member, university official, or any other person employed by the university.  A person’s status in a particular situation shall be determined by the University’s Judicial Officer (UJO).

 

The term “university premises” includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession or owned, used, or controlled by the university or on adjacent public or private.

 

The term “organization” means any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for university recognition.

 

The term “Student Conduct Board” means any person or persons authorized by the University Judicial Officer (UJO) to determine whether a student has violated the Student Conduct Code and to recommend sanctions that may be imposed when a rules violation has been committed.

 

The term “Student Conduct Administrator” means a university official authorized on a case by case basis by the UJO to impose sanctions upon any student(s) found to have violated the Student Conduct Code.  The UJO may authorize a Student Conduct Administrator (SCA) to serve simultaneously as a SCA and the sole member or one of the members of the Student Conduct Board.  The UJO may authorize the same SCA to impose sanctions in all cases.

 

The term “Appellate Board” means any person or persons authorized by the UJO to consider an appeal from a Student Conduct Board’s determination as to whether a student has violated the Student Conduct Code or from the sanctions imposed by the SCA.

 

The term “shall” is used in the imperative sense.

 

The term “may” is used in the permissive sense.

 

The UJO is that person designated by the university President to be responsible for the administration of the Student Conduct Code.

 

The term “policy” means the written regulations of the university as found in, but not limited to, the Student Conduct Code, Residence Life Housing Contract, Meal Plan Contract, any of the university’s catalogs, any of the university’s colleges handbooks, the university’s web page(s), and the computer use policies.

 

The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to: 1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations, 2)use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments, 3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university faculty or staff, 4) engaging in any behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or class discussion, or 5) by use of electronic means (calculator, mobile phone, camera, Palm Pilot, etc.) copying or transmitting answers, questions, or parts of tests to other students.

 

The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment.  It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

 

The term “Complainant” means any person who submits a charge alleging that a student violated this Student Conduct Code.  When a student believes that s/he has been a victim of another student’s misconduct, the student who believes s/he has been a victim will have the same rights under this Student Conduct Code as are provided to the Complainant, even if another member of the university community submitted the charge itself.

 

The term “Accused Student” or “Respondent” means any student accused of violating this Student Conduct Code.

STUDENT CONDUCT CODE GUIDELINES
FOR THE PROTECTION OF STUDENT RIGHTS

 

The University Student Conduct Code shall apply to conduct that occurs on university premises, at university sponsored activities, and to off-campus conduct that adversely affects the university community and/or the pursuit of its objectives.  Each student shall be responsible for his/her conduct from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree, even though conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment (and even if their conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded).  The Student Conduct Code shall apply to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending.  The UJO shall decide whether the Student Conduct Code shall be applied to conduct occurring off campus, on a case by case basis, in his/her sole discretion.

 

Students whose behavior violates civil and/or criminal law are considered in violation of University policy and will be subject to University disciplinary action and, in some cases, arrest.  Residence on a University campus does not relieve students of responsibility to society at large.  Any act that disrupts or impairs the purposes of the University and its community is subject to penalty under the Student Conduct Code whether this act takes place on or off the main campus. This is the general principle for determining whether a violation has occurred even if the action does not violate criminal law.  Behaviors that violate the Student Code may also violate criminal or civil law and as such may be subject to proceedings under the legal system as well.

Students at the University of Bridgeport are subject to the provisions of the Student Conduct Code.  University disciplinary proceedings may impose sanctions regardless of whether a student is convicted, pleads guilty or pleads “no-contest” in criminal proceedings arising from the same incident.  As the University is charged with maintaining a safe environment, especially although not only for minors and for students and staff from other cultures who may not be familiar with their rights in our community, the University may take such action as it deems necessary to protect the community and its members under all circumstances regardless of whether a student is believed to have committed a violation beyond a reasonable doubt.

