Community Standards

This policy should be reviewed in its entirety on-line: http://www.cmu.edu/policies/documents/Disc.html.

Carnegie Mellon Code

Students at Carnegie Mellon, because they are members of an academic community dedicated to the achievement of excellence, are expected to meet the highest standards of personal, ethical and moral conduct possible.

These standards require personal integrity, a commitment to honesty without compromise, as well as truth without equivocation and a willingness to place the good of the community above the good of the self. Obligations once undertaken must be met, commitments kept.

As members of the Carnegie Mellon community, individuals are expected to uphold the standards of the community in addition to holding others accountable for said standards. It is rare that the life of a student in an academic community can be so private that it will not affect the community as a whole or that the above standards do not apply.

The discovery, advancement and communication of knowledge are not possible without a commitment to these standards. Creativity cannot exist without acknowledgment of the creativity of others. New knowledge cannot be developed without credit for prior knowledge. Without the ability to trust that these principles will be observed, an academic community cannot exist.

The commitment of its faculty, staff and students to these standards contributes to the high respect in which the Carnegie Mellon degree is held. Students must not destroy that respect by their failure to meet these standards. Students who cannot meet them should voluntarily withdraw from the university.

Expectations

It is the responsibility of each member of the Carnegie Mellon community to be familiar with university policies and guidelines. The following resources are available to assist you in understanding community expectations.

• The Word/Student Handbook
• Student Guide to Housing and Dining
• Academic Integrity Website
• Carnegie Mellon Undergraduate Catalog
• Policies On-Line
• Graduate student handbooks provided by individual home departments

Non-Academic University Policies

The Non-Academic University Policies section provides a list of policies related to university living. Students are expected to be familiar with these policies. Additional regulations may be established as necessary during the course of the academic year. Guidelines become effective immediately after promulgation by posting on university bulletin boards and by publication in the student newspaper.

Community Standards

The university is not limited by this list or other published regulations when it initiates disciplinary actions since it is not possible to anticipate all of the behavior of a college population. Students who are exploring the university experience may involve themselves in actions that compromise the necessary concern of the university for life, safety, the freedom to engage in learning, the enjoyment of the proper privileges of the academic community and the integrity of the university. Such actions cannot be taken lightly and will properly elicit a disciplinary response.

Following are groups of offenses that constitute misconduct for which members of the campus community may be held accountable. This list references policies that are outlined in greater detail in this on-line handbook. It should be understood that this list is not intended to be exhaustive, and further that any violation of university policy or applicable laws necessarily violates community standards.

Students at Carnegie Mellon are members of an academic community dedicated to the achievement of excellence. Therefore, students are expected to meet the highest standards, academically and otherwise. Failure to meet the expectations of high standards of integrity will be addressed through the university community standards process. Examples of violations of community standards in relation to integrity include, but are not limited to:

• Cheating and plagiarism
• Destruction of another person's work, specifically through the use of computer facilities
• Reverse engineering software or hardware without permission of the intellectual property owner
• Misrepresentation of research data
• Falsification of data
• Altering or misuse of university documents
• Invasion of or accessing personal files or a computer account other than one's own
• Misuse of computer facilities
• Violation of copyright laws including computing or Web-related documentation
• Violation of the Carnegie Mellon University Computing Policy
• Using a message system for obscene, libelous or defamatory purposes
• Other acts that compromise the integrity of the academic process
• Theft

Carnegie Mellon University holds as the highest priority the welfare of its community members. Any behavior that places individuals in any kind of risk will be addressed through the university community standards process. The sanctions that may result from this type of behavior may be severe. Examples of violations of community standards in relation to the welfare of others include, but are not limited to:

• Assault
• Tampering with or alteration of life support systems
• Harassment of any kind
• Unreasonable noise
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon policies of non-discrimination
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon policy on sexual harassment
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon policy on sexual assault
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon policy on HIV/AIDS
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon policy on hazing
• Endangering the welfare of others 
• Failure to enact the Alcohol Medical Assistance Procedure (AMAP)

