Residence Life Conduct

A formal meeting where the student and the Hearing Officer discuss the potential policy violation(s). After a thorough investigation is completed in the administrative hearing, the Hearing Officer determines responsibility and, if applicable, assigns appropriate sanction(s).

A sanction and/or outcome where the student is moved to a different room, floor, building, and/or area as determined by a Housing and Residence Life professional staff member.

The term “advisor” refers to a person chosen by the respondent, alleged victim, and/or witness to assist them throughout the Residential Conduct process. An individual may only have one advisor at a time. The term “advisor” can mean an advocate or can be a legal representative. An advisor may directly participate in all aspects of the Conduct process, including the presentation of relevant information and questioning of witnesses, but may not testify.

Any advisor serves at the requestor’s own expense and initiative. A person may not serve in this capacity if their service would unreasonably conflict with the fair administration of the Conduct process, as determined by the Hearing Officer or their designee. The advisor may not serve in any other role related to the case (including a witness, investigator, hearing officer, member of a committee, etc.).

A student may appeal an outcome from the Hearing Officer on the following grounds

• Procedural Rights: A violation of procedural due process rights (deviation from established procedures that would substantially affect the outcome of the case)
  
  
• Newly Discovered Information: Newly discovered information has been obtained that was not previously available during the initial investigation or the Administrative Hearing process through the exercise of due diligence, and this newly discovered information would substantially affect the outcome of the case.
  
  
• Severity of Sanction(s)

A sanction where the student is required to review, sign, and abide by an outlined Behavioral Contract in order to continue living on campus.

A sanction and/or outcome where the entire room, floor, building, and/or area is equally charged a financial fee as determined by a Housing and Residence Life professional staff member. This is typically utilized when there is a large cost associated with an incident and there is legitimate reason to believe the charged community is responsible for the violation(s) but the person(s) responsible cannot be identified.

The Dean of Students Office enhances the UNF student experience and supports student retention by helping maintain a safe and secure campus environment free from disruption in which students may learn and understand their rights and responsibilities, thereby allowing them to assume an active role in their own academic, personal, and co-curricular life.

A sanction that contains an educational component related to the case’s violation(s). Some educational activities within this level include (but are not limited to): reflection papers, activity papers, interviews, attendance at specified meeting(s), brochure creation, community signs, bulletin boards, workshops, etc.

A sanction where a student is either temporarily or permanently removed from portion(s) or all of University residence rooms, apartments halls, floors, buildings, and/or residential areas. For temporary exclusions, an exclusion may be lifted with the approval of the Director of Residence Life or their designee.

If a student’s Housing Contract is terminated as a result of disciplinary action, the student will remain fully responsible for all rent due for all signed Housing Contracts. A student’s Housing Contract may be reinstated with the approval of the Director of Housing and Residence Life or their designee.

Housing and Residence Life staff members routinely enter student rooms and inspect room condition to address any safety concerns (policy violations, fire safety issues, cleanliness concerns, etc.). Students are notified in advance of semesterly Health and Safety Inspections. As outlined in the Housing Contract, Housing and Residence Life Staff have the ability to enter students spaces without prior notice if there is a reasonable belief there is a concern for someone’s well-being and/or policy violation(s).

Professional staff members from the Department of Housing and Residence Life are designated as Hearing Officers and are authorized to facilitate Residential Conduct processes. This includes: Senior Director of Housing and Residence Life, Director of Residence Life, Associate Directors, Assistant Directors, Residence Life Coordinators, and Assistant Residence Life Coordinators.

An electronic document completed by a Housing and Residence Life staff member in which the occurrence of an incident or situation is documented and informs the appropriate individuals of important details.

A meeting between the student allegedly involved in a potential policy violation(s) and an assigned Hearing Officer. During this meeting, the student reviews the procedural rights in the Residential Conduct process, reviews the incident report and other documentation on file, and can ask procedural questions. At the conclusion of the initial meeting, a student can elect to proceed immediately into their Administrative Hearing or can elect to have their Administrative Hearing scheduled for a later date.

An administrative hearing that occurs immediately after the conclusion of the Initial Meeting, if selected by the student during the Initial Meeting.

