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
  • Revocation of campus privileges (i.e. participation in clubs/organizations, participation in intercollegiate athletics, use of campus facilities or resources, etc.)
  • Behavioral contracts or restricted campus access agreements
  • Educational sanction (paper, letter of apology, floor program, or similar educational opportunities)
  • Monetary damages if applicable
  • Decrease in institutional merit based financial aid
  • Coach and/or student activities notification
  • 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
  • Fire Safety violations may result in a fine not to exceed $500

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 restitution
  • Educational sanction (paper, letter of apology, floor program, or similar educational opportunities)
  • Monetary damages if applicable
  • Removal from college housing and meal plan
  • Removal from academic courses
  • Decrease and/or cessation of institutional merit based financial aid
  • Coach and/or student activities notification
  • Alcohol and other drug violations -- parental notification and alcohol and other drug assessment with Counseling Center; up to a $300 fine for a third alcohol violation; up to a $300 fine for a second drug violation
  • 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
  • Alcohol and other drug violations - parental notification and alcohol and other drug assessment with Counseling Center; up to a $500 fine for a third drug violation

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 apology to an individual who was inconvenienced, insulted or embarrassed 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.

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 an issue, which causes him/her to make inappropriate decisions, 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 Reprimand - A formal warning that, should the behavior in question continue, additional disciplinary action will be taken.

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.

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 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 Code of Conduct 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.

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

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.