The Code of Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct is intended to provide guidelines and to outline community expectations as our means of enforcing our commitment to those goals and values outlined in the University Mission Statement.

The Code of Student Conduct outlines the standards of behavior that students are expected to follow at St. Mary's University.

Charges (Violations)The Judicial Advisor/Officer receives and reviews all reports and documentation from University departments, staff, officials or community members to determine if there is sufficient information to proceed with charges of violating the Code of Student Conduct. The charged student will receive a letter from the Office of Judicial Affairs enumerating the charges against him or her.

The Charge LetterThe charge letter outlines the alleged violations in a brief narrative and behavioral description of the incident and summons the student to a meeting with the Judicial Advisor or Judicial Officer.

Types of HearingsThere are two types of hearings available to the student to resolve judicial matters:

Informal Hearings:

• For students who choose to accept responsibility for alleged charge(s)
• Not taped-recorded
• Written decision serves as the official record of the informal hearing and will be sent to the student within 15 days from the conclusion of the Judicial Officer’s deliberation

Formal Hearings:

• For students who choose not to accept responsibility for alleged charge(s)
• Witnesses may be called and questioned by the charged student
• Charged student is notified within 5 business days but not more than 15 days in advance of the hearing
• Charged student can request an advisor
• Tape-recorded, which serves as the verbatim record of the hearing
• Heard by a Judicial Committee of faculty, staff and students
• Formal decision letter from the Dean of Students will be sent to the student within 15 days from the conclusion of the Judicial Committee’s deliberation

Hearing Forums:

Students and student organizations (including fraternities and sororities, student-athletes, and other leadership organizations) charged through the Office of Judicial Affairs may choose from the following Hearing Forums:

Information Session

The Information Session is informal and is conducted by the Judicial Advisor or the Judicial Officer. This session is an opportunity for the Judicial Advisor and /or the Judicial Officer to meet with the student to discuss the incident as a means of gathering all of the factual details of the incident report.

Administrative Hearing

This is an informal hearing and is conducted by the Judicial Advisor or Judicial Officer. The student accepts responsibility for his/her actions, and sanctions are assessed.

University Student Judicial Committee

This is a formal hearing. The Committee, composed of faculty, staff and students, conducts disciplinary hearings of the cases referred to it. The Committee makes a recommendation to the Dean of Students based on the outcome of the hearing.

Hearing Procedures:

If the student or organization rejects an informal hearing and disputes the investigative findings that a violation(s) has been committed, the case shall be resolved through the formal hearing process through the University Student Judicial Committee. A complete guide to the hearing procedures can be found in the Student Handbook, Article V: Judicial Charges and Hearings on our Web site: www.stmarytx.edu/handbook.

Sanctions:

If a student or organization is found to be responsible through either informal or formal hearing forums, educational sanctions may be imposed for violations of the Code of Student Conduct (non-academic). These sanctions may include reprimands, service work hours, educational activities, counseling and behavioral assessments, residence hall restrictions, restitution, fines, loss of privileges, suspension, and/or expulsion. (Note: Expulsion is the only sanction noted on the student’s academic transcript).

Appeal Process:

The accused student may request an appeal of the decision(s) reached by the University Student Judicial Committee or of the sanctions imposed by the Judicial Advisor within five (5) business days of the receipt of the decision. Such request for an appeal shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Judicial Advisor or his or her designee. A complete guide to the Appeal Process can be found in the Student Handbook, Article VII: Sanctioning Procedures on our Web site: www.stmarytx.edu/handbook.

Judicial Records and Files: All disciplinary cases are maintained in the Student Life Office. The release of student disciplinary records will be governed by the applicable federal and state laws regarding privacy of educational records. Students can arrange to review their judicial fine by contacting the Student Life Office.