25. Student Conduct System (Revised: 1995)
The university views the student conduct system as an educational experience which can result in growth in personal understanding of one's responsibilities and privileges in the university community. Acceptable standards of conduct have been established to protect the rights of others and the orderly operation of the university. Individuals are encouraged to discuss their concerns at the lowest level possible for effective resolution of the situation. Should such attempts prove ineffective, the student conduct system provides a student judicial process to resolve the matter. The focus of student judicial proceedings is to determine whether the university standards of conduct have been violated and not criminal guilt. To this end, student judicial proceedings attempt to balance an understanding and knowledge of the students with the needs of the university community.
25.1 Reporting. Any member of the university community may initiate a complaint against a student for an alleged violation of University Student Rules. Such complaints are generally submitted in writing to the Director of Student Life or the Office of the Commandant.
25.2 Negotiation and Mediation Services. Matters involving a personal dispute between two or more students may be referred to the Office of Student Affairs to mediate the dispute. Students involved in incidents referred to Student Affairs are required to attend a mediation session and to proceed in a good faith effort to resolve the dispute on a basis that is fair and just for all parties.
25.3 Notice. If circumstances surrounding the complaint indicate that a violation of the Student Conduct Code may have occurred, disciplinary charges may be issued. Students are notified of disciplinary charges in writing. A letter of charges is issued to the student's address of record (see Section 1.2). Disciplinary action may be taken against a student for failure to appear after proper notice.
25.4 Hearing. A disciplinary hearing may be conducted in one of the following forms depending on the nature of the violation.
25.4.1 Administrative Hearing - The student meets with an administrative hearing officer appointed by the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs & Auxiliary Services to discuss the charges, the student's involvement in the incident or lack thereof, and any other information relevant to the charges. Based on the information presented and discussed in the hearing, the administrative hearing officer will determine whether a violation has occurred and issue sanctions accordingly.
25.4.2 Campus Judicial Board - The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs shall appoint a Campus Judicial Board composed of five faculty-staff members, two student members and two student alternates. The tenure of the Campus Judicial Board shall extend from the appointment of one board until the appointment of a replacement board. This Board has three major functions: hearing cases of a serious nature that may result in expulsion, dismissal, or suspension from the university, and/or conduct probation for disciplinary reasons; reviewing appeals to rulings of the Student Judicial Board, appeals to Cadet Class A infractions, and appeals to decisions concerning academic dishonesty; and hearing cases of alleged infractions by recognized student organizations. (See Section 51 for disciplinary appeals procedures.)
25.4.2.1 Procedures for hearing cases will be established by the Campus Judicial Board to guarantee the student rights delineated in Section 26. Procedures for reviewing appeals will comply with Section 51: Disciplinary Appeals.
25.4.2.2 A quorum exists when three faculty or staff and two students are present. A simple majority of the members present must agree to any recommendation or ruling.
25.4.2.3 This Board has authority to issue the sanctions of conduct probation, enrollment block, written reprimand, verbal reprimand, work hours, restrictions, restitution, loss of campus housing privileges, residence hall probation, loss of parking privileges, and probation warning. In addition to these prescribed penalties, letters of apology, alcohol abuse prevention measures or other actions suiting specific offenses may be required. The Board may recommend to the Vice President and CEO for Texas A&M University at Galveston expulsion, dismissal, and suspension from the university. The Board may not recommend expulsion, dismissal, or suspension of a cadet from the Corps of Cadets, but a conviction of a cadet by the Campus Judicial Board may constitute grounds for a review by the Superintendent of a cadet's total disciplinary and performance record for suitability to remain in a license option program and/or the Cadet Corps.
25.4.3 Student Judicial Board - A Board of seven students shall be elected by the students of the Galveston Campus to consider minor infractions of University Student Rules.
25.4.3.1 The Student Judicial Board consists of three seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and one freshman elected by their respective classes. The election of all representatives except the freshman shall be held in conjunction with the spring student election. An election for the freshman representative will be conducted early in the fall semester. The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs shall appoint a non-voting faculty or staff advisor for this board.
25.4.3.2 To hear a case, the Student Judicial Board must have a quorum of five members present. A simple majority of the members present must agree to any recommendation.
25.4.3.3 The Board will have the authority to issue the sanctions of verbal or written reprimand, work hours, restrictions, and to require restitution.
25.4.4 Cadet Disciplinary System - The Superintendent, the Commandant, the Cadet Corps Commander and the Cadet Court shall have authority to administer the disciplinary system of the Corps of Cadets as approved by the Vice President and CEO for Texas A&M University at Galveston and delineated in the Corps of Cadets Rules, Texas A&M University at Galveston.