The Student Conduct Process will be used for all violations of nonacademic College policies, with the exception of the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy. The conduct process for alleged violations of the sexual violence policy may be found in the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy (p. 84).
In cases where a violation of community responsibilities or College policies and/or regulations has occurred, discipline may occur in the manner that the College determines appropriate. For graduate students, the dean of graduate and professional studies or the vice president and dean of students will handle the matter. For undergraduates, the vice president and dean of students, assistant vice president and dean of student life, the assistant directors of residential life, and resident fellows may serve as hearing officers and will consider the matter and apply sanctions as appropriate. If one of these individuals had direct involvement in the matter, the case may be referred to another hearing officer. Cases involving alleged violations of the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy are addressed by the conduct process found in the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy (p. 84).
Students who violate community expectations or College policy will need to meet with one or more hearing officer(s). The hearing officer will contact the student at their Sarah Lawrence email address via Maxient to schedule a conduct hearing. Students are expected to respond within two business days. If students do not respond and/or do not meet with the hearing officer, the incident will be reviewed without the benefit of the student’s involvement and sanctions will be enacted as appropriate to the behavior. It is to the student’s advantage to schedule and participate in a conduct hearing. Outside parties (e.g., friends, dons, parents) are not permitted to be present in Student Conduct Process meetings. A lack of response will also be considered in applying a sanction. Failure to check campus email will not be considered as a mitigating factor.
Records of a student’s conduct history are retained in the student’s conduct file for seven years. Written records of cases including suspension or expulsion will be maintained in the student’s permanent record. Parents will be notified if there is, or may be, a change in the student’s enrollment or housing status due to a conduct matter or, in some cases, due to violations of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy. For details, see General College Policies.
Questions regarding a student’s conduct case should be directed to the hearing officer for the incident.
Administrative Actions
Interim Administrative Actions
The assistant vice president and dean of student life, the assistant dean of graduate students, or their designee may take interim administrative action when a student is deemed to threaten the health, safety, or well-being of the College community. Interim actions may include suspension from the College, removal from College housing, loss of privileges, or other similar measures.
Interim administrative action is not a disciplinary sanction; rather, it is intended to help protect members of the College community until a matter can be investigated and adjudicated. The interim action remains in effect until the matter has been investigated, adjudicated, or otherwise resolved at the discretion of the assistant vice president and dean of student life, the assistant dean of graduate students, or their designee.
Examples of behavior that may lead to interim suspension from the College include, but are not limited to, physical violence, sexual misconduct, and possession and distribution of controlled substances.
No Contact Orders (NCOs)
A No Contact Order (NCO) may be issued at any time by the Office of Community Standards, the Office of Residential Life, or the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. Under an NCO, two (or more) student parties are ordered to avoid intentional contact with one another. This order does not guarantee that involved parties will never see each other or be in the same space, but it stipulates that intentional and direct contact must be avoided.
NCOs are not a disciplinary sanction but, rather, an administrative action to mandate civil conduct between the involved parties. Moreover, both parties are able to request to modify or remove an NCO under a review process detailed in the NCO issuance letter.