Students alleged to have violated the following policies or committed the following acts, and others not listed, are subject to the disciplinary procedures found in this Code and any fines/actions associated with them:

1. Any act of academic dishonesty; such allegations will be considered exclusively by the Committee on Academic Honesty provided by Chapter Two of The Key, unless another component of the University asserts prior authority pursuant to its own Handbook.  This includes, but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty,
2. Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, other university activities, including its service functions on or off campus, or of other authorized non-university activities when the conduct occurs on university premises,
3. Participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot or activity that disrupts the normal operations of the university and/or infringes on the rights of other members of the university community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area.
4. Obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on university premises or at university sponsored or supervised functions.
5. Possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons, items that could be considered to be weapon(s), replicas of weapons, or items that could be reasonably be considered to be weapons or be mistaken for weapons, or dangerous chemicals on university premises or use of any such item, even if legally possessed, in a manner that harms, threatens or causes fear to others. 
6. Verbal or physical abuse, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
7. Actual or threatened sexual assault including, but not limited to, unwanted sexual touching even between acquaintances
8. Harassment and/or intimidation: engaging in conduct which threatens to cause physical harm to persons or damage to their property.  This also covers harassment or intimidation of persons involved in a University disciplinary hearing and persons in authority.
9. Sexual Harassment defined as unwelcome sexual conduct which is related to any condition of employment or evaluation or student performance.  It includes unwarranted sex-related comments, sexually explicit comments or graphics, unwelcome touching, etc.  It may take the form of making derogatory jokes based on sex, speaking crude or offensive language, spreading rumors about a person’s sexuality, placing a compromising photograph on the web, or ogling.
10. Stalking, as defined by Connecticut law, but not limited to willfully and repeatedly following or lying in wait for such a person.
11. Fighting
12. Hate or bias crime defined as a crime motivated, in whole or in part, by hatred against a victim based on his/her race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, or disability.
13. Violent behavior including, but not limited to: riots after sporting events, destruction of property, the overturning of cars, the tearing down of goal posts, and associated behaviors before, during, or after campus events
14. Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, or indecent; breach of peace; or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on university premises or at functions sponsored by, or participated in by, the university or members of the academic community.  Disorderly conduct includes, but is not limited to: conduct causing inconvenience and/or annoyance which includes any action which can reasonably be expected to disturb the academic pursuits or to interfere with or infringe upon the privacy, rights, privileges, health or safety of members of the University community; any unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to make an audio or video of any person while on university premises without his/her prior knowledge, or without his/her effective consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress.  This includes, but is not limited to, surreptitiously taking pictures of another person in a gym, locker room, or restroom.
15. Inconsiderate behavior
16. Abuse of the Student Conduct System, including, but not limited to: failure to obey the notice from a Student Conduct Board or university official to appear for a meeting or hearing as part of the Student Conduct System, falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a Student Conduct Board (SCB), disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a SCB proceeding, institution of a student conduct code proceeding in bad faith, attempting to discourage an individuals’ proper participating in, or use of, the student conduct system, attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a SCB prior to, and/or during the course of, the SCB proceeding, harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a SCB prior to, during, and/or after a student conduct code proceeding, failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Student Conduct Code, and/or influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the student conduct code system..
17. Damage to, removal, or destruction of University owned or University managed property without proper authorization
18. Arson
19. Attempted or actual theft of and/or damage to property of the university or property of a member of the university community or other personal or public property, on or off campus
