Sanctions

The following are the recommended sanctions that correspond to the three levels of Student Conduct violations at Guilford. Any failure to comply with assigned sanctions could result in a charge of Contempt of the Judicial System or an increase in sanctions and/or fines.

Level I Sanctions may include any of the following: (NOTE: Level I violations may only be adjudicated in an administrative hearing and students may seek the assistance of a judicial advocate)

  • Up to 1 year disciplinary probation (automatic for drug offenses)
  • Up to 15 hours of community restitution
  • Behavioral contracts or restricted campus access agreements
  • Educational sanction (paper, letter of apology, floor program, or similar educational opportunities)
  • Meeting with a faculty/staff mentor
  • Restorative conference
  • Monetary damages if applicable
  • Coach and/or student activities notification (including, but not limited to, Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, Admissions Tour Guide supervisor)
  • Alcohol and other drug violations -- parental notification for students under the age of 21; up to a $75 fine for a first alcohol violation; up to a $200 fine for a second alcohol violation; up to a $200 fine for a first drug violation
  • Alcohol violations of any kind occurring in Binford, Milner or other First Year living spaces by residents or non-residents will include an automatic sanction of 10 hours community service
  • Fire Safety violations may result in a fine not to exceed $250

Level II Sanctions may include any of the following:

  • All possible Level I Sanctions
  • Up to 1 year suspension (automatic suspension for some period for a second drug offense)
  • Up to 40 hours of community service
  • Educational sanction (paper, letter of apology, floor program, or similar educational opportunities)
  • Restorative conference
  • Monetary damages if applicable
  • Removal from college housing and meal plan
  • Removal from academic courses
  • Revocation of campus privileges (i.e. participation in clubs/organizations, participation in intercollegiate athletics, use of campus facilities or resources etc)
  • Decrease and/or cessation of institutional merit based financial aid (up to half of award)
  • Coach and/or student activities notification
  • Alcohol and other drug violations -- parental notification for alcohol and other drug assessment with Counseling Center; up to a $300 fine for a second alcohol violation; all second drug violations will result in an automatic suspension for a period of time and there could be additional sanctions to be carried out upon the student's return to campus
  • Fire Safety violations may result in a fine not to exceed $500

Level III Sanctions may include any of the following:

  • All possible Level I and Level II Sanctions
  • Suspension/dismissal from the college
  • Monetary damages if applicable
  • Cessation of institutional merit based financial aid
  • Alcohol and other drug violations - parental notification and alcohol and other drug assessment with the Counseling Center; all third drug violations will be Level III and will result in automatic dismissal from the College

Room Search Protocol

As a private institution, Guilford College has the right to enter any residential room to address maintenance concerns, conduct routine health and safety checks and initiate room searches if warranted. Students are advised that the College also has the right to search any student vehicle or personal belongings if warranted. Please see "Entry Into Residence Hall Areas" for information on reasons the college may choose to enter a student's living space (room, suite, apartment, alternative house).

Individuals involved in the search:

  1. All searches must be approved by a member of the on-call Campus Life staff.
  2. All searches must be conducted by one member of the on-call Campus Life staff and at least one Public Safety officer.

Responsibilities of those conducting the search:

  1. Public Safety officers and Campus Life staff must announce their presence before entering the room to be searched and identify themselves for the students present.
  2. If the residents of the room are present at the time of the search, they are permitted to remain and given notice of the reasons for the search. Non-residents present at the time of the search may be asked to leave the area.
  3. Once a search has been conducted, no Public Safety Officer or Campus Life staff member will re-enter the area without again obtaining permission.
  4. All personal items and furniture will be returned to their original location following a search. Any violation of the college policies will be documented, including health and safety violations.
  5. After the search has been conducted a "Notice of Entry" form will be completed and left with the resident(s) or in a conspicuous place in the room, suite or apartment.

Evidence Collection:

  1. All areas of the room as well as personal belongings are subject to search. An opportunity will be given for the residents of the room to turn over any items that may be in violation of the student conduct code or that may be illegal.
  2. A search may not be conducted of a person.
  3. Any illegal items or items in violation of the student conduct code will be confiscated, labeled and bagged by the Public Safety officers as evidence for the search.
  4. Photographs may be taken during the search or after the items have been confiscated.
  5. All confiscated items will be placed in the designated vault in the Public Safety office.
  6. The confiscated items will be reviewed after 30 days by the Director of Public Safety and the Director of Student Judicial Affairs and then destroyed.

If you have questions about the search protocol, please contact the Office for Campus Life at 336-316-2297 or the Public Safety office at 336-316-2907.

Student Conduct Code Definitions

Accepts Responsibility - A student who has been charged with a violation admits that he/she is responsible for the violation.

Administrative Conference - A specific meeting which has been scheduled by the Office for Campus Life or its designee to discuss the alleged charges which have been brought against a student for violating the Student Conduct Code. The Administrative conference is not a Judicial Hearing. It is a meeting where the student has the opportunity to explain what happened, ask questions about the Student Conduct Code and take the opportunity to accept responsibility for his/her actions and receive sanctions.

Administrative Hearing -- An administrative hearing is the method of adjudication for all Level I violations and any Level II or Level III violation where the student admits responsibility and/or where there is no dispute of fact. Administrative staff conduct and convene these hearings and the final outcome may only be appealed to the dean for campus life.

