We Don't Spank...Campus Discipline Systems

By Maribeth Griffin,
Associate Director of Housing & Residence Life
Western Connecticut State University

You've left your student at school. She's working hard with her roommate to make their room livable. He's decided to go to dinner with some of the guys on the floor. The last thing on your mind is the campus judicial process. However, in these first few months of school, your student is experimenting with a freedom he or she may never have known before. They are just learning the rules and regulations that govern their living communities, and some of them are going to run into situations that will cause them to become involved in a campus judicial system.

Just what are these systems, and what is your involvement as a parent?

The majority of college judicial systems are in place to guarantee a safe, secure living and learning environment for all members of the college community. College judicial systems are not designed for punishment, but to help educate and develop students toward being positively contributing community members.

Students generally are given information about the judicial system in a variety of ways. College student handbooks and residence hall guides are often parts of your student's check-in package. These publications discuss college policies (smoking, visitation, alcohol, drugs, quiet hours, etc.). Handbooks also discuss - in great detail - the process of a judicial system.

[Just between us, we know most students don't read these handbooks, regardless of how much we'd like them to. Please tell your student to at least put the handbook away and remember where it is if they need it!]

Resident students are also informed about the rules and regulations in other ways. RAs or other peer assistants communicate the policies in floor meetings and on bulletin boards. Professional staff may use meetings, newsletters, or personal contact to discuss policies. Many residence life and housing offices have web pages which outline policies as well. In fact, because of all these means, most students are well-informed about the college's policies.

If your son or daughter becomes involved in a possible policy violation, the campus judicial system swings into action. Incidents are usually documented by staff members on an Incident Report Form. Most students refer to this as being "written up." Infractions like quiet hours, visitation violations or a first-time alcohol violation are often handled by a resident director or a hall hearing board in a procedure that is less formal than a hearing. Most incidents can be easily resolved at this level, resulting in a written warning, perhaps a period of probation or an educational or service project.

On occasion, incidents are more significant, and require that the student involved proceed to a formal hearing. According to your college's system, there are specific rules of due process (stated in the Student Handbook) that must be followed. Notice is given, a hearing is held before a hearing officer or campus judicial board, and a decision and sanction are rendered. Students generally have rights to appeal these decisions and sanctions and are made aware of those rights, again in the student handbook or in the decision letter.

If your student's institution is a private institution, as a parent you may be notified of the infraction and disposition of the case. In most public institutions, this is not the case. Institutions that receive federal funds are governed by privacy laws (the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act, or FERPA, and the Buckley Amendment), which preclude parental notification without written permission from the student involved. There have recently been some changes to these laws, particularly in drug and alcohol violations and incidents of violence, but at this time, most colleges are trying to sort through the "legalese" to determine how best to implement these policy changes.

What's most important for you to understand as parents?

• The system is in place to protect your student.
• The system is not a legal system, but does follow a stated due process in order to protect your student's rights.
• The system has been developed to provide educational and growth opportunities for your student.
• The college staff is interested in your concerns, but may be restricted by law with what they may share with you. Open communication with your student is your best bet to helping him or her in this process.
• Your expectations of your students and their behaviors are key to their success.

About the Author

Maribeth Griffin is the Associate Director of Housing & Residence Life at Western Connecticut State University. For the last 6 years, she has coordinated the residence hall judicial process at WCSU. Maribeth has served the North-East Association of College and University Residence Halls as chair of the Legal Issues and Risk Management committee and the Women's Issues committee, and has served as association secretary. She has coordinated a one-day workshop on Date and Acquaintance Rape, and has presented on personal and professional ethics, violence, creativity, and conflict resolution, among other things. In addition to her professional life, Maribeth is the busy mother of a beautiful 2-year old daughter, Eliot.