20. Unauthorized entry into, attempted entry into, theft, use, or any other abuse of any part of a University owned, University contracted, or University managed property, including computer systems, telephone systems, and cable television systems.  This includes, but is not limited to: unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose; unauthorized transfer of a file, use of another individual’s identification and/or password, use of computing facilities and resources to: interfere with the work of another student, faculty member, or university official, to send obscene or abusive messages, interfere with normal operation of the university computing system; violate copyright laws, or any of the University’s Computer Use Policies,
21. Any physical injury or threat of physical injury to a member of the University community, a campus visitor, or oneself.  This may include attempted suicide, murder, non-negligent manslaughter, and aggravated assault.
22. Violation, arrest, or being the subject of a criminal summons for violating a local ordinance, State, or Federal law for any such violation, where the act or acts leading to the arrest or summons create a risk to, or have an adverse impact on, the University community, regardless of the location of the violation.
23. Failure to comply with directions or a request for identification by university officials, Residence Life staff, and/or law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties. 
24. Failure to comply with a request to report to any University office or leave any University facility by university officials, Residence Life staff, and/or law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties.
25. Failure to maintain correct address and telephone information with the Office of the Registrar and the Department of Residential Life
26. Filing a false complaint with, or providing false information to, a University official, faculty member, or office,
27. False reporting of an emergency, including such involving the use of a PAL
28. Lying to University personnel
29. Failure to comply with any official University policies or procedures
30. Failure to pay a fee or fine by the specified date
31. Smoking in any University residence, administrative building, classroom building or food-serving facility
32. Behavior or activity which endangers the safety of oneself or others including, but not limited to: destructive behavior by individuals or groups, self-destructive behaviors, arson, tampering with or damaging fire equipment
33. Students are required to engage in responsible social conduct that reflects credit upon the university community and to model good citizenship in any community.
34. Misuse of University documents: forging, transferring, altering, or otherwise misusing any student fee card, identification card, course registration material, schedule card, or other University document or record whether in electronic or other format
35. Unauthorized use of the name or insignia of the University by an individual or group
36. Misuse of telephone: No student shall make or assist in making unauthorized or annoying telephone calls or otherwise misuse or abuse telephone equipment
37. Computer abuse: This includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism of programs, misuse of computer accounts, unauthorized destruction of files, creating illegal accounts, possession of unauthorized passwords, and disruptive or annoying behaviors on the computer
38. Mail fraud and/or fraud in any form
39. Abuse of University library services
40. Misuse of the Personal Alarm Locator (PAL)
41. Misuse of fire safety equipment
42. Gambling in any form as defined by Connecticut Statutes
43. Hazing, as defined by Connecticut State law, to include but not limited to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades, or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate; endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.  The express or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense.  Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts and are violations of this rule. 
44. Unauthorized use or possession of keys.  No one may use or possess any University key without proper authorization.  No student is allowed under any condition to have a University key duplicated.
45. Violation of the University's Alcohol Policy, which includes the use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of alcoholic beverages (except as expressly permitted by university regulations), or public intoxication.  Alcoholic beverages may not, in any circumstance, be used by, possessed by, or distributed to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age.
46. Violation of the University's Drug Policy, which includes: the manufacture, distribution, sale, use, offer for sale, or possession of any illegal drugs, or narcotics including: barbiturates, hallucinogens, amphetamines, cocaine, opium, heroin, marijuana, or any other substance not chemically distinguishable from them except as authorized by medical prescription; or drug paraphernalia
47. Violation of the University's Safety Policies and Procedures
48. Violation of the University’s Wanding Policy
49. Violation of any University Policy, rule, or regulation published in hard copy or available electronically on the university website or compact disk
50. Violation of any of the restrictions, conditions or terms of any penalties resulting from a previously held disciplinary hearing