Apology - A student may be required to provide a verbal or written response to an individual who was impacted or affected in some way by the accused student's behavior.

Appeal - A written request submitted to the dean of students by a student who has been found responsible of a violation of the Student Conduct Code.

C.A.P. (Community Accountability Project) - Is a pilot program for the 2009 - 2010 academic year whereby a student who is documented for a possible Level I violation of the student conduct code attends a judicial meeting and initial part of a judicial hearing (determining responsibility) as indicated by Guilford's standard judicial process. If the student is found responsible, sanctions are then determined during a set hearing by a C.A.P. committee consisting of students, staff and faculty or other community members (alumni, neighbors) who have received two hours of training. C.A.P. hearings are a scripted, facilitated process led by students and staff who have received eight hours of training.

Clear and Convincing - Standard of proof in student judicial hearings where it is "highly probable" the violation occurred.

Coach and/or Student Activities Notification -- The Office for Campus Life may notify coaches and/or club/activity advisors when students who are involved in athletics and/or other Guilford sponsored student activities are involved in disciplinary actions.

Community Restitution - A student is given the opportunity to serve the community he/she has inconvenienced, insulted or embarrassed. This restitution may be through assisting a faculty member, Building Services, Physical Plant or other campus departments.

Confiscation - The appropriation of certain items from a person or area, which could be used later as evidence (drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons, etc.). Confiscated items are not subject to be returned.

Consequences - Actions taken by the college as a result of one's choice to violate the Student Conduct Code.

Counseling - If a student appears to be struggling with issues which may result in behavior choices that affect the health and well-being of the student or the community, the student could be referred for counseling on or off campus as part of his/her consequences at his/her expense.

Decline to Accept Responsibility - A student who has been charged with a violation of the Student Conduct Code does not admit that he/she is responsible for the violation.

Disciplinary Dismissal - A violation of the Student Conduct Code through one serious violation or a series of collected violations results in the student being removed from Guilford College permanently. Any student dismissed for disciplinary reasons does not have the option to apply for readmission.

Disciplinary Probation - A student is allowed to continue at Guilford with the understanding that, for the period of time during which the student is on probationary status, if other violations of the Student Conduct Code occur, the student could face removal from residence halls, Disciplinary Suspension or Disciplinary Dismissal. If a student commits a subsequent violation of the Student Conduct Code while on Disciplinary Probation, the recommended sanctions for an offense will automatically be either Level II or Level III regardless of the offense.

Disciplinary Suspension - A student is removed from Guilford for a specified length of time. At the end of the suspension period, the student has the option to apply for readmission (admission and/or merit aid is not assumed or guaranteed).

Educational Sanction - A sanction designed to provide an additional educational opportunity for a student who has been found responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code.

Guest - Any friends, family members or acquaintances of students visiting the campus at the invitation or request of an individual are considered guests. The Guilford student will be held responsible as "host" for any actions of their guests that may be in violation of the Student Conduct Code.

Interim Suspension - In certain circumstances where there is an alleged or perceived direct threat to self or others, the dean of students, or designee, may impose a college or on-campus housing suspension prior to any formal judicial proceedings.

  1. Interim suspension may be imposed only: (a) to ensure the safety and well-being of members of the college; (b) to ensure the student's own physical or emotional safety and well-being; or (c) if the student poses a direct threat of disruption of or interference with the normal operations of the college.
  2. During interim suspension, the student shall be denied access to on-campus housing and/or the campus (including classes) and/or all other college activities or privileges for which the student might otherwise be eligible, as the dean for campus life and/or his or her designee may determine to be appropriate.

Judicial Advocate - A currently enrolled Guilford student or faculty member, who is trained in campus judicial proceedings, may be called upon to advise an accused student when appearing before the Judicial Board or at an Administrative Hearing.

Judicial Board - A body of five (5) students and two (2) faculty members who are trained to hear cases alleging a Level II or Level III violation of the Student Conduct Code.

Monetary Damages - A student may be required to pay for items damaged, stolen and/or destroyed as a result of Student Conduct Code violations.

Parental Notification - Parents or guardians of students (under the age of 21) are notified if the student is found responsible for an alcohol or other drug offense at Guilford College.

Preponderance of the Evidence -Standard of proof in student judicial hearings where it is "more likely than not" the violation occurred.

Student - The term 'student' means any person taking or auditing any courses at the College. Persons who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the college are considered “students.” Examples include, but are not limited to, students who are enrolled but not talking classes due to an academic break, medical leave, suspension, or other personal leave; persons who demonstrate an intent to enroll by registering for courses; and students participating in study abroad programs. Additionally, Guilford College, in connection with the College’s Student Conduct Code also applies its standards of conduct to the following:

  • applicants who become students, for offenses committed as part of the application
    process;
  • applicants who become students, for offenses committed on campus and/or while
    participating in College-related events or activities that take place following a student's
    submittal of the application through his or her official enrollment; and
  • former students for offenses committed while a student.

Witness - Any individual who has witnessed an incident or has knowledge of an incident in which the Student Conduct Code was violated may be called upon to provide a statement during the investigation and/or adjudication of the alleged violation.