The care and upkeep of our campus buildings, grounds and facilities are critical to providing students, faculty and staff with an environment that is conducive to learning. Any behavior that jeopardizes the maintenance of the campus or an individual's property will be addressed through the university community standards process  judicial action. Examples of violations of community standards in relation to property include, but are not limited to:

• Repairing and storing vehicles, motorized or otherwise, in unauthorized university spaces
• Improper possession of university property
• Improper placement of posters/banners
• Trespassing on roofs, parapets, and other non-public areas
• Propping open doors that are kept locked for security purposes
• Unauthorized possession of keys
• Unauthorized tapping into or altering university utility lines
• Operation of vehicles in restricted areas
• Theft or irresponsible use of university property or services
• Destruction, mutilation, or defacement of university property 
• Willful destruction of, disabling, or damaging computer facilities, equipment or software.
• Willful mutilation, destruction, or illegal possession of library materials. Violations of the Carnegie Mellon Library Policies
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon Housing and Dining policies (found in the Housing & Dining Services on-line handbook Student Guide to Housing and Dining)

Carnegie Mellon has established basic guidelines that have been approved by students, staff and faculty. These policies ensure the safe and functional operation of the university. Students are expected to abide by these policies at all times. Failure to abide by these guidelines will be addressed through the university community standards process. Examples of violations of community standards in relation to health, safety and security include, but are not limited to:

• Harboring of pets
• Failure to comply with a request to produce identification
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon University Smoking Policy
• Disorderly conduct
• Failure to comply with a reasonable request of a university official
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon University Alcohol and Drug Policy
• Unauthorized use of appliances
• Tampering with or misuse of fire safety equipment 
• Failure to evacuate for scheduled fire drills and alarms 
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon University Policy on Deadly Weapons
• Unauthorized entry into secured spaces
• Installation of a private locking system
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon University  bicycle/ wheeled transportation policy
• The use of pyrotechnics, fireworks and hazardous devices
• Improper storage of chemicals, gases or hazardous materials
• Violations of the Carnegie Mellon Housing and Dining policies (found in the Housing & Dining Services on-line handbook Student Guide to Housing and Dining)

Procedures for Dealing with Violations of Community Standards

A community is built on the foundation of many relationships. Violations of community standards damage these relationships. Responsibility for resolution of violations of these standards by students is handled by the dean of student affairs or his/her designee. The following forums exist for adjudication of violations:

• University community standards adjudicators
• Student Judicial Boards, Greek Judicial Board, and the Residence Hall Judicial Board
• Academic Review Board
• University Committee on Discipline (UDC)

Initiating the Community Standards Process

Community Standards review is initiated by filing a memorandum with the dean of student affairs or the filing of a report from the University Police detailing the university regulation or policy that the reporting party believes has been violated and providing information that substantiates the facts and circumstances. Complaints may also be filed through the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, the Office of Student Activities, or the Student Life Office. Such a memorandum may be filed by a student, a faculty or staff member, or a community member at large when the individual believed to have violated university policy is a registered student of Carnegie Mellon.

The university community standards process may not be used for the adjudication of cases involving the relationships between two students except as such cases involve violations of community standards that make the university a party to them.

When the university is in regular session, resolution will be achieved through one or more of the forums mentioned above for adjudication. Summary disciplinary actions may be imposed by the dean of student affairs at times when the university is not in regular session.

Important Definitions

Adjudicator - University official authorized to mediate agreements or impose sanctions for students alleged to have violated community standards. This person is usually a housefellow or college liaison, but the dean of student affairs and his or her designee may also act as an adjudicator.

Complainant - The person or group bringing allegations forward.

Respondent - The person or group alleged to have violated community standards.

Citations

Some infractions of university policy are of a nature that requires immediate disciplinary response. In these instances, an internal citation will be issued at the time of the incident by a university police officer to the individuals involved. Ordinarily, response to citations will be handled by a university adjudicator (a housefellow or college liaison) through the university community standards process. However, in more severe cases as determined by the dean of student affairs  at his/her discretion, referral to the University Committee on Discipline may be warranted. State citations are also issued by University Police for violations of state law. While these citations are handled through the criminal justice system, students may also be expected to meet with a university adjudicator to determine if a violation of community standards has also occurred.