Please consult the other areas of the Key to UB and the Residence Hall contract for other rules and regulations.

 

UNIVERSITY CONDUCT BOARD

Introduction

University disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with conduct that potentially violates both the criminal law and this Student Conduct Code without regard to the pending civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution.  Proceedings under this Student Conduct Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off campus at the discretion of the UJO.  Determinations made or sanctions imposed under this Code shall not be subject to change because criminal charges arising out of the same facts giving rise to violation of university rules were dismissed, reduced, or resolved in favor of or against the criminal law defendant.

When a student is charged by federal, state, or local authorities with a violation of law, the university will not request or agree to special consideration for that individual because of his/her status as a student.  If the alleged offense is also being processed under the Student Conduct Code, the university may advise off-campus authorities of the existence of the Student Conduct Code (Code) and of how such matters are typically handled within the university community.  The university will attempt to cooperate with law enforcement and other agencies in the enforcement of criminal law on campus and in the conditions imposed by criminal courts for the rehabilitation of student violators (provided that the conditions do not conflict with campus rules or sanctions).  Individual students and other members of the university community, acting in their personal capacities, remain free to interact with governmental representatives as they deem appropriate.

 

Student Conduct Code Procedures

Any member of the university community, Campus Security, Federal, State, and local authorities may file charges against a student for violations of the Student Conduct Code (The Code).  A charge shall be prepared in writing and directed to the Student Conduct Administrator (SCA).  Any charge should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place, preferably within thirty (30) calendar days.

The SCA may conduct an investigation to determine if the charges have merit and/or if they can be disposed of administratively by mutual consent of the parties involved on a basis acceptable to the SCA.  Such disposition shall be final and there shall be no subsequent proceedings.  If the charges are not admitted and/or cannot be disposed of by mutual consent, the SCA may later serve in the same matter as the SCB or a member thereof.  If the student admits violating institutional rules, but sanctions are not agreed to, subsequent process, including a hearing if necessary, shall be limited to determining the appropriate sanction(s).

 

Students’ Rights

All charges shall be presented to the Accused Student/Respondent in written form.  A time shall be set for a SCB hearing, not fewer than five nor more than fifteen calendar days after the student has been notified.  Maximum time limits for scheduling of SCB hearings may be extended at the discretion of the SCA.

 

The student may attend an information session during which the student can view all materials related to the case, receive instruction regarding the disciplinary process and the student’s rights, and confirm the forum in which the case will be heard.

 

Parent(s) and legal guardians of dependent students under the age of 21 at the time of the alleged offense may also be notified of pending charges at the discretion of the SCA.

Student Conduct Board (SCB) hearings shall be conducted by a SCB according to the following guidelines except when otherwise stated:

1. SCB hearings normally shall be conducted in private,
2. The Complainant, Accused Student, and their advisors, if any, shall be allowed to attend the entire portion of the SCB hearing at which information is received (excluding deliberations).  Admission of any other person to the SCB hearing shall be at the discretion of the SCB and/or its SCA,
3. In the SCB hearings involving more than one Accused Student, the SCA, in his/her discretion, may permit the SCB hearings concerning each student to be conducted either separately or jointly,
4. The Complainant and the Accused student(s) have the right to be assisted by an advisor they choose, at their own expense.  The advisor cannot be an attorney.  The Complainant and/or the Accused Student is responsible for presenting his/her own information, and therefore, advisors are not permitted to speak or to participate directly in an SCB hearing before a SCB.  A student should select as an advisor a person whose schedule allows attendance at the scheduled date and time for the SCB hearing because delays will not normally be allowed due to the scheduling conflicts of an advisor.
5. The Complainant, the Accused Student and the SCB, at the option of the SCA, may arrange for witnesses.  The university will try to arrange the attendance of possible witnesses who are members of the university community, if reasonably possible, and who are identified by the Complainant and/or Respondent at least two weekdays prior to the SCB hearing.  Witnesses will provide information to and answer questions from the SCB.  Questions may be suggested by the Respondent and/or Complainant to be answered by each other or by other witnesses.  This will be conducted by the SCB with such questions directed to the chairperson, rather than to the witness directly.  This method is used to preserve the educational tone of the hearing and to avoid creation of an adversarial environment.  Questions of whether potential information will be received shall be resolved in the discretion of the chairperson of the SCB.
6. Pertinent records, exhibits, and written statements (including Student Impact Statements) may be accepted as information for consideration by a SCB at the discretion of the chairperson.  The Accused Student(s) shall be permitted to respond to the charges in a written or oral statement of reasonable length.
7. All procedural questions are subject to the final decision of the chairperson of the SCB.
8. After the portion of the SCB hearing concludes in which all information deemed pertinent by the SCA or SCB has been received, the SCB shall determine (by majority vote if the SCB consists or more than one person) whether the Accused Student has violated each section of The Code which the student is charged with violating.
9. The SCB’s determination shall be made on the basis of whether it is “more likely than not” that the Accused Student violated The Code.  This is also known as “a preponderance of the evidence.”
10. All hearings will be fair and impartial and will use a reasonable person standard when assessing whether the information presented constitutes a preponderance of the evidence.
11. A student may submit a challenge to the impartiality of any member of a hearing board at least five class days prior to the hearing.  The SCA will decide whether another SCB should be convened.
12. Formal rules of process, procedure, and/or technical rules of evidence such are applied in criminal or civil court, are not used in Student Conduct Code proceedings.
13. A student may choose not to answer any and all questions posed by a SCB.  This protection from self-incrimination does not extend to student organizations.
14. During time periods in which any of the SCBs are not officially constituted, the UJO or designee, may choose an appropriate alternative as the SCB.
15. Any provisions of the SCB hearing guidelines may be varied in the discretion of the SCA and/or SCB.  The Code must be interpreted and enforced in the context of an academic community.  Concepts such as fairness and impartiality must be understood differently in a school than in a court, as the likelihood of pre-existing relationships between the people involved is high and one of the major goals of the process is educational.

