Community Responsibilities and Campus Policies (updated Nov 2000)

Table of Contents

Policies

Rules and Regulations

Academic Eligibility for Intercollegiate Athletics

Houghton College is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. To participate in intercollegiate athletics, students must meet all NAIA eligibility regulations and have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA), with the following qualifications:

1. All students must have a minimum previous semester average of 1.5, regardless of the cumulative average, in order to participate in intercollegiate competition.

2. A student may not participate in team practices if his cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 or his previous semester average is below 1.5.

Intercollegiate programs include: cross country, soccer, track and field and basketball for men and women; and field hockey and volleyball for women.

During each playing season, students in the intercollegiate program train and scrimmage about two hours a day. Fall sports squads are asked to come to campus before the start of classes to begin training.

Transfer students must check with the Faculty Athletic Representative for details concerning eligibility for participation in the intercollegiate program.

Campus Center Lounge 

The lounge is first and foremost for the use and enjoyment of Houghton College students, employees, and alumni. Any group using the Campus Center agrees to abide by the policies contained herein. We all have a vested interest in keeping the campus center furnishings in good appearance and condition for as long as possible.

1. ACTIVITIES: Any activities scheduled in the lounge must be approved by the Director of Student Programs. (During the summer session, the Conference Director will approve.)

2. CUSTODIAL: If your activity or event includes the moving of furniture and extra chairs and tables being brought in, the Director of Custodial Services needs at least one full week's notice.

3. FOOD: If food is to be served in the lounge area, the serving tables should be set up on the terrazzo tile floor under the stairs and not on the carpeted area.

-NOTE: No red or purple beverages may be served.

4. FURNITURE: The following rules apply for moving furniture in the Lounge:

a. The furniture in the center of the room may be moved carefully, with two people picking up each piece. The furniture may not ever be dragged.

b. The four chairs and coffee tables on the two platforms may be temporarily moved for special programs.

c. The large sectional seating areas in the four corners may not ever be moved!

d. Any furniture moved must be carefully returned to its proper position at the end of the event. (A floor plan showing the correct furniture arrangement is available at the information center.

e. The conference registration desk must remain on the terrazzo and may not be moved into the Lounge.

5. LIABILITY: Any group using the Lounge assumes financial liability for any damage or destruction of Campus Center furnishings that occurred as a result of its event.

6. MUSIC: If any loud music is to be played, it should be set up on the Quad side of the lounge and kept to a reasonable level as so not to disturb the Information Center.

7. RESERVATIONS: To use the Campus Center Lounge, reservations must be made through the Information Center and in consultation with the Director of Student Programs.

8. SALES: Sales may occur at the tables at the foot of the stairs, or by special approval on the carpeted runways. No furniture may be moved to make way for sales. All sales and fund-raising activities must be pre-approved according to the Campus Center Solicitation policy.

Co-Curricular Activity Student Eligibility

In order for a full-time (enrolled at least 12 semester hours) student to participate in any of the following four activities (1-4) he/she must a.) have at least a 2.0 cumulative quality point average (QPA) and b.) for continuing students, must pass at least 12 semester hours during the previous semester and at least 24 semester hours during the previous two semesters.

1) hold office in a college approved organization,

2) have a major role in a Houghton College sponsored drama presentation,

3) participate in music outreach groups sponsored by Church Relations,

4) travel with sports teams in some non-playing capacity (cheerleader, manager, time keeper, etc.)

NOTES:

1. Individual organizations may have more stringent requirements than the ones above.

2. Requests for exceptions shall be made to the Petitions Committee. Petition forms are available from the Registrar's office.

3. Eligibility for students participating in athletic programs will be determined by the Faculty Athletic Representative. The determination of eligibility for students in other co-curricular activities is the responsibility of the faculty/staff sponsor/advisor for each group, in consultation with the Academic Records Office or the Student Programs Office, in the case of new student organizations.

