Policies & Procedures

Students who live on campus become part of a community of diverse individuals.  When each student assumes responsibility as a member of the residential community, everyone benefits.  To ensure that residents can exercise their rights as individuals without unduly infringing upon the rights of others, certain basic policies and procedures have been established to facilitate mutual respect and consideration among community members.  The cooperation of all residents is essential to developing an environment of mutual respect and support.

Overview
Policy List and Dictionary

Alcohol
Appliances
Assault and Battery
Bicycles, Mopeds, and Motorcycles
Businesses
Cooperation with Staff
Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct
Disposal of Sharp Objects
Dissemination of Information
Drugs, Illegal
Emergency/Fire Safety Equipment
Exterior Doors
Failure to Vacate
Fire Hazards
Firearms, Weapons, and Fireworks
Gambling
Hall/Complex Name Use
Harassment, General
Harassment, Racial, Ethnic, Religious; and Hate Crimes
Harassment, Sexual
Holiday Decorations
Improper Checkout or Room Change
Key Misuse
Lobby Furniture
Mistreatment of Staff
Noise (Quiet/Twenty-Four-Hour Consideration Policy)
Open Flame
Pets, Possesion of
Resident Conflict
Restrooms
Roofs/Exterior Walls/Sunshades
Security
Sexual Assault
Sexual Battery
Signs, Possesion of
Signs, Posting
Smoking
Soliciting
Sports
Storage
Suicidal Indications
Theft/Burglary
Trash, Improper Disposal of
University Property, Care of
Vandalism
Visitation
Visitation/Escort Policies
Windows and Screens, Misuse of

Documentation of Policy Violations
Disciplinary Process
Students' Rights
Right of Appeal
Special Disciplinary Boards
Student Judicial Boards
Scholarship Hall Judicial or Advisory Boards
Academic Review Board for the Scholarship Halls

Overview

The policies and procedures of the Department of Student Housing can be generalized to three areas.

Residents Should Show Respect For and Cooperate with All Individuals in their Community.
Successful group living can be achieved only through the cooperative effort of each resident in the complex. Each resident must be aware of his/her rights and privileges and equally aware of the rights and privileges of others. Each resident expects that his/her rights will be respected and, in a similar manner, each resident must avoid infringing on the rights of others.

Residents Should be Mindful of their Own Personal Safety.
Residents should keep in mind that neglecting their personal safety can, and often does, have an impact on other residents and staff with whom they live. Each resident is a part of a larger community. Residents are advised to be mindful of the implications of their personal choices on that community. Residents are reminded that they will be held accountable through the disciplinary process if they fail to make safe personal choices.

Policy List and Dictionary

The following is a partial list of activities/actions which, under current contract guidelines, are considered policy violations by the Department of Student Housing and will result in disciplinary action. The following violations will be enforced against those who are found, after a fair hearing before an impartial tribunal, to have participated in any of the following misconduct. In the case of guest misconduct, residents will be held responsible for any violation occurring within their room/suite/apartment.

Alcohol

Cereal malt beverages and alcoholic liquor may not be brought into or consumed in educational buildings or in university student housing facilities, except by persons of legal drinking age in the confines of individual apartments in Stouffer Place and Sunflower Apartments. This regulation pertains to any person, regardless of age, student status, or position within or outside of the university setting. To avoid any possible misunderstanding, alcoholic beverage containers or other alcohol paraphernalia (such as beer bongs) are not allowed in residence halls, scholarship halls, or Jayhawker Towers. Discovery of an alcoholic beverage container or other alcohol paraphernalia will require immediate discarding of the container and contents, if any, in the presence of a staff member. All who are present in the room when the alcohol policy is violated will be subject to disciplinary action regardless of participation level. Empty containers that have been physically altered to serve solely decorative purposes are permitted with prior approval of the Complex Director.

Excessive alcohol consumption can often lead to violations of other residence hall and/or university standards. Evidence in a violation may indicate that the resident's behavior was substantially altered as a result of the consumption of alcohol. The abuse of alcohol by any resident, whether or not of legal drinking age, and any inappropriate behavior that results from excessive consumption of alcohol, including the ability to exercise care for one's own safety or the safety of others due in whole or in part to alcohol consumption, is considered a violation of the housing/university alcohol policy. Being under the influence of alcohol is not considered an excuse for misconduct.

