Responsibility and Authority
From time to time, instances and grievances arise that require members of the University community to evaluate individual or group conduct and to establish and maintain justice within this setting. The president of the University has delegated the immediate responsibility and authority in matters of student conduct to the Office of the Dean of Students.
University Student Conduct and Public Law
Students may be accountable to both civil and criminal authorities and to the University for acts that constitute violations of federal, state or municipal law and written University rules, regulations and policies. The University may proceed with disciplinary action whether or not civil or criminal proceedings have been instituted against the student. The University disciplinary proceedings may not be abated or subject to challenge solely on the ground that the criminal charges have been dismissed or reduced. The University student conduct system operates entirely separately, independently, and uninfluenced by any external, civil, or criminal investigation or related proceedings.
Off-Campus Cases
The University reserves the right to investigate and subsequently take University action for behavior of Saint Xavier students in off-campus situations when such behavior is believed to have an impact on the Saint Xavier community, including: alleged instances of harassment or assault of a University person; criminal activity involving a student, whether as an individual student or as a member of a University-registered organization; violations of city ordinances, such as public intoxication, noise and vandalism; and student conduct violations in organized group-living situations. The decision to take action in such cases will be determined by the Office of the Dean of Students in consultation with appropriate University officials.
Confidentiality
The student conduct process is confidential, except where determined otherwise by law. Confidentiality applies to the charged students, the reporting/responding parties, witnesses, advisors, staff, hearing officers, and members of the University Conduct Board, who are expected to keep information regarding the student conduct process confidential. All proceedings are private. Notes may be taken by hand and must be filed with the case reports or destroyed after proceedings. The University may choose to create an audio or virtual (Zoom) recording of the proceedings. This will be the only permitted and authorized recording of the meeting. Respondents, complainants, witnesses, advisors, or any other persons involved in the hearing are not allowed to record the proceedings. The University reserves the right to share information regarding the case with other appropriate parties on a need-to-know basis.
Disciplinary Actions
The disciplinary actions that follow are intended to inform students of the possible consequences of violating the Code of Student Conduct. Disciplinary actions are determined based on the seriousness of the incident, the student's level of responsibility, and past disciplinary history.
Retention of Records
Student conduct files are maintained by the Office of the Dean of Students for seven (7) years from the date of the incident. Students have the right to inspect and review their conduct records.
Student Responsibility
The University expects students to assume responsibility for their role in the student conduct process. Students are expected to appear for hearings. If students fail to appear, the hearing may proceed in their absence. Sanctions may be imposed upon students for refusing to appear or cooperate. Throughout the student conduct process, students have the responsibility to present truthful information. Students found to have willfully presented false or misleading information will be subject to disciplinary action and sanction. Students are expected to complete the sanctions issued at any level in the student conduct process in the specified time frame. Failure to do so may result in further disciplinary action.
Good Disciplinary Standing
Students who are not in good disciplinary standing (i.e., non-compliant with the disciplinary process or imposed sanctions) may be subject to additional sanctions by the Dean of Students without a hearing, including but not limited to: removal from housing, holds on course registration or housing renewal, or matriculation in a given semester.
Registered Student Organization Responsibility
Student organizations are expected to adhere to all applicable institutional policies. The University reserves the right to determine the appropriate time, place, content and manner for conducting activities, and the posting and distribution of materials on any of its campuses. Consequently, the University may deny or restrict the activities of registered student organizations. Registered student organizations are expected to exercise good judgment in planning and promoting their activities. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action being initiated against the organization; consequently, policies, procedures and sanctions set forth within the Student Handbook apply to student organizations collectively, as well as to individual students. Officers of registered student organizations are responsible for assuring compliance with regulations and for representing the organization when disciplinary proceedings are initiated.
Notification/Electronic Communication
Notification of conduct proceedings will be sent to the student's official SXU email account via Maxient. It is the student's responsibility to access email in order to receive communications regarding student conduct proceedings. Students will need to enter their seven-digit ID number to access letters in the system. In addition to notifying the student, the student's parents or guardians may be notified. The University also reserves the right to inform parents/guardians of violations of alcohol and drug use policies. (See Parental Notification Policy.)
