Nearly 1,000 cases went through the non-academic disciplinary process from July 2003 to December 2004, according to reports released Tuesday by the Office of Student Life.
Non-academic offenses are divided into non-disciplinary and disciplinary dispositions based on the type of offense. Non-disciplinary dispositions can result in mediations, warnings or dean's conferences. Punishments for disciplinary dispositions range from reprimand to separation from the University.
Disciplinary dispositions are meted out by an OSL dean or hearings before the Peer Community Standards Board, the University Disciplinary Council or a University administrative hearing officer.
The reports released Tuesday, which covered the previous three semesters, said 492 cases received disciplinary dispositions in the 2003-2004 academic year. In Fall 2004, 190 cases resulted in disciplinary dispositions.
Three of the most serious cases in the fall semester of 2004 went before a University administrative hearing officer for violations possibly resulting in separation from the University or notation on a student's permanent record.
One case, involving damage to exit signs and underage alcohol consumption, resulted in deferred suspension. Deferred suspension was also the consequence of an incident involving non-consensual sexual contact. The third case involved public urination, disorderly conduct and public intoxication at an athletic event - the sanction was suspension for a semester.
University administrative hearing officers heard three cases during the 2003-2004 school year. One incident involved possession and sale of illegal drugs and two were for assault of another student. All three cases resulted in suspension.
The Peer Community Standards Board, which hears cases involving fire alarms, theft, noise complaints, fire safety violations and similar offences, handled 117 cases in the 2003-2004 school year and eight cases in Fall 2004. Most cases were settled with reprimands or probation.
Dean's hearings, for violations that do not warrant separation from the University or inclusion on a student's permanent record, were called for 362 cases in the 2003-2004 school year and 177 in Fall 2004. Most resulted in reprimands or probation.
In the 2003-2004 academic year, 366 cases resulted in non-disciplinary dispositions of mediations, warnings or dean's conferences, with an additional 127 in the fall 2004 semester.
Interim Associate Dean of Student Life Terry Addison told The Herald that the rate of offenses has been fairly constant over the last few years.
"It is important for the community to have a clear sense of what the numbers reflect," Addison said.
He said the reports show the effort the University makes to ensure that community members are held accountable for their actions and that students, faculty, staff and administrators feel safe on campus.
The full reports are available on the University's Web site for student rights and responsibilities.