Amplified Instruments

Residents may not play amplified instruments in their rooms. These types of instruments may only be played in approved facilities. See your Scholarship Hall Director or complex front desk for more information.

Appliances

Assault and Battery

Anyone who engages in conduct that intentionally causes apprehension in another or intentionally touches another person in an inappropriate manner that harms or humiliates will face criminal and/or disciplinary action.

Bicycles, Mopeds, and Motorcycles

We recommend that all bicycles be registered with the KU Police Department. Do not ride bicycles or mopeds on the sidewalks. Bicycles and mopeds are to be stored in the racks outside the building. Do not put them in stairwells or chain them to stair rails, fences, or posts. This makes it difficult for staff to clean the stairwells and is a hazard to people using the stairs. You will be charged for damage to paint caused by chains. Maintenance and the KU Police Department will remove and impound any bicycle or moped whose owner violates these rules. No motorcycles, mopeds, or gasoline-operated machines of any type are allowed inside the buildings. If found, these will be removed by the proper authorities at the owner's expense.

Businesses

No private business shall be established or operated on the premises of any university-owned housing.

Cooperation with Staff

Cooperation with any staff member's reasonable request is expected of all residents and their guests. This includes surrendering your KU Card upon request and completing assigned educational sanctions for policy violations.

Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct

Students should not engage in disruptive or disorderly conduct or lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct or expression.  This includes but is not limited to activities which are excessively noisy or otherwise disrupt fellow residents or community members.

Disposal of Sharp Objects

Due to the potential injury to employees handling trash bags, sharp objects such as razor blades, broken glass, and needles (hypodermic, sewing, etc.) must be discarded in sharps containers that can be obtained from custodial staff.  Do not place any of these items in trash bags.

Dissemination of Information

Posting of materials is prohibited without approval by the Complex Director or the Department of Student Housing.  Distribution to student mailboxes is limited to hall programming information, Department of Student Housing information, or high priority, time sensitive university information with approval by the Department of Student Housing.  Contact DSH at 864-4560 to request approval.

Drugs, Illegal

Manufacturing, possessing, selling, transmitting, using, or being party to any illegal drug activity, controlled substance, or drug paraphernalia is a violation of university and housing policy as well as a violation of the law.

Emergency/Fire Safety Equipment

Proper use and response to fire alarms is required.  Disciplinary action will be taken against anyone who falsely, intentionally, or negligently tampers with or activates fire safety equipment.  Fire safety equipment includes smoke/heat detectors, sprinkler heads, fire extinguishers, pull stations, alarm panels, and exterior doors.  Action will be taken against anyone who fails to respond to a fire alarm, regardless of whether or not an actual emergency exists.  Fire escapes are not to be used for any purpose except emergency evacuation.

Exterior Doors (Residence Halls)

Use of perimeter doors in the residence halls during hall security hours is not permitted. When security hours are in effect, residents must enter and exit through the main doors only. All other doors will be alarmed and are for emergency use only. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action.

Propping of exterior doors and/or tampering with locks is considered a serious security violation, as it may result in allowing an unescorted visitor into the building, thereby jeopardizing the security of all the residents in the building.

Failure to Vacate

Residents are responsible for their own personal property at all times. When residents have not vacated assigned space as scheduled (internal transfers as well as the end of a contract period) or have not removed personal property, Department of Student Housing staff will make a reasonable attempt to contact the residents. Residents who have not vacated assigned space as scheduled or at the end of a contract period will be charged $50 per day plus the daily rate for each day they remain in the assigned space. If after 48 hours, the resident(s) has not vacated the assigned space the personal property contained within will be removed and stored at the residents’ expense.

Residents will be billed $20/hour per employee involved in removal and/or storage of personal property ($50 minimum), and a monthly storage fee of $50. Personal property removed by Department of Student Housing staff will be stored for 30 days. After 30 days, the items will be considered abandoned and donated to charity or discarded. The Department of Student Housing is not liable for damage to or loss of property that might occur during the course of removal or disposal. Residents will be billed for all costs incurred in removing personal property and restoration of the unit to usable space.

Fire Hazards

No materials, liquid or otherwise, of an explosive or combustible nature shall be kept on the premises. Candles, incense, and open flame decorations are fire hazards and are prohibited.