Drugs and Alcohol

Houghton College complies with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act. The normal sanction for a first offense involving purchase, distribution, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is disciplinary probation. A second offense normally involves suspension from the college. The normal sanction for a first offense involving purchase, distribution, possession or use of illegal drugs or abuse of any drug is suspension from the college. The college will cooperate with law enforcement agencies in dealing with drug or alcohol issues. Because of the significant health risks associated with drugs or alcohol, the college chooses to take a strong stand against their improper use (see Statement of Community Responsibilities). For students who have a drug or alcohol related problem that may be alleviated through counseling, the college will deal with students through the counseling process rather than through disciplinary processes if the student comes for help voluntarily. A more detailed statement of college policy on this matter is available through the Counseling Center. 

Tobacco

Houghton College is a smoke free environment.  The use of tobacco by Houghton College students is prohibited.  A smoking cessation program is provided for those students interested in stopping a smoking habit.  Smoking by a student may result in disciplinary action.

Religious Observance Accommodation

Houghton College will accommodate the need of any student (expressed through a written request to the academic dean) for relief when exams or other college-required activities conflict with the normal observance of the student's formally-identified religious beliefs.

Sexual Assault

Sex offenses range from inappropriate touch to forcible rape.  These offenses are in direct conflict with biblical standards and are a violation of state law.  Penalties for these can be up to a 25-year prison sentence per offense, depending on the offense.  The New York State Penal Law can be found at the following site for further information on these crimes: 

http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/NewYork/nyart130.htm#tny130_00

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment in any form is reprehensible.  The college affirms that its students, faculty, administration, and staff have a right to freedom from sex discrimination in the form of sexual harassment by any member of the academic community.  As such, the college has a well established policy addressing the definition of sexual harassment which outlines specific procedures for resolving situations involving harassment and filing complaints of harassment when conventional methods of resolution fail.  The administration considers sexual harassment a very serious offense and, if it is not resolved quickly, a violator may be liable to strict sanctions including loss of employment of student status.  

The complete policy on Sexual Harassment is distributed to each new student every fall semester.  Printed copies are also available in the Counseling Center, at Information Desk, or they may be obtained from the Sexual Harassment Officer of the college located in the Department of Human Resources on the first floor of Luckey Building.  An online version of the policy is also available at

 http://campus.houghton.edu/orgs/student_life/sexual_harassment.html

Performance Dance

With regard to dance for the aesthetic pleasure or entertainment of an audience, the Campus Activities Committee (a standing committee of the college) will determine if and when art dance will be permitted in public performance of any type. Each instance must come to the Campus Activities Committee for decision at least two weeks in advance.

Video Policy

This policy statement governs the use of copyrighted, rented or privately owned videos on campus. Recognizing our rural locale, we wish to help students make positive use of the home video market. Any campus use of video entertainment, however, needs to fall within the legal guidelines for video use and within our community standards for acceptable entertainment.

The Legal Question:

The copyright law concerning home video forbids 'performing the copyrighted work publicly' and defines “publicly” as:

to perform or display at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered.

The Motion Picture Association would like to define this to include all college residence halls; however, this view has not prevailed in the courts. Many colleges and universities are continuing to define their residence halls as a home. Based upon the advice of a spokesperson for the National Association of Campus Activities, Houghton College will allow controlled use of videos in floor lounges. At such a time as litigation modifies college or university use, Houghton College will comply with the decision of the courts.

Video Usage in the Residence Halls and College Owned Houses:

We consider our campus residences to be both a family environment and the home of our students. As a result, we feel it appropriate that a random group of friends or floor-mates should be allowed to come together to rent and watch a video in the hall or house. Several legal guidelines, however, must apply:

1. The event must be spontaneous, not a regularly scheduled or programmed event.

2. No organization may plan or sponsor a video event for entertainment purposes.

3. The event may not be advertised in the residence halls or on campus.

4. No admission fee may be charged.

In addition, in order to be sensitive to the various members of our community and to accommodate the legal need for the spontaneous nature of the video event, it is determined that we will be guided by the national rating system.

* Students may only show movies rated G or PG (or titles previously approved by the Film Review Board) in the lounges of any hall or house.