Recording

At the option of the SCA, there shall be a single verbatim record, such as a tape recording, of all SCB hearings before a SCB (not including deliberations).  Deliberations shall not be recorded.  The record shall be the property of the university.

If an Accused Student, with notice, does not appear before a SCB hearing, the information in support of the charges shall be presented and considered even if the Accused Student is not present.  Notice of a hearing will be sent in two ways to resident and non-residents.  Resident students will be sent one letter that is to be hand delivered by university personnel, the other will be placed in the resident’s on-campus mailbox at least five calendar days prior to the hearing.  It is the resident’s responsibility to check his/her on-campus mailbox on a regular, daily basis.  Regardless of whether the hand-delivered letter can be delivered, if one copy of the letter was placed in the resident’s mailbox at least five calendar days prior to the hearing, the resident will have been properly served.  With regard to non-residents, one letter will be sent certified mail while one letter will be sent regular mail.  If both letters are sent to the address given to the university by the student, the student’s parents, or his/her legal guardian(s) and neither letter can be delivered, then the Accused Student will have been properly served.  It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his/her mailing address is current and accurate with the university’s student data system.

 

VICTIMS’ PRIVILEGES

Victims must notify the SCA if they wish to exercise any of the rights listed in this section at least five class days prior to the scheduled hearing.  Victims’ privileges apply to the following types of cases:

1. Sexual Misconduct
2. Endangerment
3. Harassment
4. Hazing
5. Property damage
6. Property theft
7. Incidents of violence including, but not limited to: verbal and physical abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and assault.

The information which the university discloses to victims may be limited by privacy laws or regulations.  The SCB may accommodate concerns for the personal safety, well-being, and/or fears of confrontation of the Complainant, Accused Student, and/or other witnesses during the hearing by providing separate facilities, by using a visual screen, and/or by permitting participation by telephone, videophone, closed circuit television, video conferencing, videotape, audio tape, written statement, or other means, where and as determined in the sole judgment of the UJO or designee to be appropriate.  The SCA and/or SCB may in their absolute discretion determine that the circumstances of a particular dispute do not require that the Accused Student(s) be permitted to confront the persons providing information supporting the charges.

 

Sanctions

The following sanctions may be imposed upon any student found to have violated the Student Conduct Code:

1. Disciplinary Warning – A notice in writing to the student that the student is violating or has violated institutional regulations.  This sanction for minor violations may also include some penalty, work experience, or other sanction(s).
2. Disciplinary Probation – A written reprimand for violation of specified regulations.  Probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more sever disciplinary sanctions if the student is found to violate any institutional regulations(s) during the probationary period.  The student shall not run for, or hold office in any student group or organization while on probation.  Other restrictions, conditions may be imposed.
3. Deferred Suspension – The student’s behavior warrants suspension, but due to mitigating circumstances, there is a desire to allow the student an opportunity to mature and/or the student has demonstrated s/he has learned from the experience.  Such sanction is imposed with the understanding that any further violations of University rules or regulations will result in automatic suspension or expulsion.  The student may not represent the University in any extra-curricular activity, run for, or hold office in any student group or organization.
4. Loss of Privileges – Denial of specified privileges for a designated period of time.  This may include: having guests, visiting other part of campus, attendance of certain campus activities, etc.
5. Fines – Previously established and published fines may be imposed.
6. Restitution – Compensation for loss, damage, or injury.  This may take the form of appropriate service and/or monetary or material replacement.
7. Discretionary Sanctions – Work assignments, essays, service to the university, or other related discretionary assignments.
8. Substance Abuse Counseling and/or Evaluation – For any disciplinary action which is substance abuse related, the student may be required to receive counseling, on or off campus.
9. Residence Hall Separation or Relocation – Separation of the student from the residence halls, or a specific residence hall, for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return, or permanent separation from the residence hall system.  Conditions for readmission may be specified.  Student may not run or hold an office in any hall group or organization.
10. Interim Suspension – The Dean of Students or in his/her absence, the UJO or other designee may suspend a student for an interim period pending disciplinary proceedings or medical evaluation.   Such interim suspension will become effective immediately without prior notice whenever there is evidence that such action is necessary for the good of the University or the student.
11. Suspension – The student is separated from the university for a definite period of time, (up to 2 years) after which the student is eligible to return.  Conditions for readmission may be specified.  The student may be barred from the University’s premises and may not participate in any University-sponsored activities.
12. Dismissal – Separation from the university for an indefinite period of time – a minimum of 2 years.  Readmission is possible, but not guaranteed and will only be considered after two years from the effective date of the dismissal, based on meeting all readmission criteria and obtaining clearance from the Dean of Students or designee.
13. Expulsion – Permanent separation of the student from the University.  The student is barred from all University premises.
14. Revocation of Admission and/or Degree – Admission to or a degree awarded from the university may be revoked for fraud, misrepresentation, or other violation of university standards in obtaining the degree, or for other serious violations committed by a student prior to graduation.
15. Withholding Degree – The University may withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the completion of the process set forth in this Student Conduct Code, including the completion of all sanctions imposed, if any.
16. Other Sanctions – Other sanctions may be imposed, e.g. anger or stress management training, sexual harassment sensitivity training, restitution, fine, work/research assignment or project, community service, or restrictions.
    

More than one of these disciplinary sanctions may be used for any single violation.  Other than university expulsion or revocation or withholding of a degree, disciplinary sanctions shall not be made part of the student’s permanent record, but shall become part of the student’s disciplinary record.  Upon awarding of a degree, the student’s disciplinary record may be expunged of disciplinary actions other than residence hall separation, suspension, expulsion, or revocation or withholding of a degree, upon application to the SCA.  Cases involving the imposition of sanctions other than residence hall separation, suspension, expulsion or revocation or withholding of a degree shall be expunged from the student’s confidential record seven years after final disposition of the case.

In situations involving both an Accused Student(s) (or group or organization) and a student(s) claiming to be the victim of another student’s conduct, the records of the process and of the sanctions imposed, if any, shall be considered to be the education records of both the Accused Student(s) and the student(s) claiming to be the victim because the educational career and chances of success in the academic community of each may be impacted.

The following sanctions may be imposed upon groups or organizations:

1. Those listed above for students,
2. Loss of selected rights and privileges for a specified period of time,
3. Deactivation.  Loss of all privileges, including university recognition, for a specified period of time.
4. In each case in which a SCB determines that a student and/or group or organization has violated the Code, the sanction(s) shall be determined and imposed by the SCA.  In cases in which persons other than, or in addition to, the SCB, the recommendation of the SCB shall be considered by the SCA in determining and imposing sanctions.  The SCA is not limited to sanctions recommended by members of the SCB.  Following the SCB hearing, the SCB and the SCA shall advise the Accused Student, group and/or organization (and a complaining student who believes s/he was the victim of another student’s conduct) in writing of its determination and of the sanction(s) imposed, if any.
   