Firearms, Weapons, and Fireworks

In the interests of health and safety, fireworks, ammunition, combustible liquids, and explosives of any kind are prohibited in the halls. Possession of firearms or other weapons, including large knives, paintball guns, pellet guns, and/or martial arts weapons, is also prohibited.

Gambling

It is against state law to place a bet, play a lottery (other than a state-sponsored lottery) or play a gambling device if you stand a chance of winning or losing something of value.

Hall/Complex Name Use

Use of the hall or complex name requires advance permission by departmental staff.  Designs for signage, t-shirts, murals, etc. need to be submitted to the complex director for approval.

Harassment, General

Anyone who directs any deliberate and/or intimidating gestures (verbal, written, or otherwise) toward another person, commits vandalism, defacement or damage to personal property, purposely humiliates another person, stalks another person, or makes degrading comments or "prank" phone calls, will face disciplinary action.

Harassment, Racial, Ethnic, Religious; and Hate Crimes

This form of harassment may be a criminal act toward people of a particular race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion. It may also be found in behaviors, threats, insults, taunts, and obscenities that advocate discrimination and hatred toward racial, ethnic, and religious identities. Further, university policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, marital status, and parental status. The university is committed to the provision of an academic and employment environment that will foster excellence. If you believe that you have been the subject of discrimination and/or harassment, refer to information about what to do in the Division of Student Affairs Handbook or The Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Your Complex Director, Scholarship Hall Director, or other senior staff member can offer advice and assistance.

Bigotry has no place within the campus community, nor does the right to denigrate another human being.  The Department of Student Housing will not accept ignorance, humor, anger, alcohol, or substance abuse as an excuse, reason, or rationale for harassment.

Harassment, Sexual

Sexual harassment in university housing is a violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and/or Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The university does not tolerate such behavior, regardless of university status, and recognizes that sexual harassment may be perpetrated by students, staff, of faculty. It may occur between members of the same gender or opposite gender. See your Student Affairs Handbook for specific information on what constitutes sexual harassment.

Holiday Decorations

Holiday decorative greenery and live trees represent a fire hazard and are not permitted in KU Student Housing facilities. Artificial trees and other decorative items should be flameproof. Caution should be exercised when using lights on metallic trees and in windows because of the increased potential for electric shock. Residents must remove and store all holiday decorations prior to leaving for winter break.

Improper Checkout or Room Change

Residents must follow posted check-in/check-out procedures. Room changes must be requested and approved by hall staff.  To properly check out of your room/apartment, schedule an appointment with a staff member, move out your belongings and clean the room/apartment, attend the checkout appointment, and turn in your key.  Failure to follow these procedures will result in charges for improper room change/checkout.

Key Misuse

Lobby Furniture

Lobby furniture is not to be taken to student rooms, suites, or apartments. This deprives other residents of the use of the furniture. If lobby furniture is found in student rooms/suites/apartments, disciplinary action (including furniture relocation fees) may result.

Mistreatment of Staff

Intentional and deliberate antagonistic behavior toward staff members, attempts to degrade or attack staff, or assault on a staff member will not be tolerated and will be cause for possible expulsion from KU Student Housing.

Noise (Quiet/Twenty-Four-Hour Consideration Policy)

Quiet hours must be observed from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 1:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Additional quiet hours may be established by your floor or hall. In order to provide optimal living conditions for all residents, your facility has a 24-hour Consideration Policy. Noise should be kept at a level that does not infringe on other residents' rights. Residents should try to respect each other's expectations regarding noise. If a resident is being too loud and is unresponsive to your requests to be considerate, please contact your nearest staff member. A general guideline to follow: If the noise can be heard outside your apartment/suite/room, it is probably too loud. During each final examination period, a 24-hour "quiet hours" policy is in effect. Residents who are disturbing others by violating this policy may be asked to vacate the residence hall immediately during this period.

Open Flame

Open flame devices, including open heating coils, candles and incense, are not allowed in university housing.

Pets, Possession of

Only fish in aquariums are allowed. Animals could pose a health risk to other residents.

Resident Conflict

Residents are expected to resolve disputes or conflict in a cooperative manner. Fights will not be tolerated in any Student Housing facilities. Residents are encouraged to seek staff assistance to mediate disputes when necessary.

Restrooms

Restrooms on wings designated male or female may not be used by members of the opposite sex. Disciplinary action will result.

Roofs/Exterior Walls/Sunshades

Students should not be on building roofs, sunshades or exterior walls at any time.