* Students may make their own decisions about PG-13 and R rated movies. If they choose to watch these, they may do so only in their private rooms, not in a common living area.

* NC-17 and X rated movies are not appropriate to be viewed anywhere on campus or in college approved housing.

Video Usage Elsewhere on Campus:

The unlicensed use of copyrighted videotapes in any other campus entertainment settings is not legal. This falls under the jurisdiction of the Campus Activities Committee. [Note: separate laws and campus policies govern the use of videos for educational purposes]

Additional Notes:

-The RA, RDA, or RD has the authority to limit or reject any video event, either in a lounge or private room.

-Any group wanting to show a video for educational purposes should refer to the film review policy and direct any legal questions to the Director of Student Programs.

-Any group wanting to obtain a public exhibition license for an advertised video event and/or an event with an admission fee, can do so by contacting one of our movie rental agencies through the Student Programs office or CAB. These films would fall under the guidelines for the Film Review and Video Policies.

-It is considered inappropriate to show a movie in the residence hall that is concurrently being shown by CAB. The Resident Director will prohibit such showings.

-Violations of this video policy may result in sanctions by the Office of Student Life 

Activities Scheduling

Regulations for scheduling group activities exist to provide equity in scheduling and to avoid unnecessary conflict. All requests for scheduling must be made on forms provided by the Office of Student Life .

To gain authorization, all public activities at Houghton must meet four conditions:

1. Admission--Admission charges are approved by the Director of Student Programs.

2. Content--The content of all college-wide programs must be approved in advance. Programs presented exclusively by a club, organization, or class only need approval by the advisor.

4. Place--The specific location of all activities to be held on campus must be arranged with the proper office. If you are unsure of which office is responsible for reserving certain rooms, room reservation information is available in the Office of Student Life .

3. Time--Anyone planning a program to be held at 6 p.m. or after must submit a request to the Office of Student  Life before the activity may be advertised or held. Such requests are to be made at least two weeks before the event. Request forms are available in the Office of Student Life.

For more information on scheduling events, please stop by the Calendar Coordinator's office in the Student Life area and pick up a copy of the current Calendar Policy.

Appearance

Houghton College has adopted standards of personal appearance with which each student is expected to comply.  Modesty in dress is the overriding principle.  These are not standards for which the college will maintain a specific scriptural basis in every case but are more accurately seen as reflecting the purpose and mission of the institution.  Every Houghton College student is expected to display the maturity necessary to comply with a style of dress that is consistent with the values of the college. 

Dress which is sexually provocative, too revealing, or displays advertisements or language that violate or encourage the violation of community standards is unacceptable and may result in disciplinary action.

Campus Center

General--All doors except the south end doors are locked at 12:00 a.m. Sunday - Thursday, 2:00 a.m. on Friday, and 1:00 a.m. on Saturday. The south end doors remain open 24 hours a day for access to the recreation room only. The Main level and dining hall close at the same time that the other doors are locked.

Lounge--The primary purposes of the lounge are socializing and conversation. Sports should be confined to the P.E. Center or outdoors. Indiscreet displays of affection are considered inappropriate. Personal radios and tape players are to be used with headphones. See the Campus Center Lounge Policy in the Policy section of this guide.

Recreation Room--Houghton I.D.'s are required for use of pool tables and table tennis. College guests or visitors accompanied by a student also may use the equipment. A computer lab with 12 computers is available 24 hours a day for Houghton College students.

Snack Shop--Daytime hours are Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Evening hours are Sunday - Thursday 9 p.m. - 11, Friday - Saturday 9:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m..  Wednesdays are Family Pizza Night from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Chapel Service Attendance

Chapel meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:00-11:40 a.m. The primary purpose of chapel is to bring the campus community together to focus on the word of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Those participating in chapel include student groups, faculty, off-campus speakers and college musical groups. The chapel format is varied, often including music, personal testimony and biblical exposition. Students make a commitment to attend at least two-thirds of the chapels each semester as part of their community responsibility. 

