Community Standards Categorical System
The following categories provide a framework of understanding around the violations of the Community Standards. Factors such as safety, impact on others, and personal responsibility within community influence the category and which response team meets with the student. The categories assist in defining and clarifying the risks as well as possible consequences for certain behaviors. This framework was developed and informed by focus group discussions and data gathered from Student Satisfaction Inventory.
Category 1
• Violation of quiet hours
• Violation of open house hours
• Fire hazards (candles, lighters, tampering with equipment)
• Smoking or tobacco use in residence halls (includes vaping)
Possible responses/combination of responses of a Category 1 violation including but not limited to:
• Written Response
• Fines ($25-$100)
• Community service (up to 8 hours)
Category 2
• Any repeated Category-1 violation
• Possession, use, of illegal drugs or misuse of prescription medications • Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession or use of alcohol on campus
• Returning to campus while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs • Unintentional vandalism (e.g. unauthorized roof access, etc.)
• Disorderly conduct while under the influence
• Fraud or theft
• Dishonesty during an investigation
• Racism, Harassment, Discrimination
Possible responses/combination of responses of a Category 2 violation including but not limited to:
• Written response
• Alcohol Screening
• Alcohol Education or Online Education Course.
• Group discussion with members of housing unit
• Fines ($65–$250)
• Community service (7-35 hours)
• Unannounced searches and drug testing
• Reflection Paper or Research Composition
• Counseling Sessions
• Financial Restitution
• Referral for addictions evaluation. Cost of evaluation and follow-through is the
• student’s responsibility
• Research project related to chemical use/abuse
In instances of alcohol and or possession, use, of illegal drugs or misuse of
prescription medications, parents are notified if student is less than 21 years of
• age according to the Parental Notification Policy
Disciplinary probation (withdrawal from participation in co-curricular and leadership positions for the next semester)
Category 3
• Repeated behaviors from Category 1 or 2
• Providing alcohol to minors
• Producing or distributing synthetic, prescription or illegal drugs • Arrest by the police
• Firearms, weapons
• Intoxication or altered state in conjunction with other violations • Racism, Expressions of Hate
• Vandalism, intentional; misuse of college property
• Violence or threats of violence
• Threat of arson
• ITS code violations
• Felony Charges**
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Possible responses/combination of responses of a Category 3 violation including but not limited to:
• Reflection Paper or Research Composition
• Fines ($65-$300)
• Disciplinary probation (withdrawing from leadership and co-curricular positions
for the remainder of current and up to 2 consecutive semesters.)
• Financial Restitution
• Parental notification
• Faculty adviser involvement
• Community service (8-40 hours)
• Referral for addiction evaluation. The cost of evaluation and follow-through is the
responsibility of the violator
• Unannounced searches and drug testing
• Counseling and/or special projects
• Student not able to register for a new term of classes until completion of both
the civil and institutional process
• Suspension (up to one, two, or three semesters)
• Dismissal
**Students facing felony charges may not re-enroll for classes at the outset of a new term. Students facing felony charges may be allowed to complete an existing term depending on the nature of the charges. Students who face felony charges may re-enroll only after the legal and institutional standards response processes have been completed. Enrollment will be dependent on the outcome of those processes.
**Students involved in concurrent violations with Title IX or Bias Matters conduct cases may be temporarily removed from campus due to an ongoing investigation or if their behavior is perceived as threat to another student or campus safety.