Student Conduct

Welcome to the office of student conduct. This information is an introduction to the responsibilities and processes for student conduct in hopes of answering initial questions you may have as parents. You may contact the office if you have more questions after reading the following information.

Purpose
The office of student conduct exists to educate students by articulating the community values and expectations of the institution as summarized under the Code of Student Conduct and by holding students accountable for their choices and behavior.

A student conduct process is intended to educate students about their responsibilities and rights as members of an educational community, to protect that community from conduct that is in violation of the values and expectations that govern it, and to maintain an environment that is conducive to learning.

By utilizing an educational approach rather than a punitive one, student conduct focuses on the personal development of students, including their decision-making and communication skills, clarification of values and social development.

The university provides opportunities for students to experience newfound freedoms while providing a structured environment to meet expectations and responsibilities. During this experience, students will attempt to prove to themselves and others that they are capable of directing their own lives.

The role of student conduct is to help students make the best decisions and redirect behavior that is contrary to their success or the success of those around them. Discipline must balance what is in the best interest of the individual student against that which is in the best interest of the community.

The Code of Student Conduct was developed to help clarify SCAD's expectations for an environment that promotes safety, civility and behavior that benefits everyone positively. By using an approach that encourages students to learn from past decisions, reflect on the impact behavior has on individuals and the community, and develop skills to respond to future situations in a more positive manner, the student conduct system can influence student growth and development.

Although the office of student conduct must maintain a student's confidentiality according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, we recognize that parents are the most important influence on students. We would like to partner with you when possible to provide the student with a fair and effective educational opportunity when allegations of misconduct occur.

When a student has been documented for an alleged policy violation, several avenues exist to resolve the incident:

Initial hearing with residence director
Students involved in an incident in a residence hall have the option of resolving first-offense, simple incidents with a residence director. Residence directors may refer cases to the director of student conduct when the alleged behavior is beyond their scope of authority. These hearing outcomes and sanctions may be appealed to the director of student conduct under certain conditions that are outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.

Conduct hearing with director of student conduct
Non-residential incidents are documented and are automatically referred to the director of student conduct. Conduct hearing outcomes and sanctions may be appealed to the dean of students under certain conditions that are outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.

This federal regulation is designed to protect the privacy of student’s education records. Education records are all records that contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a party acting for the agency or institution. All FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student when a student turns 18 or attends a postsecondary institution - regardless of parental information that may have been required when applying for financial aid. Therefore, SCAD faculty and staff are unable to discuss matters with members of the student’s family (regardless of relationship), or other third parties, without the express written consent from the student. Students are afforded four basic rights under FERPA. Contact the office of student conduct for further explanation of these rights.

1. The right to inspect and review his or her own educational record.
2. The right to request amendment of that educational record that the student believes to be inaccurate or misleading.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the education record, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures of the college to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The following are rights of due process that apply to students involved in the student conduct process, according to the Code of Student Conduct:

1. The right to be informed of all charges in writing
2. The right to be notified of the date, time and location of a hearing
3. The right to review all evidence brought against the accused
4. The right to reasonable access to the case file
5. The right to confidentiality regarding student conduct matters
6. The right to provide names of individuals who can provide information regarding the incident in question
7. The right to a written statement regarding the outcome of a hearing
8. The right to appeal the decision to the appropriate university official, according to established appeal procedures

Through student conduct proceedings, the focus shall be on determining whether or not a reported action is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Accused students shall be considered not responsible until found responsible based upon a preponderance of evidence, that is, that it is more likely than not that the student committed a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. The burden of proof shall rest with the university.