Failure to meet chapel attendance requirements will result in the following consequences:     

Violation of one semester:  The student will receive a written warning from the dean of student’s office.  One semester’s deficiency will result in a higher attendance requirement for a subsequent semester.

Violation of two semesters:  The student will be placed on disciplinary probation (see item V in the Disciplinary Sanctions section of this handbook).  Other restrictions may be applied as deemed appropriate by the dean of students or his/her designee.

Violation of three semesters or more:  The student will be required to appear before the Judicial Committee in a disciplinary hearing and will be assigned appropriate consequences.  This may result in the suspension or dismissal of the student from the college.

Firearms, Firecrackers and Explosives

The following items are considered weapons that must be stored in the Safety & Security Office and checked out for appropriate use:

·         Any weapon powered by pump action, including any BB gun

·         Any weapon powered by compressed air or CO2 cartridge including all paint ball guns

·         Any firearm, including black powder weapons

·         Any blowgun or similar weapon

·         Any type bow (archery)

·         Any Martial Arts weapon (i.e. nun-chuks, throwing stars, throwing knives, etc.)

·         Any knife with a blade six (6) inches long or longer

·         Any knife with a double-edged blade 

Fireworks are not allowed on campus unless approved for a particular event.  Students may not possess fireworks of any kind.

Motor Vehicles

If you have a vehicle on campus, it must be registered with the College Post Office. Cars without valid registration stickers are subject to fines. 

Parking

Student owned or operated vehicles must be registered at the Safety and Security Office as soon as they are brought to campus.  A parking policy established by the Student Government Association and the Student Life Council is in effect.  This policy is provided upon request or upon registering a vehicle.  Vehicles without proper registration are subject to fines.  Repeat offenders may have their vehicle immobilized or towed at the owner’s expense.  All freshman and sophomore residents are required to park in the Fire Hall parking lot on Route 19.  Juniors and seniors may explore further parking options by inquiring at the Safety and Security Office.

Regular permit fees vary in price from $25-$150 per year.  Permits are

available on a per semester basis at a slightly higher per year cost. 

Temporary permits for the Fire Hall lot will be issued free for the first

week and $10 per week thereafter.  These fees help defray the cost of

parking lot maintenance. 

 

The college does not assume liability to vehicles on college property,

regardless of cause (including vandalism and parking lot conditions).

Sunday Observance

On Sunday, intercollegiate or intramural athletic events or practices are prohibited.  The library, classrooms, laboratories and music practice rooms are closed.  These guidelines are established with the expressed purpose of giving primary attention to worship, rest, fellowship, and service.

Tackle Football

Due to the numerous injuries which have occurred as the result of tackle football, the college policy is that tackle football will not be allowed on college property.

  Judicial Policy (Updated May 2004)

Responsibilities of Individual Members of the Community 

Each member of the Houghton College community is expected to assume responsibility for his/her conduct and also to feel a reasonable Christian responsibility for the behavior of others.  On occasion this will involve kind, courteous admonition when one member observes another in inappropriate conduct.  On occasion it may involve cooperation when the proper authorities are investigating instances of alleged misconduct.

Student Disciplinary Rights & Responsibilities

A student reportedly involved in misconduct shall be guaranteed and informed of the following rights: 

a)       To know the charges.

b)       To have counsel of an advisor from within the college community at all times, including during the preliminary investigation.

c)       To receive reasonable due process.

d)       To have a reasonable time to prepare for a hearing.

e)       To request a private hearing when more than one student is involved. 

f)        To receive the decision in writing. 

g)       To appeal the decision if the appeal is made within 48 hours of written notification of the decision. 

h)       To present in writing the names of other people who have pertinent information regarding the particular disciplinary issue.

Dean of Students

The dean of students is designated by the Houghton College Constitution as the administrator responsible for student discipline.  The dean advises the Judicial Committee, adjudicates cases of misconduct, hears appeals, and is responsible for fostering good communication about such matters within the college community.  These responsibilities are shared by designated members of the Student Life Leadership Team (SLLT).