The UJO and/or SCB reserve the right to impose sanctions that may not fall into one of the above categories.  The UJO and SCB may also consider any past disciplinary record of the accused when making a decision.

Interim Suspension

In certain circumstances, the UJO, or a designee, may impose a university suspension or residence hall separation prior to the SCB hearing before a SCB.

Interim suspension may be imposed only: 1) to ensure the safety and well-being of members of the university community or preservation of university property; b) to ensure the student’s own physical or emotional safety and well-being; or c) if the student poses an on-going threat of disruption of, or interference with, the normal operations of the university.

During the interim suspension or residence hall separation, a student shall be denied access to the residence halls and/or to the campus (including classes) and/or all other university activities or privileges for which the student might otherwise be eligible, as the UJO or the SCA may determine to be appropriate.

The interim suspension or residence hall separation does not replace the regular process, which shall proceed on the normal schedule, up to and through a SCB hearing, if required.

APPEALS

A decision reached by the SCB or a sanction imposed by the SCA may be appealed by the Accused Student(s) or Complainant(s) to an Appellate Board (AB) within five (5) school days of the decision.  Such appeals shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the SCA or his or her designee.

Except as required to explain the basis of new information, an appeal shall be limited to a review of the verbatim record of the SCB hearing and supporting documents for one or more of the following purposes:

a.       To determine whether the SCB hearing was conducted fairly in light of the charges and information presented, and in conformity with prescribed procedures giving the complaining party a reasonable opportunity to prepare and to present information that the Student Conduct Code was violated, and giving the Accused Student a reasonable opportunity to prepare and to present a response to those allegations.  Deviations from designated procedures will not be a basis for sustaining an appeal unless significant prejudice results.

b.       To determine whether the decision reached regarding the Accused Student was based on substantial information, that is, whether there were facts in the case that, if believed by the fact finder, were sufficient to establish that a violation of the Student Conduct Code occurred.

c.        To determine whether the sanction(s) imposed were appropriate for the violation of the Code which the student was found to have committed,

d.       To consider new information, sufficient to alter a decision or relevant facts not brought out in the original hearing, because such information and/or facts were not known to the person appealing at the time of the original SCB hearing.

 

Appellate hearings will be scheduled within ten class days of receiving the written request for appeal.

A student may submit a challenge to the impartiality of any member of any appellate hearing body at least five class days prior to the hearing.

If an appeal is upheld by the Appellate Board (AB), the matter shall be returned to the original SCB and SCA for re-opening of SCB hearings to allow reconsideration of the original determination and/or sanction(s).  If an appeal is not upheld, the matter shall be considered final and binding upon all involved.

Appellate decisions will be communicated in writing within fifteen class days of an appellate hearing.  This time limit may be extended as necessary for consideration of the record on appeal.

INTERPRETATION AND REVISION

Any question of interpretation or application of the Student Conduct Code shall be referred to the UJO or his/her designee for final determination.

The Student Conduct Code shall be reviewed every year under the direction of the UJO, but may be updated at any time by the university.

The director of residential life and judicial affairs or designee shall serve as
 Nothing in the document will be construed to limit the authority of the Dean of Students or in his/her absence, the Acting Dean or the UJO, to suspend or otherwise sanction students on an immediate and emergency basis where s/he reasonably believes that such action is necessary or desirable to preserve the health, welfare, safety, and educational mission of the campus community and of the individuals associated with it.

1.  Special Provisions                                                                   

Nothing in the document will be construed to limit the authority of the Dean of Students or in his/her absence, the Acting Dean or the UJO, to suspend or otherwise sanction students on an immediate and emergency basis where s/he reasonably believes that such action is necessary or desirable to preserve the health, welfare, safety, and educational mission of the campus community and of the individuals associated with it. 

MEDIATION                                                                                                                                     

In an effort to create a more hospitable campus environment, the University of Bridgeport may decide, with students' consent, to utilize conflict mediation to resolved interpersonal conflict as an option to the traditional disciplinary process.  This process has the potential to provide students, faculty, and staff with more constructive options for dealing with interpersonal conflict.