Security

Abiding by policies that are in place to provide security to the halls and their residents is of utmost importance. In consideration of and respect for residents' privacy and property, all halls will be secured daily at least between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Residents may use only the main entrance during these hours. Alarms will be active on all other outside doors during these hours–they are for emergency use only. Photo identification is required for entry from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. Residents should not prop open exterior doors at any time, should not duplicate room keys, should promptly display or surrender KU Card when asked to do so by a Student Housing or university employee, and should escort guests at all times.

Sexual Assault

This includes acquaintance/date rape or attempted sexual assault. Any report filed using this category may involve intervention by the KU Police Department and the office of the Dean of Student Life. Victims may choose to remain anonymous.

Sexual Battery

Unwelcome contact with or touch of another person's genitals, breasts, or buttocks. Any report filed using this category may involve intervention by the KU Police Department and the office of the Dean of Student Life. Victims may choose to remain anonymous.

Signs, Possession of

Residents may not have signs in their rooms/suites/apartments which are intended for use in other places. This regulation includes actual traffic signs, road construction barricades, Student Housing or university signs, etc. State law forbids possession of road signs.

Signs, Posting

Residents may submit signs to the hall front desk to be posted on bulletin boards. Otherwise, no signs, bills, or fliers of any type may be posted. A removal charge may be assessed to residents who violate this policy.

Smoking

In response to medical evidence of the hazards of second-hand smoke and statewide initiatives in this area, all facilities operated by the Department of Student Housing are smoke-free. Persons found smoking in designated non-smoking areas will face disciplinary action.

Soliciting

No solicitation is allowed in Student Housing facilities. This includes distribution of fliers and door-to-door canvassing without permission from the University Events Committee and the Complex Director. Residents are requested to notify complex/hall staff of unauthorized solicitation. Only the Lawrence Journal-World and the Kansas City Star have the permission of the Department of Student Housing to solicit in designated areas without prior arrangement.

Sports

Residents and their guests may not engage in any sports or sports-related activities within the rooms, apartments, lounges, hallways, stairwells, or other public areas. The act of playing sports, or engaging in sport-related activities in a confined area such as those listed above can lead to injury and/or damage to personal or University property.  In addition, skateboarding is not allowed on porches, as this endangers pedestrians and can cause damage to benches, steps, etc. Such activity may result in damage to property and constitutes vandalism.

Storage

No property is to be stored outside any residential unit or in stairwells. There is no extra storage space. Items that are stored in public locations will be periodically removed by the staff and taken to the landfill.

Suicidal Indications

Staff will intervene when a resident's behavior or speech indicates the possibility of suicide. If you are considering such a step or believe you know someone who is, seek immediate assistance from a staff member.

Theft/Burglary

Theft/burglary of personal or university property is a violation of university and housing policy as well as a violation of the law. The university is not responsible for personal property that is lost, stolen, or damaged. Immediately report all losses to hall staff and the KU Police Department. The best guard against property loss is to keep your room/suite/apartment door locked at all times. Residents may be insured through their parents' homeowners insurance, otherwise, they are advised to obtain renter's insurance for their personal property.

Trash, Improper Disposal of

Includes dumping or leaving trash in any areas other than those designated for trash disposal.

University Property, Care of

The resident is responsible for keeping university-owned equipment and furnishings in good condition. Residents should carry personal property and liability insurance. The university assumes no responsibility for losses, damages or injuries of any sort occurring to persons or property in the complex.

Vandalism

The damage or defacement of university facilities or property will not be tolerated. Persons who violate this policy may be subject to one or more of the following: disciplinary action; restitution; or city, state, or federal prosecution.

Visitation

Visitors and guests are a privilege for the residents living in the residence/scholarship halls. Specific procedures for visitors and guests may vary from building to building. Residents should familiarize themselves with their living unit's procedures and abide by those policies.

Visitation/Escort Policies

Residence Halls
University regulations prohibit the use of your room by anyone other than the regularly-assigned resident or a registered visitor. Having guests in the halls is a privilege. If guests behave inappropriately, they may be asked to leave the building by a Student Housing staff member. Residents are responsible for the proper registration and conduct of their guests.