Student Organizations

Student Organizations, as members of the academic community, are to be held accountable to the university policies.  Incidents of policy violation associated with a student organization may constitute disciplinary action against the individual student and the organization.  Student organization sanctions will be determined on a case-by-case basis where the action of an individual is representative of the organization as a whole.

Review After a Conviction of a Crime

The university may review the case when a student has been convicted in public court of the following serious crimes in circumstances that constitute a potential threat against the university's ability to function in whole or in part.  In such a review, the University Committee on Discipline will be tasked with determining whether the student's presence at the university will endanger the university community:

• Murder or manslaughter
• The manufacturing, selling or possessing to sell any drug on the prescribed list subject to the criminal code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Aggravated assault
• Criminal mischief
• Arson
• Rape
• Burglary
• Robbery
• Theft

The Community Standards Process

In all cases involving infractions of community standards the following procedures will be used:

1. A student respondent will be contacted by a university adjudicator and will be presented with the allegation(s). The student, after notification, may accept or deny responsibility for the infraction.
2. Disciplinary action is determined through mediation with a university adjudicator. Students will be notified in writing of the determined action.
3. A student who is alleged to have violated one or more community standards or policies may  request a review of the allegation before the appropriate hearing board.
4. A student respondent who is alleged to have violated one or more university standards or policies for which the University Committee on Discipline is assigned original jurisdiction will:

• be notified in writing by a representative of the Student Life Office  of the allegation(s);
• have access to all information referring the case to the Student Life Office and all supporting documents, and;
• be informed about the scheduled time and place of the meeting of the University Committee on Discipline for review of the case.

Mediation

Upon notification of an alleged violation of community standards, a student will be asked to meet with a housefellow or college liaison to resolve the situation. Resolution of the incident may take place during this meeting. If a student accepts responsibility for a violation of community standards, action will be agreed upon and imposed after the approval of the Mediation Review Board. The student will receive notification in writing confirming the determined action. If agreement on the appropriate action cannot be reached the student or adjudicator may request that the appropriate hearing board review the case.

Hearing Boards

Community standards are an important part of a student's education, and this is especially true in group living situations. Non-academic community standards action involving resident students is generally handled by the Student Life Office, an office within the Division of Student Affairs. The Student Life Office has responsibility for the conduct of life in the residence halls, the authority to investigate all violations of university regulations that involve residential, non-residential or Greek students, and the duty to take any appropriate action.

Complaints against a student may come from many possible sources, including: University Police; a housefellow or house staff member; members of the Housing and Dining staff or facility coordinator; members of the Carnegie Mellon community; or members of the community at large. If the complaint is a violation of university community standards, the dean of student affairs or his/her designee will choose the appropriate forum for reviewing the charges. The violation and potential sanction will often dictate a forum for adjudication. Forums for resolution include summary action, mediation, Residence Hall or Greek Judicial Board or the University Committee on Discipline.

No matter what forum is selected for hearing the case, the community standards process is governed by the rules of procedure outlined below. In addition, each student is guaranteed certain privileges, including the opportunity to appeal the decision if circumstances warrant.  The following are detailed descriptions of the appropriate uses and processes of the Carnegie Mellon hearing boards that serve in cases of alleged student misconduct. The boards are:

• The University Committee on Discipline (UDC)
• Residence Hall Judicial Board
• Greek Judicial Board

Appropriate Use of University Committee on Discipline

The University Committee on Discipline has jurisdiction in the following cases:

1. Any cases of alleged violations of university standards and policies which the dean of student affairs, in his or her discretion, deems sufficiently serious in nature
2. Any cases of alleged violations of university standards and policies in which one student(s) is filing allegation against another student(s) that cannot be appropriately resolved through the mediation process.
3. Appeals from penalties imposed by a university adjudicator, or university staff members taking summary actions (for example, University Library action according to written policy).
4. Cases in which the facts of the situation are in dispute.
5. Alleged violations for which mediation is deemed by the dean of student affairs to be an inappropriate means of resolution or instances when mediation has not been successful.