Judicial Committee

a.  The faculty shall elect three members yearly, one of 

     whom must have served on the committee the previous

     year.  Both genders shall be represented.

b.  The Student Government Association shall elect four

     members from the student body.  Both genders must be

     represented; one shall have served previously; no

     more than two may be seniors.

c.  The dean of students or a member of his/her staff shall

     serve as a consultant to the committee.

d.  The committee shall select its own chairperson.

e.  The committee shall both review incidents of misconduct

     and serve as an appeal board as defined below.  It shall

     also make recommendations through the Student Life

     Council to the Faculty regarding existing judicial policies

     and regulations.

f.   A quorum shall be comprised of a minimum of two faculty

     members and three students.

g.  The committee shall make its recommendation regarding

     an incident of misconduct to the dean of students or to

     the member of the dean’s staff acting as a consultant to

     the committee.

Judicial Procedures

I.  Initial Information

        A.      Alleged violations of the Statement of Community   

             Responsibilities requiring more than counseling by faculty,

             staff or peers may be reported by any member of the

             community to the office of the Dean of Students.

B.  The source of information shall remain confidential insofar

     as possible.

II.  Investigation

        A.      The office of student life shall assume responsibility for

              the preliminary investigation of the alleged incident.

      1.  The matter shall be discussed with the student.

              2.  All pertinent sources of information shall be consulted

                   in order to determine the validity of the initial

                   information.

B.       The student in question shall have the right to an advisor of his/her own choosing from within the community during the investigation.

C.       The dean of students shall have the power to suspend a student in extraordinary circumstances pending final adjudication of the case.

D.      In cases in which the investigation indicates that there was no violation of  community expectations or that there is not enough evidence to accuse the student of a violation, the dean may dismiss the case without disciplinary action.

 III.  Referral of Cases

 

A student’s first violation of the college’s disciplinary policies shall be adjudicated by the dean of students or a designated staff member, except in unusual cases when the dean will have the discretion of referring a first violation case to the Judicial Committee.

 

All repeated violations (of any behavioral expectation, not necessarily the same behavioral expectation) shall come directly before the Judicial Committee to be adjudicated in accordance with Judicial Procedures (V. and VI. of this document).  The only exception to this would be cases involving unusual circumstances where a more public knowledge would interfere with disciplinary action.  In such cases, the student may make a request to the dean that he/she adjudicate the case.  Upon the dean’s approval of this request, the case will be adjudicated by the dean.  In such cases, the dean must inform the Judicial Committee that this waiver was used and state briefly the nature of the cause.

 

IV.  Hearing with the Dean of Students

 

Hearings conducted by the dean or a member of his/her staff have no less importance than hearings with the Judicial Committee, but may be less formal in nature.  Rights guaranteed by the judiciary process will be assured and a commitment to basic fairness is the underlying principle.      

 

V.  Preparation for the Judicial Committee Hearing

 

A.      The chairperson of the Judicial Committee shall determine the time and place for the hearing and shall inform the members of the committee.

 

B.       At least 48 hours in advance, the student shall be informed of the time and place of the hearing, of the charges against him/her, and of his/her rights, by written notice being placed in the student’s CPO box and by e-mail notification.  (The 48-hour period begins when the notice is placed in the box and the e-mail sender is notified through receipt received that the message is in the student’s inbox.)  By mutual consent of the chairperson and the student, the time can be shortened.

 

C.  The student in question shall have the right to an advisor of his/her choosing from within the community during the hearing. 

 

D. On occasions in which the incident of alleged misconduct involves more than one student, the committee reserves the right to consider cases separately or jointly, subject to the request of the student(s) in question for private hearings.

 

VI.  Judicial Committee Hearing Procedures

 

A.      The Judicial Committee shall meet at the beginning of each school year and establish a weekly meeting time.  On those weeks when no business needs to be conducted, the chair will notify members of cancellation by noon of the meeting day. 

 

B.  The chairperson shall establish the agenda for the

     meeting.

 

C.  The hearing shall be conducted in such a manner

     as to do justice and shall not be unduly restricted

     by the rules of procedure and evidence.

