Policies and decisions regarding policies will be measured against the standards of the University and the Catholic Church and the moral and ethical guidelines/principles that follow. The Residence Life Staff will exercise sound judgment and will honor the individual dignity of each resident while working to preserve a cohesive community. While disciplinary standards will serve as a guide, each disciplinary case will be evaluated individually, with consideration given to the disciplinary history of the individual involved, the severity of the violation, and the impact of the violation (i.e. the number of direct or indirect victims). The following will serve as general guidelines:
- All alleged behavior or conduct, disruptive or at variance with housing regulations and standards, which involves students residing in University housing, will be referred to the Residence Life Judicial Board, Director of Residence Life or his/her designee and/or the Dean of Students. To expedite the disciplinary process, policy violations that occur near the end of the academic semester may result in fines assessed to the resident in lieu of judicial proceedings.
- Violations that counter local, state or federal laws are among the most severe. Such violations may result in referral to the local authorities, referral to the Dean of Students, eviction from housing, academic suspension and/or expulsion.
- Other Severe Violations include: actions that are malicious in nature; multiple violations of the same or similar policy; possession of drug paraphernalia; actions that compromise the physical safety or the emotional/psychological well-being of others; and minor or moderate offenses committed more than once. Such violations may result in referral to the Dean of Students, referral to the Director of Residence Life (or his/her designee), eviction from housing, academic suspension and/or expulsion.
- Moderate Violations include: actions that are harmful solely to the violating individual(s) (i.e. un-sanctioned alcohol consumption), moral indiscretions (including sexual activity), and minor offenses committed more than once. Such violations may result in referral to the Residence Life Judicial Board or referral to the Director of Residence Life (or his/her designee).
- Minor Violations include: guest hour violations; quiet hour violations; escort policy violations; possession of prohibited items (excluding drug paraphernalia); smoking in prohibited areas; and misuse of doors, balconies, or gates. Such violations may result in referral to the Residence Life Judicial Board, referral to the Director of Residence Life (or his/her designee), fines or written warnings.
- Any violation that could fall into more than one violation category will be handled in accordance with the more severe guidelines.
- The judicial process may result in written warning, fines, community service, educational sanctions, revocation of privileges, reparations being required of the violator, a resident being required to switch residence halls, referral to the Dean of Students, eviction from housing, academic suspension and/or expulsion.
- Residents found guilty of violations of housing policy may appeal the decision to the Director of Residence Life.
- All housing policy appeals will be addressed within an appropriate amount of time as deemed by the Director of Residence Life.