Composition of the University Committee on Discipline

The University Committee on Discipline consists of two trained faculty board members, one trained staff/administrator board member and two trained student board members. In addition, the coordinator for community standards or associate dean of student affairs or his/her designee will serve as the moderator for the hearing.

The faculty members will be appointed by the Faculty Senate.  The staff/administrative members will be appointed by the Staff Council. The student members will be appointed with the concurrence of the Undergraduate Student Senate and the Graduate Student Assembly.
Members participating in a given hearing will be selected based upon availability and disinterestedness in the hearing subject or parties. No one who has prior substantial knowledge of the student involved or the event leading to allegations or who has substantial interest in the student or the case involved or who may appropriately be a witness in the case may sit on the committee.

Conduct of University Committee on Discipline Hearings

The university attempts to ensure fair, timely and orderly procedures in all disciplinary reviews. To provide for this, the university has adopted the following procedural protections for the rights of students. The moderator will remind all persons present at the opening of each disciplinary hearing that the purpose of a University Committee on Discipline is to determine an appropriate response, through a deliberative process, when a member of the university community believes that a violation of policy, standard or regulation has taken place. The following is a list of procedures that govern the University Committee on Discipline process:

1. A student respondent must be afforded a prompt hearing. The student must be notified in writing of the specific policy, standard or regulation the student has allegedly violated. Such notification is normally made at least seven calendar days before the hearing.
2. Throughout the disciplinary process, the student respondent will receive full notification of complaint, notification of any hearing and notification of disposition of the charge and will have the right to be present throughout the hearing process.
3. The complainant will receive full notification of complaint, notification of any hearing and notification of disposition of the charge (only if the charge is a crime of violence or sexual assault) and will have the right to be present throughout the hearing process.
4. In advance of the hearing, the members of the hearing board will be provided a pre-read packet, which may include, among other relevant items: the initial complainant report; any investigation reports and/or witness statements; a statement from the complainant(s) to the board; a statement from the respondent(s) to the board, and character references.  The complainant(s) and respondent(s) are provided a full copy of all materials provided to the hearing board as pre-reads.
5. During the actual hearing before the board, a student has the right to be present when evidence relative to the case is being presented. In the disciplinary process, a student who is charged with a violation has the right to remain silent.
6. Counter-allegations. After having been properly notified of the violations with which the respondent has been charged, the respondent may file counter-allegations against the complainant. Counter-allegations must be raised within a reasonable time (normally within two business days) of the notification of the original hearing and must detail the university regulation or policy that the respondent believes has been violated and provide information that substantiates the facts and circumstances.
7. Prior to the hearing, the individuals involved will be asked if they believe that the potential hearing board members are biased toward or against them. If a perceived bias is reasonable, replacements will be chosen for the board.
8. Advisors. Both the complainant and respondent have the right to have one person-another student, a faculty or staff member, parent or legal counsel-appear at any hearing as an advisor. Both parties are required, however, to notify the hearing group at least three days in advance if legal counsel will be present so that the hearing group may determine whether it wishes to obtain legal advice in connection with the hearing. Legal counsel or any other advisor, if present, will not be permitted to participate in the proceedings but may advise the respondent or the complainant or be present at a hearing at the request of the dean of student affairs. In the event that one party to a case appears represented by legal counsel without advance notice, a hearing may be postponed until all parties to the case have had an opportunity to have counsel present.
9. In the event that the nature of the offense or the material necessary to obtain responsible judgment is of so private or confidential a nature that the student would be embarrassed if the information became available to other members of the student body, a student has the right to request that student members of the committee be replaced by non-student members. This request is made to the dean of student affairs.
10. In scheduling a hearing, consideration should be given to ensure that witnesses significant to the case being heard are available to the hearing group. Character witnesses, those speaking on behalf of the interest of the party charged, may also be present. Witnesses, at the request of the board, may be introduced and questioned one at a time by the hearing group and subsequently dismissed. They should only be present in the room when being questioned by the board.
11. All proceedings before a hearing group, except the deliberation of the group, will be recorded. Recordings will be  kept in accordance to student conduct records retention practices.
12. The complainant(s) and respondent(s) will each be limited to ten minutes for opening statements and five minutes for closing statements.
13. A representative of the Student Life Office will be responsible for notifying the dean of student affairs in writing of the recommendation of the hearing group, detailing the principles that governed the decision and any sanctions deemed appropriate. 
14. After reviewing the recommendations, the dean of student affairs or his/ her designee will notify the respondent(s) in writing of his/her final decision.  
15. University Committee on Discipline hearings are confidential. All materials related to any disciplinary process will be provided for review to the following parties where appropriate: the complainant(s), the respondent(s) and members of the University Committee on Discipline, consistent with the privacy rights of those involved. These materials are to be kept confidential and may be shared only with those necessary, and to the degree necessary for the development of either side of the case.
16. Records of disciplinary actions following the process may not be released at any time without the consent of the student charged or as required by law. Disciplinary files are confidential and are destroyed three years after a student has left the campus either as the result of graduation, withdrawal or of an action by the University Committee on Discipline, provided the student has completed all sanctions and returned to good standing with the university.
17. Parents of a student normally will not be notified of any disciplinary action.
18. Disciplinary actions will normally be recorded only in the student's personal file in the Student Life Office except as they affect eligibility for enrollment, in which cases appropriate notation on other university records will be made. Suspension or expulsion will be recorded on the official student records of the university with University Registrar’s Office.  They will not be released as a part of the official transcript of the academic record of a student.
19. Both parties will be expected to demonstrate good faith efforts in their participation with this process. A student who fails to appear before a hearing group after having been properly notified of the time and place of the hearing and the specific allegations may not be tried in absentia. It will be the responsibility of the Student Life Office to ensure that times set for hearings are reasonable. Ultimately, failure to cooperate and appear may result in a more severe penalty. 
20. Classroom attendance, except for scheduled examinations, will not be a reasonable excuse for delaying a hearing.