 

D.  The charges shall be presented by a member of

     the staff of the dean of students.

E.  In recommending disciplinary actions the

     committee shall consider information pertinent to  

     the alleged incident, the attitude of the student,

               and his/her previous behavior.

 

F.  All other parties, including the dean of students,

     his/her staff, and the student in question shall

     be simultaneously excused from the hearing

    room when the discussion has been completed.  

     The Judicial Committee reserves the right to

     request that any person remain to answer

     questions about the case.  The committee shall

     render its judgment regarding the guilt or

     innocence of the individual(s), if applicable, and

     the disciplinary action, if any, to be recommended

     to the dean of students.  Only Judicial Committee

     members should be present during the 

     deliberation. If the dean makes a ruling different

     from that recommended by the committee,

     he/she shall report the same to the committee

     with a rationale within 24 hours. 

                 G.         The decision shall be reported to the student by a

                        member of the staff of the Dean of Students

                        within 48 hours.  The notification shall include all

     information pertinent to the decision and to the

     student’s right to appeal.  This may be done

     orally, and it shall be reported in writing by the

     close of the second business day following the

     hearing, even if already reported orally to the

     student in question.

Appeals

Any disciplinary action within the Houghton College community may be appealed.  A decision made by a residence hall director may be appealed to the dean of students or to the Judicial Committee.  A decision made by the dean of students may be appealed to the Judicial Committee, which shall either uphold the dean’s decision, or recommend that he/she review and modify his/her decision.  A decision made by the dean of students after recommendation of the Judicial Committee may be appealed to the president of the college.  The decision of the president shall be final. 

Any appeal shall be made within 48 hours of receiving written notification of the previous decision.  The appeal hearing shall be scheduled by the dean of students.  Those present at the hearing shall include the person making the appeal, an advisor of his/her choosing, the person who has made the decision being appealed, the person or committee to whom the appeal has been made, and any other persons needed as sources of information.  Each side shall make its case and then both shall retire.  The dean, the committee or the president, as the case may be, shall make a decision and report the same in writing to both parties within 48 hours.

Disciplinary Sanctions  

Discipline is designed to help the student to assume responsibility for him/herself as a mature Christian in today’s society.  It is intended to be developmental rather than merely punitive.  All repeated violations of any type (not necessarily the same type) will result in significant disciplinary sanctions. 

I.     Reprimand is a formal reproof and implies that the student’s behavior was inappropriate and is not to be overlooked.  A situation requiring a reprimand provides residence life of student life personnel the opportunity to work with the student in making changes that are necessary for continued participation in the college community.  The written reprimand may take the form of developmental or behavioral contract.  The duration of the censure shall be designated in writing.  The letter may remain in the student’s file until graduation. 

II.    Restitution/Fines means that the offender is required to make reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property or pay a financial penalty as a disciplinary sanction.  It may take the form of appropriate services to repair or otherwise compensate for damage. 

III.   Community Service recognizes that a rift has taken place between the student and the college community and involves opportunity for the student to make a significant contribution of personal service as a means of repairing the rift.  The period of time that a student may be required to serve the community will be specified and may vary from a portion of a semester to one full semester. 

[Note: Either the dean, the associate dean, the Judicial Committee, the housing director, or the resident directors may impose sanctions I-III] 

Any of the following disciplinary actions will remain in a file maintained for one year after the student graduates or five years if a student does not graduate from Houghton College. 

IV.    Restriction is the limiting or removing of certain privileges of participation in the usual activities of the campus.  This may include any or all of, but not limited to, the following: open house privileges, participation in intramural and/or intercollegiate sports, serving in a student leadership position, participation in plays, musical groups or ensembles, acting as a representative of the college, and marching in commencement exercises.  The duration of restriction shall be specified. 

