CREATING AND RESPECTING A COMMUNITY FOR ALL
Mission
The Trinity University Student Conduct Program (SCP) aims to hold students accountable for their actions and provide them an opportunity to reflect upon their impact on the Trinity community through a fair, equitable, and education-based process. The SCP’s mission is to encourage student learning and development while preserving the safety and integrity of Trinity University's academic and social communities.
By establishing student conduct policies and discipline procedures, the University fulfills an obligation set forth in its statement on Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Standards of Conduct General Information
Expectations of Students
Trinity University strives to preserve the rights and dignity of individuals and to create an environment in which civility, decency, and respect are honored. Students are expected to take responsibility for their actions and show respect for themselves, others, the University community, and property.
Respecting Differences
In this community of scholars, respect and acceptance of differing points of view is fundamental to creating the quality of life that encourages growth and development. The diversity of this community places upon all its citizens an obligation to respect the perspectives of others who are different from themselves.
These differences include, but are not limited to:
- Gender and gender expression
- Sex
- Ethnicity
- Sexual orientation
- Ability
- Personal history
- Nationality
- Geographical and cultural origin
- Religion
- Political perspective
- Socio-economic class
A student’s matriculation at Trinity University implies their understanding and support of University standards. Failure to observe these standards and other regulations will subject the student to University action through established procedures for the administration of student conduct standards.
Community Input for Procedures and Policies
The Dean of Students office will seek input from the campus community in determining and developing procedural guidelines and policies which will ultimately be approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee.
Standards of Conduct Application
University policies and the consequences of their violation are applicable to the conduct of a student on campus, at University-sponsored events or at any other location or time when the conduct:
- Has an adverse impact on the reputation of the University
- Negatively affects the safety or welfare of University students, employees, or neighbors
- Interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations of the University
Respecting Local, State, and Federal Law
Violations of local, state, or federal law are not condoned by the University. Alleged violators may be referred to the campus judicial process without regard to whether civil officials have also acted in the case.
Likewise, some of the offenses described by University regulations are violations of local, state, or federal laws and may be prosecuted independently of any disciplinary action taken by Trinity University. Status as a student does not mean exemption from either the rights or responsibilities of citizens.
Respecting University Policies
In addition to the major standards of conduct, students are expected to abide by additional University policies that exist to further the orderly functioning of the University’s departments and their resources.
Such additional policies relate to and include, but are not limited to:
- Academics
- Library operations
- Copyright
- Information technology and computing
- Parking
- Traffic control
- Intercollegiate athletics
- Intramural sports
- Campus publications
- Dining facilities
- Residential life (including the “Board and Residential Agreement”)
These policies may be found on Trinity’s online policy portal or on individual department web pages or publications. Violations of these policies will subject the organization and/or individuals involved to appropriate action.
Student Withdrawal and Pending Charges
If a student withdraws from the University pending disciplinary charges that may result in the student becoming ineligible to reenroll for a reason other than an academic or financial reason, the University will not end the disciplinary process until the University makes a final decision of responsibility.
Complaint Process
Any person may file a complaint with the Office of the Dean of Students alleging a violation of the University’s published standards of student conduct.
Student Conduct Policies
As members of the University community, students willfully consent to University policies and procedures as outlined by Trinity University.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive, but rather highlights just some of the major policies that pertain to students. For a full list of University policies, please consult Trinity’s policy portal.
Value-Based Policies
In order to create a University environment in which the values of civility, decency, and respect are honored, Trinity University has set certain standards of student behavior.
Respect for Self
Students are expected to respect themselves by avoiding conduct that is potentially dangerous and detrimental to their physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.
Respect for Others
Students are expected to respect others, both in the campus and the outside communities.
Respect for Community
Students are expected to respect the standards that form the foundation of a civil community through personal integrity.
Respect for Property
Students are expected to respect the property of others, including University and student property.
Personal Responsibility
Students are expected to be responsible for their own behavior and assume responsibility for the behavior of their guests, if those guests are otherwise unconnected to the University or are unidentified.
Conduct Violations
Student conduct procedures are intended to be fair, equitable and educational.
Allegations of policy infractions are submitted to the Dean of Students Office through incident reports. The Office then schedules a hearing or similar conduct meeting. When appropriate, the hearing body assigns sanctions. Students have the right to request an appeal.
Step 1
The Hearing
The Dean of Students or the Assistant Director for Parent Communication and Student Conduct will review each report, consider corresponding policy violations, and assign the case to the appropriate hearing forum or University official for review.
Hearing forums can include:
- An Administrative Meeting
- A Student Integrity Panel Hearing
- A Dean of Students Meeting
Step 2
The Sanction
Students found responsible for violating policy(ies) are assigned a sanction by the hearing body.
Sanctions are intended to be incremental and increasing in severity when a pattern of conduct emerges. Trinity University reserves the right to impose any sanctions in order to address student conduct violations. View a list of general sanctions and statuses here.
At times, when infractions are egregious, students may be withdrawn from the University for a period of time (suspension) or permanently (expulsion).
Step 3
Appeal Options
Following the assignment of a sanction, students have the right to request a review of decisions through the Dean of Students Office.
Orders
Official Orders
Definition
An Official Order is an emergency directive from a University official. Official Orders are primarily used in response to situations of great urgency.
Official Orders:
- Require immediate and unquestioning compliance
Remain in effect only as long as the situation that prompted their issuance - Include, but are not limited to, an order to identify oneself by display of a University ID or an order to evacuate a building in case of a fire and not reenter it until official permission has been given
Authorized Official Order Makers
When in performance of their official responsibilities, University officials authorized to issue Official Orders include:
- Faculty
- Staff
- Residential Life student staff
- University police
Challenges and Compliance
Challenges to the reasonableness of an Official Order should be made in writing to the associate vice president for Student Affairs within five class days from the date the order was issued, but not at the time the Official Order is given. Failure to comply with Administrative or Official Orders may result in referral for judicial action.
Administrative Orders
Definition
An Administrative Order is used to require or prohibit specific behaviors for a specified period of time. Compared to Official Orders, Administrative Orders are used to address situations of less urgency than Official Orders and are longer term in nature.
Examples
Examples of Administrative Orders include: barring a student from athletic events or a residence hall as a result of misbehavior or requiring one student to stay away from another in order to avoid conflict.
Administrative No Contact Order
An Administrative No Contact Order is an order which can be requested by an enrolled student through the Office of the Dean of Students or Equal Opportunity Services. Click here to view general information about No Contact Orders.
Authorized Administrative Order Makers
University administrators (such as the president, a vice president, a dean, or a director) are authorized to issue Administrative Orders.
Appeals
Appeals of any Administrative Order can be made in writing to the appropriate vice president within ten days of the order. A vice president’s order or appellate decision can be appealed in writing within five days of receipt of the decision to the president of the University.