A sanction where a student can be placed on probation for a period of time during which the student is expected to demonstrate appropriate changes in behavior. Any further violations of the Resident Handbook, violations of other University regulations, or violations of law will result in more serious sanctions imposed, which could include exclusion from Housing and/or Housing Contract Termination. Some restrictions during probation may also include (but are not limited to): participation in student activities, participation in department employment, entrance to residence halls or other areas of campus, or contact with another specified person(s). Probation may occur for one semester, one academic year, through residency on-campus, or any other set portion of time as deemed appropriate.

A sanction where a student is referred to a person(s) and/or office outside of their Hearing Officer. This may include (but is not limited to): meeting with another Hearing Officer, a Counseling assessment, parental notification, or connecting with a campus partner.

A form of written warning issued to a student, typically for some first-time policy violation(s). This sanction/outcome is typically used to bring the student’s attention to the policy violation and avoid being involved in and/or found responsible for future violation(s). A reprimand states that further violations of that specific policy or other policies may result in more severe sanctions, such as probation and/or Housing Contract termination. A reprimand may be issued where the student waives the right to participate in the Residential Conduct process, issued within an Administrative Hearing, or as an outcome of the Residential Conduct process.

Required Roommate Mediation and/or referral to Alternative Dispute Resolution through the Dean of Students Office.

Housing and Residence Life policies

The terminology used to describe the student’s level of involvement/responsibility regarding the Residence Life policy violation in question.

A sanction that requires a student to pay for damage to the community. This may also include removal of an item(s), a Behavioral Contract, and/or other sanctions.

When a student is found responsible for a policy violation(s), a sanction may be issued. Sanctions are designed to be educational and/or hold a student appropriately accountable.

During a student’s initial meeting, they complete this form to indicate acknowledgement and understanding of students’ rights and hearing type options.

A sanction where a student’s visitation privileges are restricted and/or eliminated, temporarily or permanently. This may include (but is not limited to): guest restriction, loss of visitation, or trespass notification.

Housing and Residence Life Conduct Records are retained by the Department of Housing and Residence Life and will be shared with University Officials as needed.

A Housing-related record of a Residential Conduct outcome and any imposed sanction(s) will not appear on a student’s official University academic record. A student’s Housing Contract case record is maintained within the Department of Housing and Residence Life.

The Housing and Residence Life staff reserves the right to forward any individual and/or conduct incident to the Dean of Students Office. Housing and Residence Life abides by confidentiality as required by FERPA.

Students are allowed an Advisor if they would like; that person primarily serves as a form of support for students during the Housing Conduct process. Your Hearing Officer cannot make that decision for students. We encourage students to review the purpose and expectations of an Advisor should they wish to move forward with one.

Housing and Residence Life primarily manages Conduct cases that involve alleged policy violations of the Resident Handbook. Policies that are listed in both the Resident Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct may be managed by the Dean of Students office. Alleged policy violations involving state and federal laws are often, but not always, managed by the Dean of Students office. Cases involving repeated alleged policy violations may be managed by the Dean of Students office.

Correspondence students receive regarding any Conduct-related matters will include the name and contact information of the assigned Hearing Officer.

The Resident Handbook includes specific policies and expectations for residents related to the Roommate Agreement. While some alleged policy violations may result in students going through the Housing Conduct and/or Student Conduct process, our goal is for residents to find mutual agreement in how to be safe, comfortable, welcomed, and respected within their assigned room space.

The correspondence will outline whether you are expected to attend a meeting or steps if you would like to schedule a meeting.

Each student identified in a situation has the opportunity to review the incident report and any other documentation submitted, review their rights in a Housing Conduct case, and share their individual perspective on the situation. The Hearing Officer does not communicate outcomes of a student’s case to others.

Students are expected to abide by the Resident Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, as well as state and federal laws. Housing Contract Termination or removal may be considered as a sanction depending on the severity of the policy violation a student is found responsible for and/or students found responsible for continued policy violations.

Students should review each scholarship’s information and requirements on reporting Housing Conduct violations for further guidance.

Candidates need to be in good standing to be considered for a student staff position. This means they cannot be placed on Housing probation, Academic probation, or Student Conduct probation. They cannot have any overdue sanctions.

All correspondence is sent to students for documentation and record-keeping purposes. It provides the student a written account and summary of the situation.

Due to students’ individual rights within the conduct setting and FERPA, hearings are scheduled separately.