Visitors to the hall must be in the company of their host or hostess at all times. In the residence halls, guests must be checked in by their host during security hours (11:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.) and must have picture identification. Guests must be escorted to the front desk when leaving the building to pick up their identification, even when security hours are not in effect. All visitation must occur within the visitation hours designated in the conditions of occupancy in the Student Housing contract. All visitors are required to abide by Student Housing and hall specific policies. The host or hostess is responsible for the visitor's compliance with the hall's stated policies and procedures.

In co-educational halls, visitors of the opposite sex of the host/hostess, who live on the same floor but not the same corridor, must be escorted during security hours. Visitors of the opposite sex of the host/hostess who live in the same hall, but not on the same floor, must be escorted between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. Visitors who do not live in the hall must be escorted at all times.

In GSP/Corbin, men are permitted to visit only during certain hours: Monday-Thursday 2pm-11pm, Friday 12 noon-Sunday 12 midnight. Visitors must be escorted at all times.

The Department of Student Housing will attempt to assign students together who have, in advance, indicated a desire to participate in a more restricted visitation program. If sufficient requests are received, Student Housing will reserve a corridor which will operate within more restricted visitation parameters as recommended by floor members and with approval of the complex and residence life staff.

Scholarship Halls
Visitors of the opposite sex must be in the company of their host or hostess at all times. The exact hours and days of the week for visitation may be determined by a 50% plus 1 approval of the total residents of the hall in a secret ballot vote.

Visitors of the opposite sex may visit in the floor lounges or in the private room of a resident with consent of the roommate(s) and within designated visitation hours.

Each hall is encouraged to examine its visitation policy every semester. It will be necessary for each hall to re-establish visitation policies within a month after the start of each school year. Policies from the preceding year apply until new policies are established. Once the votes are taken in each hall, it is required that the policies be reported to the appropriate person in the Department of Student Housing

Visitors are required to abide by Student Housing and hall specific policies. Residents are liable for any and all damages.

Jayhawker Towers
Visitors of the opposite sex may visit the private room of a hosting resident with the consent of the roommate, if any. All visitors must be accompanied by the hosting resident to and from the Towers' public areas.

The hosting resident is responsible for acquainting the visitor with stated policies and regulations. Visitors are required to abide by DSH policy, the Official Policies and Regulations for Jayhawker Towers, and specific policies of the individual tower.

Overnight Guests (All facilities)
Living units are operated for the benefit of contracting residents. Only those residents assigned to a specific room may live in that room. Each resident has the privilege of hosting overnight guests as long as the guests do not infringe on the rights of other residents. These procedures will be followed for overnight guests:

• Guest must be registered in advance at the hall reception desk. Guest privileges may be subject to the approval of the Complex Director.
• Residents with guests of the opposite sex (such as a parent or relative) must make arrangement for housing in a facility that houses that sex. Arrangements can be made through the hall reception desk or the Department of Student Housing.
• Guests of the same sex as the resident may stay overnight in the resident's room with prior consent of the roommate(s).
• Co-habitation is strictly prohibited.
• All guest lodging costs are ultimately the responsibility of the contracting resident.

Windows and Screens, Misuse of

Window screens are provided and are part of each operable room window in the residence halls. Windows are operable without removal of any screen. Window screens are not a safety device. Screens are designed to keep bugs out, allow fresh air in, and to facilitate ventilation of the building. It is important that the screens remain in place. There is no acceptable reason to remove the screen from the window except in case of a designated building emergency.

Occasionally window screens have been removed to throw water or drop items from the window or to gain access to the building sunshades. These examples pose an extreme risk to those removing the screen as well as those passing below the window. In consideration of the potential harm presented when a screen has been removed, each resident residing in the room in violation of this policy will be assessed a charge of $125 and will be subject to additional disciplinary action.

Windows that crank open should be kept closed when it is windy outside. Breakage or damage to windows will be charged to the residents.

Documentation of Policy Violations

"Documentation" is the term used by most people in the university community when they're referring to the process that occurs when a staff member or resident reports an emergency or a violation of a university regulation. A staff member will identify him/herself, communicate which regulation has been violated, and request identification from the student. If you find yourself in such a position, you should remember three things:

• Remain calm. The judicial system is part of the total educational process and is very protective of your rights.
• Always cooperate. Produce your KU Card immediately upon request.
• You will have the opportunity to visit with a senior staff member to discuss the situation.