Prior Violations

With the exception of a University Committee on Discipline being convened to review three (3) violations by a student within an academic year, prior findings of responsibility and sanctions involved for individuals who are referred to the University Committee on Discipline, the Residence Hall Judicial Board or the Greek Judicial Board normally will not be made known to the disciplinary board before a hearing. If an individual is found responsible by the hearing board for the incident for which the student is charged, that student will be recalled before the board to discuss his/her prior violations and sanctions.  A sanction will be determined in light of this additional information.

In the case of an Academic Review Board convened for the purpose of a second level review, the board members will be made aware of any and all academic integrity violations for the purposes of the review.  Procedure related to Academic Review Boards are outlined in detail at http://www.cmu.edu/academic-integrity and in the Academic Integrity section of The Word.

Appeals

When informing the student of the decision of the dean of student affairs , the administrator  responsible shall both verbally and in writing inform the student of the channel of appeal available.

An appeal from a university disciplinary action must be filed by the respondent or complainant (where notification is permitted) within seven calendar days of the official notification of the decision to the student.

The basis of an appeal to the University Committee on Discipline from the decision of a hearing group will be limited to one of t the following cases. The following are the basis for appeal of a University Committee on Discipline process outcome to the president of the university or his/her designee.

1. A gross error in procedural processes;
2. To determine whether the sanction(s) imposed were appropriate for the violation(s) of community standards for which the respondent(s) were found responsible; 
3. Evidence as deduced from a transcript of the proceedings before a hearing group that is unsupported by any substantial evidence;
4. New evidence that would cause the case to be reconsidered.