 V.  Disciplinary Probation is required after repeated incidents or

 violations.  This provides opportunity for student life personnel to work with the student in making changes that are necessary for continued participation in the Houghton College community.  The length of probationary period shall be defined.  The student on probation is notified in writing that any additional offense of any kind shall result in immediate suspension or dismissal, or a Judicial Committee hearing.  Students on disciplinary probation are ineligible for townhouse or apartment placement or a community living option.  [Any violation of the Statement of Community Responsibilities, or residence life policies, failure to meet chapel attendance expectations, or academic dishonesty will constitute

additional offense.] 

 

VI.  Suspension is temporary severing of the student’s connection with the college for a definite period of time; the period will vary from a portion of a semester to one full semester.  It includes his/her right to return, without formally requesting re-admission, at the end of the stated period.  The suspension may be followed by a period of disciplinary probation.  Students are subject to the academic consequences of missing work as a result of disciplinary action.  Faculty are not obligated to permit make-ups of missed assignments and examinations in such cases. 

VII.   Requested Withdrawal involves asking a student to withdraw or not to register for the following semester.  Persistent and flouting of attitude and conduct may lead to the student being asked to leave.  The reasons shall be given in writing.  If re-admission is desired later, a student must reapply to the Admission Committee.

VII.  Deferred Dismissal severs the student’s connection with the college at the end of the current semester.  The deferred dismissal will be used to minimize the severe academic and financial penalties concomitant to a mid-semester dismissal.  The deferment process can take two forms:  1) The student may elect to finish out the semester, or 2) The student may elect to use it as an opportunity to recommit to the Houghton community.  At the close of the semester and the deferment period, the Judicial Committee may be convened to reconsider the dismissal. The impetus for this meeting will rest wholly with the student. Under either scenario, any additional violations of the Statement of Community Responsibilities or other college policy during the deferment period will result in immediate dismissal.  The deferment protocol will be as follows: 

A.      The student notified of a deferred dismissal will be   given one week to decide whether to:

                1.  Accept the dismissal and leave at semester’s end;

                2.  Appeal the decision; or,

                3.  To submit a behavioral contract.

 

Should the student elect option #3, he/she will be required to develop, submit and fulfill a contract of specific terms and expectations to meet in order to demonstrate that a change in behavior has taken place.  Guidelines and suggestions for writing the behavioral contract will be provided to the student at the time of deferred dismissal notification.

B.       The student will bring to the hearing appropriate documentation and witnesses, including a member of the residence life staff and an accountability partner or mentor who can attest to a change in behavior.  (The same residence life staff member may fulfill both roles.)  The Judicial Committee will be presented with the ways in which the student has contributed to the community life and will have the opportunity for questions about the student’s motivation to recommit. 

C.       Following the hearing, the Judicial Committee meets alone and then renders a decision.  To the extent possible, the decision is based on the evidence and the testimony of the student showing a changed heart and a restored commitment to the community.  Should the committee’s decision be that the student’s ties to the college be severed, that decision will be final and the dismissal will be effective at the close of that semester.

IX.  Dismissal indicates that one’s status as a student is terminated for a period of time to be determined after the disciplinary hearing.  This may be immediate or postponed until the end of the semester.  The student may not return to Houghton College without applying for readmission.  Such action is noted on the student’s personal record.

[Note: Only the dean, associate dean, and the Judicial Committee can impose Sanctions V-IX] 

The college reserves the right to inform parents or legal guardians of disciplinary violations in the following instances:

  1)  The disclosure is to a parent or legal guardian of a dependent

       student as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue

       Code; or

  2)       The disclosure is to a parent or legal guardian of a student

        who violated any law or any rule or policy of the college,

        governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled

        substance, if the student is under age 21.

The college may disclose the final results of any disciplinary proceeding against a student in connection with an alleged crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense to anyone, including members of the general public, if the college determines that the student committed a violation of its rules or policies with respect to such crime or offense.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the phrase “final results” includes only the name of the student, the violation committed, any sanction imposed by the college on the student, and names of other students (such as victims or witnesses) upon the written consent of each such other student. 

The college does not routinely notify parents or guardians of pending disciplinary action but may do so if in the best interests of the student, or in connection with an emergency where knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.