The following is a list of possible sanctions. This list is not exhaustive and other sanctions may be given if determined necessary and appropriate.
1. Warning: A notice in writing to the student that s/he has been found responsible for a policy violation. Students who receive a warning are subject to more severe sanctions if future violations of the policy indicated occur.
2. Letter of Mutual Understanding: This is a means by which a student can confirm understanding of a policy and acknowledge awareness of consequences for future violations. Letters of Mutual Understanding must be completed in accordance with guidelines issued by the Student Conduct Coordinator.
3. Educational Workshops: Students may be sanctioned to attend an educational session relevant to the violation. This may include an option of attending a decision-making workshop in lieu of participating in the community review process. Students are responsible for follow-up assignments given at educational presentations. These sanctions may not be deferred and/or appealed. Participation in educational workshops will be at the student’s expense.
4. Service Project: A Conduct Body may require students to initiate and complete a supervised, quality project on campus or in the community. Results of the project are placed in the student's file. If a paper, survey or poster is required, the Student Conduct Coordinator may keep this information for educational programs and/or training. This sanction may not be deferred.
5. Fines/Restitution/Fees: Fines may be imposed when appropriate. Proceeds from all fines will be contributed to a campus health and wellness education fund.
PLU reserves the right to charge students whose behavior involves damage or destruction of university policy. Restitution may also be charged when an individual's behavior requires university staff or external agencies to perform tasks above and beyond normal work responsibilities. When such restitution is possible, it is expected and required, not as a substitute for, but in addition to, a sanction. PLU will not be responsible for assisting any student in obtaining restitution from any other student or from the university. Fees for classes, assessments or events assigned as a sanction will be at the student's expense.
6. Removal of Privileges: Certain restrictions may be placed on a student's activities within her/his residence hall for a specified period. Specific restrictions may include, but are not limited to the removal of "loud" stereos or instruments, loss of kitchen privileges, loss of eligibility to participate in hall social activities and exclusion from seeking or holding appointive or elective positions within the residence halls. This sanction must be stated for a specified period of time and may be deferred.
7. Disciplinary Probation: This indicates that the student's continued enrollment at PLU is conditional for a specified period of time. It requires the student to demonstrate that s/he can act in a manner consistent with the university standards to which s/he agreed when accepted by the university. Disciplinary probation may include restrictions or obligations on the student. Examples of restrictions include, but are not limited to, restricting participation in university activities such as athletics, performing groups, and elective or appointive student offices. Examples of obligations include, but are not limited to, informing faculty or other advisors about the probation, and requiring attendance at specified meetings. Should the student fail to fulfill specified conditions, the student shall be referred for further action. This sanction may not be deferred.
8. Suspension: Suspension is the separation of the student from the University for a stated period of time, with conditions imposed for the student’s reinstatement to PLU. Failure to successfully complete the conditions may preclude the student’s reinstatement to PLU, even after the time stated in the notice of suspension has elapsed. The conditions may be imposed by the Conduct Body or the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. Suspended students are not in good standing with the university and will not return to good standing until they have met the conditions of their suspension and have been reinstated (see below).
Restrictions associated with suspension include:
- The student may not attend classes, use university facilities, attend university events or visit the campus except when engaged in official business approved in writing by designated Student Life staff.
- Students suspended from the university are required to pay all university fees owed for that semester. Refunds for tuition and/or room and board will not be issued.
- Parents or guardians of students who have been suspended will be notified as allowed by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
- A notice of suspension will be placed on the student’s official transcript until s/he is reinstated to the university. If a student is not reinstated to the university, or chooses not to seek reinstatement, the notice of the suspension will remain on her/his transcript for one year after the suspension has ended.
Only the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students or the university President may impose suspension. The Conduct Body may recommend to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students that a student be suspended.
Suspension can be deferred. Failure to fully abide by all conditions of deferral within the timeframes indicated will result in removal of deferred status and immediate implementation of the suspension.
9. Reinstatement from Suspension: When the suspension period has ended and the student has complied with the conditions of his/her reinstatement and completed sanctions accompanying the suspension (if any), s/he must submit a letter to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students requesting reinstatement. This letter must include details of how the student has used her/his time while suspended, reflect upon what s/he has learned and provide evidence that s/he has satisfied the conditions of the suspension. The student may return to the University and/or enroll in classes only after an affirmative decision has been made by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students.
10. Expulsion: Expulsion is the permanent and total withdrawal of the privilege of attending PLU or participating in the PLU community. Expulsion may be recommended as a result of very serious violations or for repeated offenses.
- Expelled students may not visit the university premises under any circumstances.
- Students expelled from the university are required to pay all university fees owed for that semester. Refunds for tuition and/or room and meals will not be issued.
- Parents of students who have been expelled will be notified as allowed by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
- A notice of expulsion will be placed on the student’s official transcript.
Only the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students or the university President may impose expulsion. The Conduct Body may recommend to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students that a student be expelled.
11. Deferred Graduation: A Conduct Body may recommend to the Vice President for Admission and Student Life that the graduation date of a student be deferred for a stipulated period of time. Generally, this is done when a senior commits a violation for which suspension may be justified. The deferred action allows completion of work the last semester and places a senior under jeopardy of suspension while attending classes.
12. Permission to Withdraw: A student facing disciplinary action, or with incomplete student conduct sanctions, may make a written request to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students for permission to withdraw from the university. Only the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may grant such permission. Refunds for tuition and/or room and meals will not be issued to students withdrawing from the university under these conditions.
Incidents involving students who withdraw with or without permission prior to the review meeting, will be reviewed (without the presence of the student) by a Hearing Officer or a panel of Student Life representatives advised by the Student Conduct Coordinator. Notification of decisions and sanctions will be by U.S. mail.
The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may require that students with sanctions complete them prior to withdrawing from the university, or may waive the need for completion. A student granted "permission to withdraw," who wishes to return to the university, must make written application to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students for reinstatement to student status and to good standing. The requirements for this application are the same as those for students seeking reinstatement following suspension. The Student Life Office shall place a notice of withdrawal, with the permission of the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, on the student's official transcript. This notice shall remain on the transcript for three years after the student leaves the university or for three years after the student graduates if the student is reinstated to student status and to good standing.