The person bringing an appeal may request that the recordings of the hearing be transcribed. In this case, the student will be responsible for the cost of providing a transcription of the recording of the prior proceedings.  The transcription is made solely for the use of the person considering the appeal.  The transcript will NOT be provided to the students involved. In the event of an appeal any hearing sanctions will normally be held in abeyance pending the outcome of the appeal.

A final appeal of any decision by the dean of student affairs based on a University Committee on Discipline hearing may be addressed in writing to the president of the university within seven calendar days of the dean's decision.

Residence Hall Judicial Board

An alleged violation may be heard by the Residence Hall Judicial Board, which is charged with examining the facts, determining if the events were a violation of community standards, and deciding what action should be taken as a result.  The Residence Hall Judicial Board has jurisdiction over alleged violations of regulations published for the governance of students residing in all university residential areas.

Selection and Appointment

The Residence Hall Judicial Board is selected through a nomination and application process. The Student Dormitory Council will be given the opportunity to nominate members from the residential community. All nominees must be in good standing (financial, academic, etc.) and currently live in the residential community. When a hearing is called, the board will have as its members five representatives from the appointed group.

These five individuals will be chosen on a random basis. When possible, representatives from three different residence halls will be chosen. Prior to the hearing, the individuals involved will be asked if they believe that the potential hearing board members are biased toward or against them. If a perceived bias is reasonable, replacements will be chosen for the board.

Jurisdiction

The Residence Hall Judicial Board may hear cases detrimental to the best interest of the residential community or violations of Carnegie Mellon University policies. When a complaint is reported, the coordinator for community standards and/or the director of student life will decide the appropriate forum: informal mediation between parties, formal mediation (with approval by the Mediation Review Board), Residence Hall Judicial Board, university adjudicator, or University Committee on Discipline. These decisions will be made based on the seriousness of the incident, potential sanction and the probability for appropriate resolution. The Residence Hall Judicial Board will not hear cases that may result in suspension or expulsion.

Reporting a Complaint

Complaints may be brought to the attention of the coordinator for community standards from many possible sources, including:

• University Police report
• Housefellows and student staff members
• Members of the Carnegie Mellon community including students, faculty, and staff
• Pittsburgh community residents

Greek Judicial Board

The Greek Judicial Board is similar in purpose to the Residence Hall Judicial Board, but serves as an investigator and adjudicator for the Fraternity and Sorority system.  The Greek Judicial Board will address matters referred to it that relate to fraternities and sororities.

Selection and Appointment

Selection of the Greek Judicial Board shall be through nomination to the dean of student affairs or his/her designee. Each fraternity and sorority will be given the opportunity to nominate members. All nominees must be initiated members of a fraternity or sorority recognized by the Carnegie Mellon University Interfraternity, Panhellenic, or Multicultural Greek Council. All nominees must be in good standing (financial, academic, etc.) in their respective chapter. The dean of student affairs or his/her designee must approve all nominations.

When the Greek Judicial Board is needed, five representatives, each from different chapters, will be chosen to hear the case. These five individuals will be chosen randomly.Prior to the hearing, the individuals involved will be asked if they believe that the potential hearing board members are biased toward or against them. If a perceived bias is reasonable, replacements will be chosen for the board.

Jurisdiction

The Greek Judicial Board will hear cases detrimental to the best interest of the Fraternity and Sorority community and violations of Carnegie Mellon University policies. When a complaint is reported, a coordinator for community standards and/or the director of student life will decide the appropriate forum: informal mediation between parties, formal mediation (with approval by the Mediation Review Board), university adjudicator, Greek Judicial Board, or University Committee on Discipline. These decisions will be made based on seriousness of incident, potential sanction, and the probability for appropriate resolution. The Greek Judicial Board will not hear cases that may result in suspension, expulsion or organizational loss of recognition.

Reporting a Complaint

Complaints may be brought to the attention of the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life, or the coordinator for community standards from many possible sources, including:

• University Police report
• Student Life staff members
• Individual Greek members or organizations
• Members of the Carnegie Mellon community, including students, faculty, and staff
• Pittsburgh community residents

Additional Hearing Boards

The Academic Review Board reviews cases of academic dishonesty, consistent with the procedures outlined in the Academic Standards, Policies and Procedures section of this handbook.

