No Contact Agreements and No Contact Orders
Carnegie Mellon is committed to providing support and resources to any student who may be the recipient of persistent unwanted or harassing contact by another student. In certain circumstances, it may become necessary for the university to formalize an arrangement between two students to no longer have contact with each other (direct or indirect) other than that which is necessary for either party to continue their academic pursuits. Such an arrangement is designed as a protective measure to help mitigate the potential for future problematic interactions between the two students. The arrangement may take the form of either a No Contact Agreement or No Contact Order, as follows:
A No Contact Agreement (NCA) is a mutual agreement between two students who voluntarily affirm that they will not have direct contact with each other, or make indirect contact through third parties, except for that which is necessary for their academic pursuits. An NCA does not constitute a finding of responsibility for violating university policy, nor does it preclude the possibility of future review of any past interactions through the community standards process. Following discussion and agreement to enter into the NCA, the two students will receive a letter confirming the terms of the agreement. In the event that a student declines to enter into a requested NCA, an associate vice president of student affairs may elect to review the matter to determine whether a No Contact Order is warranted. Please see a sample No Contact Agreement (pdf).
A No Contact Order (NCO) is a directive from an associate vice president of student affairs indicating that two students may not have direct contact with each other, or make indirect contact through third parties, except for that which is necessary for their academic pursuits. An NCO may be issued:
- when, upon careful review, the associate vice president deems there is sufficient information presented that doing so will safeguard students’ abilities to pursue their education in an environment free from unwanted contact. In such an instance, the NCO does not constitute a finding of responsibility for violating university policy, nor does it preclude the possibility of future review of any past interactions through the community standards process; or
- in connection with the community standards process, either as an interim measure during the pendency of the process and/or an outcome associated with a finding of responsibility from the process.
No Contact Orders issued after a finding of responsibility are most often binding only on the responding party. However, in limited circumstances, they may be mutual. Carnegie Mellon will carefully consider the individual circumstances of the situation, including the burden placed on the reporting party by issuing a mutual No Contact Order.
Please see a sample No Contact Order (pdf). A student who receives an NCO may appeal the decision in writing to the dean of students (a NCO received as a sanction through the community standards process may be appealed via the appeal procedures set forth in the Community Standards section of The Word).
Once implemented, any violation of an NCA or an NCO will be vigorously pursued as an alleged violation of community standards through the community standards process. An NCA or NCO remains in effect until it has been terminated, in writing, by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs following a determination that the arrangement is no longer warranted or necessary.
A student considering request of an NCA or NCO may discuss the situation with a Housefellow, a College Liaison, the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, the Office for Institutional Equity and Title IX, the Office of Community Standards & Integrity, the Office of Residential Education, or University Police.