Discipline Procedures
The disciplinary procedures of Southern Arkansas University, as are all activities on a University campus, are designed to be a part of the teaching process and normally cover a wide spectrum of disciplinary measures which may range from counseling to dismissal.
Southern Arkansas University recognizes the basic rights of the individual, and provides guarantees to the students, which grow out of the fundamental conception of fairness implicit in procedural due process.
In order to protect the educational process of the University and at the same time to protect the rights of all students, the University has authority to develop and enforce regulations and to impose disciplinary penalties on students found guilty of offenses or violations of rules and regulations. The process for enforcement of University rules and regulations for student conduct shall conform to the procedures stated below. However, residence hall and apartment rules and motor vehicle regulations and procedures under which the University applies to collect monies, continue in force, and adjudication of questions arising under them need not comply with the following procedures when controversies are amenable to these procedures.
The appointed staff in the Office of Student Life is charged with the responsibility of initiating student disciplinary procedures and meeting with the student. In the process of meeting and counseling with the student, which may sometimes comprise two or more interview appointments, a determination of responsibility will be made, or the student affairs staff may request a hearing before the Student-Faculty Discipline Committee in the event of severe discipline. The determination of responsibility shall be made on the basis of whether it is more likely than not that the accused student violated university regulations.
All charges and possible disciplinary actions shall be presented to the accused student in written form sent or delivered to the address listed in the registrar’s records. This shall constitute full and adequate notice. However, the University reserves the right to use other reasonable means to notify students. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of the University e-mail system. The failure of a student to provide an address change or forwarding address, or the refusal or inability to accept the mailed notice, shall not constitute good cause for failure to comply with the notification.
The student will be informed by written notice of the finding of responsibility and recommended action. Except when a hearing already has been requested by the student affairs staff, the notice shall offer the student the choice of either abiding by the recommended action or requesting a hearing before the Student-Faculty Discipline Committee. The student’s choice shall be made in writing and delivered to the dean of students on or before the date specified in the notice that proposed the action. If no written notice of choice is received within the time specified, the action proposed and the procedure shall be considered final.
The staff member and the student may choose a less formal procedure by agreeing on the specific charges and the nature of the evidence upon which the recommended actions are based. The student will be informed of his procedural rights, including the right to a hearing and appeal. When there is agreement between the student and the staff member, the procedure shall be considered final.
The disciplinary actions the University may take include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. Expulsion: separation of the student from the University; the student is not eligible for readmission to the University.
B. Dismissal: separation of the student from the University for an indefinite period of time.
C. Suspension: separation of the student from the University for a definite period of time.
D. Disciplinary probation: official warning that the student’s conduct is 1) in violation of the rules, requests, and policies stated in SAU publications, official correspondence, or announcements; or 2) in violation of Arkansas or federal criminal statutes. Disciplinary probation will be imposed for varying periods of time when a student enrolls following a period of disciplinary suspension, dismissal, or expulsion. Disciplinary probation can be imposed for varying periods of time and can include the following:
- ineligibility to hold office in the University.
- ineligibility to represent the University in any official function.
- ineligibility to continue to receive a University-sponsored scholarship, grant, work and/or loan.
- placing an informational notice in the student’s permanent file.
- continued enrollment depends upon the maintenance of satisfactory conduct throughout the period of probation.
E. Letter of enrollment block: a letter stating that the student may not reenter SAU without prior approval through the Office of Student Life if enrollment has been blocked for a previous disciplinary problem or for medical reasons.
F. Letter of reprimand: a written admonition of a student for actions unbecoming to the University community.
G. Loss of campus housing privileges: removed from University housing for disciplinary reasons.
H. Work hours: hours that a student may be required to work in a specified area of service to the University.
I. Restrictions: the withdrawal of specified privileges for a definite period of time.
J. Restitution: a payment for financial injury in cases involving theft, personal injury, destruction of property, or deception. The assessed costs to be paid may be in addition to other disciplinary sanctions.
K. Monetary fines: a fine assessed by the University which is placed on the sanctioned student’s account.
L. Educational sanctions: All consequences of the student judicial process are intended to be educational. In this context, however, the term “educational sanctions” specifically describes those tasks, assignments, or experiences that a student is obligated to complete as a result of the Discipline Committee or staff’s decision. Educational sanctions may be imposed in combination with or as a condition of any other disciplinary sanction. Educational sanctions may, for example, require the student to prepare letters of apology, to research an issue related to the offense, to attend a workshop, lecture or meeting, or to attend counseling.
Interim Suspension
In certain circumstances, the dean of students may impose a University or residence hall suspension prior to the hearing before a judicial body. The interim suspension shall become immediately effective without prior notice.
Interim suspension may be imposed only:
a) to ensure the safety and well being of members of the University community or preservation of University property;
b) to ensure the student’s own physical or emotional safety and well-being; or
c) if the student poses a definite threat of disruption of or interference with the normal operations of the University.
During the interim suspension, students shall be denied access to University housing and/or to the campus (including classes) and/or all other University activities or privileges for which the student might otherwise be eligible, as the dean of students may determine to be appropriate.