The IFC Judicial Board is the appropriate hearing board in cases involving alleged violations of regulations imposed by the Interfraternity Council upon its members and/or member organizations.

The Panhellenic Judicial Board is the appropriate hearing board in cases involving alleged violations of regulations imposed by the Panhellenic Council upon its members and/or member organizations.

Sanctions and Resolutions

The disciplinary sanctions defined below comprise a range of official action that may be imposed by the university for violation of community standards. One or more of these actions may be imposed in response to a given situation. This list is not comprehensive, as other sanctions may be utilized as appropriate.

When sanctions are decided as part of the community standards process, the educational and developmental needs of the involved student will be considered with utmost importance. Educational and developmental sanctions may accompany additional administrative sanctions with the university.

Non-compliance with sanctions may result in further action through the community standards process.

The determination of sanctions will be guided by the following considerations: the interests of the community, the impact of the violation on the victim(s), documented disciplinary history (see Prior Violations and Repeated Violations sections below), and any mitigating or aggravating circumstances.

Warning: For minor infractions, a student may be issued a warning. The warning will be noted in the event of any further infractions of community standards and will may justify consideration of more severe sanctions.  Warnings may be issued verbally or in writing.

Residence Hall Probation: An official notice to a resident student that conduct with regard to residence hall regulations or policies has been unacceptable and that future violation of university regulations may result in more serious disciplinary action, including the possible loss of campus residency. Probation lasts for a stated period of time. 

Disciplinary Probation: For a second infraction or for a single offense of a more serious nature, a student may be placed on disciplinary probation for a designated period of time. Probation may entail specific requirements to be met. When a student is on disciplinary probation they are vulnerable to suspension or expulsion in the event of further infractions of community standards.

Community Service: The university may  require  uncompensated service (a specified number of hours) to the university or an off-campus, non-profit organization as a sanction. The particular assignment of duties must be pre-approved through the appropriate university adjudicator. Students must provide appropriate documentation verifying their completed community service. Failure to complete the service satisfactorily within the specified period of time may result in further action through the community standards process.

Fines: Any fines imposed are payable to the general funds of the university and may not directly benefit any person or persons bringing charges.  Fines not paid within one month my become a charge payable to the university through the student’s account and are enforced in the same way all other financial obligations to the university are enforced.  In other cases, fines are normally applied to the general programming efforts to improve the educational environment in the residence halls.

Reimbursement or Replacement: In cases where a student is found responsible for damaging or misappropriating property, the student may be responsible for reimbursing the property owner for all or some of the cost.

Room Reassignment: An action where a student is assigned to either another room in the same house community or a room in another house community. When a student is assigned to another house community, specific restrictions concerning the previous community may be invoked.

Loss of Residency in University Housing: An action that excludes a student or student group from residence in university housing for a stated period of time. A student who loses residency in university housing shall be considered for future housing accommodations, as space permits.

Suspension: A student may be barred from enrollment for a designated period of time. Students who have been suspended are required to absent themselves from the campus (including  university housing and fraternity or sorority houses) within a maximum of two days after the action and to remain off the campus for the duration of the time specified. This action includes debarment from part-time or summer courses for the duration of the period of the action. The policy governing suspensions is available on-line at http://www.cmu.edu/policies/documents/Suspension.html  and more information is available in the section of this handbook pertaining to Student Suspension. A student who has been suspended is not eligible for student employment by the university during the period of suspension.

Expulsion: The student is required to sever entirely his or her connection with the university. Students who have been expelled are required to absent themselves from the campus (including  university housing and fraternity or sorority houses) within a maximum of two days after the action and to remain off the campus permanently, unless otherwise specified.

Repeated Violations

Students with two (2) community standards violations within an academic year may immediately be placed on disciplinary probation.  Students involved in three (3) violations within an academic year may be referred to the University Committee on Discipline.