When writing the Incident Report, the staff member will include every detail of what he/she observed before, during, and after the incident, including your attitude. The Incident Report is only one version of what has happened. It is not to your benefit to argue the point at that time. You will have an opportunity to meet with either a judicial board, a CD, or an SHD to share your version of what happened. The judicial board, CD, or SHD receives the report, reviews it along with any past reports of misconduct, and determines if a judicial hearing is warranted. You always have the right to discuss your concerns with the CD, ACD, or SHD.

You will be asked to schedule and keep an appointment as soon as possible if the CD, ACD, SHD, other senior staff member, or judicial board chair decides he/she needs to meet with you. The CD, ACD, or SHD will discuss the incident with you during the hearing. Be honest, and don't be afraid to ask questions about anything that you don't understand.

Be aware of Student Housing policies and university regulations. Keep in mind that each situation is unique: No one can ever predict in advance the outcome of a case of misconduct. The department's judicial system was designed with your rights in mind, as well as the rights and safety of others.

Disciplinary Process

Policy violations or the suspicion of policy violations typically come first to the attention of a Resident Assistant (residence halls and Jayhawker Towers) or Scholarship Hall Director or Proctor (scholarship halls). In most instances, this person will be able to assist you in gaining insight into the reasons for your behavior and its consequences. Our primary interest will be to help you correct your behaviorand become a more responsible member of the community. However, if you fail to adjust/correct your behavior, if the violation is a serious one, or if your behavior threatens the basic purposes of the community, you can expect a notice to appear for a judicial hearing with the CD, SHD, ACD, or hall judicial board to discuss living within the regulations of the community. The primary concern will be to continue to assist you in correcting your behavior. Disciplinary action may be taken by the CD, SHD, or ACD. Such action may include one or more of the following:

• Written Warning: A warning to the resident about the incident and the subsequent behavior that is expected of the resident.
• Conditional Standing: A probationary status placed on a resident which may require the resident to participate in an educational sanction and refrain from particular behaviors during the duration of the contract period. Failure to abide by the terms of the probationary status may result in more severe sanctioning or removal from the Department of Student Housing system. This probationary status is often limited to a type of offense or to a specified time period.
• General Probation: A probationary status placed on a resident whereby, if the resident continues to violate housing or university policy, that resident will face probable removal from the Department of Student Housing system.
• Educational Sanctioning: Frequently residents are given a specific assignment or project that encourages reflection on the reasons for the policy violated and the causes for that resident's behavior. Hearing officers will tailor the sanction to the particular offense and the circumstances surrounding it.
• Room/Hall Reassignment: A resident may be reassigned to another room or another hall when the offense is harassment, assault/battery, mistreatment of staff, or when the resident's behavior is determined to be disruptive to the floor or hall community.
• Removal from the Department of Student Housing System: Residents who pose a risk of harm to themselves, other residents, or property may be removed from the system. Further, residents who continue to violate policies after being placed on probation may be removed from the system. During finals, students who cause significant disruption may be asked to vacate the hall pending a hearing with an Assistant Director in the Department of Student Housing.
• Interim Suspension: Under the terms of the Student Housing contract, "A student's housing contract may be immediately suspended and the student required to vacate the premises when circumstances indicate that the student's continued presence in the housing unit may constitute danger, or threat of danger to property, the student, or others in the housing system. Housing contracts of students either arrested for alleged criminal acts or against whom criminal charges are pending may be suspended under this policy." Residents will be asked to leave the facility immediately and will be given the date and time of a hearing to take place within five (5) class days during which the resident will have the opportunity to demonstrate why his or her continued presence in the housing unit does not constitute a danger, or threat of danger, to others, the resident, or property.

Residents are also required to make financial restitution (payment) for damages done and/or for expenses incurred as a result of his/her behavior. Financial restitution is not a disciplinary action and may not be appealed. Depending upon the severity of the incident, it is also possible that some type of police action will be taken against a resident, in addition to university sanctions.

There is no automatic disciplinary action for a specific incident. Incidents vary in their seriousness, degree of disruption, and damage to facilities. These factors will be considered when deciding on disciplinary action. Please note that where violations are not individually serious, repeat offenders are dealt with more severely than first-time offenders. When a resident has been advised or warned that he or she is in violation of a rule or policy, it is expected that the violation will not be repeated. If repetition does occur, the resident may expect a rapid escalation in the seriousness of the disciplinary consequences. If a contract is cancelled as a result of a policy or regulation violation, the contract schedule of amounts due on the vacating date will be applied.