If all parties agree to resolve the conflict using mediation, their case will be sent to one of the University’s mediators.  The mediator will provide the four basic ground rules that must be followed during the mediation, all the parties must agree: 1) to solve the problem, 2) not to resort to name calling, 3) not to interrupt one another, and 4) to tell the truth.
In resolving the conflict, the parties will first decide who will speak first.  The first person will report what happened and how he/she feels.  The second person will then speak telling his/her side of the story and repeating back what the first person said.  This will continue until all parties have told their side of the story and summarized everyone else’s views.  Each person in turn will then be asked to provide solutions to the problem(s).  The mediator will then work with the students to find a solution with which they can all leave.  After their agreement is reached, all parties are to congratulate one another and complete a Conflict Manager Report Form.

The conflict can be referred to the Department of Residential Life and Student Conduct (DRL) by an administrator, faculty member, or student.  The DRL will then either forward the case to a mediator or through the disciplinary process.  All students will be sent “charge” letters stating whether they have the option of utilizing the disciplinary or mediation process.  If all the students involved agree to a mediation process, the case will be assigned to a mediator.
All the parties must agree to go to mediation.  If they do not agree, the case will be handled through the disciplinary process.  If the mediation does not take place within the set time, the case will revert back to the disciplinary process.
If you are interested in being a mediator for the University of Bridgeport, please contact the Office of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs by calling (203) 576-4228, or emailing reslife@bridgeport.edu.

Sample infractions of University policies and their commensurate sanctions 

Offense		Sanction
Possession and/or use of a weapon, or replica of a weapon, or object which might reasonably be mistaken for a weapon		Suspension to expulsion
Attempted or threat of physical assault on a student, faculty member, staff member, or Security Officer		One year suspension
Stalking		Suspension to expulsion
Sexual assault		One year suspension to expulsion
Setting of fires		Suspension to expulsion and restitution
Tampering with fire safety equipment		Suspension to expulsion and restitution
Possession of alcoholic beverages		Warning to expulsion
Misuse of a meal card		Disciplinary Warning (DW) to disciplinary probation (DP), restitution if appropriate, fines
Vandalism		DW to expulsion, depending on severity
Lying to Security Officers or other personnel		DW to removal from housing, fines
Throwing items off of rooms or out of windows		$500.00 fine, and/or suspension
Candles, burned or unburned, halogen, torchiere lamps		DW, $50.00 fine, to removal from housing
Violation of the Fire Safety Policy		DW to suspension
Violation of academic honesty policies		DW to expulsion
Verbal or physical abuse		DP, being banned from the Residence Halls, to suspension from the University
Harassment or Intimidation		DW to suspension
Fighting		Removal from the residence halls for no less than four academic months to expulsion
Damage of University property		Progressive discipline and restitution
Failure to comply with a request for identification		Progressive discipline, monetary fines, and temporary separation from the residence halls
Lying to University personnel		DW to expulsion
Unauthorized possession of University keys		Progressive discipline, restitution
Misuse of UB ID		Progressive discipline and restitution if appropriate, $50.00 fine
Misuse of UB PAL		$50.00 fine and progressive discipline
Violation of the Drug Policy		Warning to expulsion

 

Discipline File Record-Keeping

The Office of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs maintains disciplinary files on all cases.

Removal of Discipline Files

Students may make a written request to have all discipline files destroyed upon receipt of a University degree. The Dean of Students reserves the right to refuse such a request depending on the seriousness of violations.  All files may be destroyed seven years after date of activation with the following exceptions: dismissal records shall be permanently retained as official records unless the student is readmitted and successfully completes a degree, at which point, the record should be removed seven years beyond the date of readmission; expulsion records shall not be removed from the official files under any circumstances.  Any records kept beyond these limits for statistical purposes will not be considered or released as official disciplinary records.  Persons wishing to have their disciplinary records removed should write to: The Dean of Students, 244 University Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.