Students' Rights

If you become involved in the formal disciplinary process with a judicial board, your CD, SHD, senior staff member, or staff in the Department of Student Housing, you may expect to be advised of the alleged violation(s), and to have an opportunity for a hearing. Any violation listed in this handbook, your housing contract, or the University of Kansas Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, with the exception of sexually-oriented or sensitive issues, may be referred to a judicial board; however, a resident could always request an administrative hearing instead. The hearings conducted by any judicial board preserve the rights of every resident to due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. These rights include the right to notice of the hearing and its issues, the right to be heard and to confront evidence, and the right to an appeal. All contents and decisions of the judicial board or administrative hearings preserve the student's rights to confidentiality of academic records under the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

In all but minor, informal disciplinary conflicts you can expect to receive written notice of the specific hall violation(s) involved. At the hearing where your situation is considered, you will have an opportunity to hear or read all reports, to respond to allegations, and to offer any additional information that may be helpful in resolving the incident. You may expect written notification of the outcome of a decision.

Some violations of hall rules and policies may additionally violate the University of Kansas Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities and/or city or state statutes. Incidents may be reported to the University of Kansas Police Department or the Office of the Dean of Students for further resolution.

Right of Appeal

Within the disciplinary structure there are opportunities for appealing decisions made by the judicial board, CD, SHD, ACD or other staff of the Department of Student Housing. Specific information concerning how to request an appeal is included in the written notification of the outcome of the discipline hearing. If a student wishes to appeal, he or she must file the appeal in writing within five class days of the notification of the original decision. Appeals raising one or more of the following issues will be reviewed: proper procedures were not followed, the sanction is excessive given the violation, or new information is available to the resident regarding the incident that was not available to that resident at the time of his or her hearing. The appeals officer may or may not request a meeting with the resident raising the appeal. Notification on decision will be provided.

Special Disciplinary Boards

Student Judicial Boards

Judicial boards exist to assist and improve the quality of life in the buildings operated by the Department of Student Housing. They provide this valuable resource in two ways. First, they assist the Department of Student Housing staff with enforcement of community standards of conduct. When a member of the community is thought to have failed to meet these standards, it is the goal of the judicial board to discover the truth and provide education and remediation. Accomplishing this goal requires the judicial board to balance concern for the individual with concern for the community in which the individual lives.

Second, judicial boards provide an important resource for conflict resolution. Inevitably, when hundreds of people live, study, eat, play and work within the same building, disagreements will arise. Whether these disagreements are between roommates, residents, or residents and a staff member, the judicial board provides an objective panel for the mediation of disputes. In all instances, judicial boards want to encourage a residential environment that nurtures strong academic and personal development.

The Department of Student Housing selects judicial board officers from among the residents of each hall, often with the involvement of hall governments. The department chooses only those students who demonstrate maturity, leadership, and the ability to fairly and justly deal with disagreements. Judicial board members are trained to provide fair and objective treatment of all issues presented to them for adjudication.

Scholarship Hall Judicial or Advisory Boards

Students living in the scholarship hall system agree to take on the responsibility of cooking and/or cleaning in the hall and being an active participant in hall governance and operations. Residents who fail to meet their obligations go before the judicial board or the advisory board in the hall. The board is made up of a panel of the resident's peers. The chair is most often the hall's vice president. The SHD is the advisor to the board. Residents appearing before the board are given the opportunity to explain their situation and/or dispute the charges. Residents who are found responsible for failing to complete a shift or duty in the hall five times or more face probable removal from the scholarship hall system.

Academic Review Board for the Scholarship Halls

Residents living in the scholarship halls are expected to successfully complete 28 credit hours each academic year (excluding summer term) and are expected to maintain a 2.5 grade point average. Those who fail to meet these academic expectations will be notified and will be given an opportunity to speak to or write a letter to the Academic Review Board. The board is made up of a representative from each hall and the ASHC president. The Complex Director advises the board. The board will consider each resident's circumstances and will recommend a warning, a probationary or conditional status, or removal from the scholarship hall system. Their decisions are based on the severity of the shortfall, the resident's academic history, and any personal explanation the resident offers. The board meets each summer and may recommend review of a resident's academics at the conclusion of the fall semester by the ASHC President and the Complex Director.