Campus Conduct System

The description of the campus judicial system is as follows:

Purpose
The basic purpose of a conduct system at Bluffton University is to protect an environment for learning. Throughout the conduct process there is a commitment to the fundamentals of fair play in the adjudication of violations of standards of conduct and the honor system.

Jurisdiction of Conduct Process
All students, faculty and staff members are a part of the conduct system.

Campus Conduct Board
There is one conduct board which is called the Campus Conduct Board (CCB). The dean of students is administratively responsible for the conduct process and the CCB. There are three permanent members and three ‘rotating’ members on the CCB. The three permanent members consist of a faculty member and two students. These three members serve on the CCB for one year and they are chosen as follows:

Faculty member – Chosen by faculty as one of her/his committee assignments at the time other committees are elected.

Student members – Chosen by Student Senate in September; they must be members of Student Senate at the time they are chosen.

The three ‘rotating” members consist of one faculty member and two students. They serve for a one-month period of time. If a case initiated during the month is not completed during the month, the original members will continue with the case. Student Senate is responsible for randomly choosing these three members who will serve each month. In addition, an alternate for each ‘rotating’ position is chosen by Student Senate.

The permanent faculty member serves as chairperson of CCB. The three permanent members of CCB elect a vice chairperson who serves in the absence of the chairperson. A quorum consists of two of the three permanent members and the three ‘rotating’ members or their alternates.

Restorative Justice Coordinator - Director of residence life

Restorative Justice Facilitators- Facilitators are those individuals who have completed the 20 hour mediation training program as chosen by the Restorative Justice Coordinator.

Conduct process

  • A person accused of violating a standard or the Honor System is referred to an administrative officer. The administrative officer may appoint a staff person to act in her/his place. Students are referred to the dean of students, faculty are referred to the vice president of academic affairs and staff members are referred to the administrative officer responsible for the area in which the staff member works. The administrative officer (or her/his designee) informs the accused of 1) the charge, 2) who has referred her/him and 3) the conduct process.
  • The accused is asked by the administrative officer (or her/his designee) if he/she is guilty of the violation described in the referral. If the accused admits guilt, he/she may elect to have either the administrative officer (or her/his designee) or the CCB take action on the violation. If the administrative officer determines the case is appropriate for a restorative justice approach, case is referred to the Restorative Justice Coordinator for a restorative justice review.
  • Upon completion of the restorative justice review, the Restorative Justice Coordinator will initiate a restorative justice action in response to the conduct violation. In cases where the restorative justice review deems a restorative response inappropriate, the conduct case reverts to traditional conduct system.
  • If the accused does not admit guilt in initial meeting with the campus administrative officer, the case is automatically heard by the CCB.
  1. The accused must be notified at least 72 hours prior to a CCB hearing unless he/she wishes to waive this right. The following procedures are followed at all CCB hearings:
  •  The accused is given the opportunity to present a plea of guilty or not guilty.
  • The accused and the person referring her/him may be questioned by any member of the CCB.
  • The accused may be allowed one person to serve as counsel; this person must be a student, faculty member or a staff member.
  • The hearing is closed unless both the accused and the person referring her/him agree to an open hearing; deliberation of the CCB must be closed.
  • The accused has the right to question the person referring her/him at the hearing; therefore, the latter must be present.
  1. The CCB examines all material evidence, hears and questions all witnesses prior to voting on the case. Witnesses who are called by the CCB are required to meet with the CCB. Decisions are determined by majority vote. In the case of a tie vote, deliberation will be continued until a majority vote is reached. The CCB determines guilt or innocence and the appropriate sanction in each case.

Adjudication of extraordinary violations
Incidents which are considered to be violations of standards of conduct and the Honor System are normally adjudicated through the Campus Conduct System. It is recognized that there may be incidents referred that are an immediate threat to the campus community and/or the environment for learning. These extraordinary incidents may call for immediate action by the university. If the president, in consultation with the cabinet, judges that incidents are extraordinary and that they call for immediate action, the president, in consultation with the cabinet, will determine the procedures to be followed in adjudicating the referral. The procedures will be consistent with the standards of fair play. Appeal of a decision reached through these procedures is to the Board of Trustees.

Educational outcomes
Outcomes imposed by an administrative officer (or her/his designee) or the CCB may include any one or a combination of the following:

  1. Dismissal – Subject to review by the vice president for enrollment management and student life.
  2. Suspension – Subject to review by the vice president for enrollment management and student life.
  3. Probation
  4. Restorative justice
  5. Warning 
  6. Financial or work penalty
  7. Other penalties as appropriate in each case.

Appeal process
Any sanction imposed by an administrative officer (or her/his designee) or the CCB is final, subject only to the individual’s right to appeal to the president. This appeal must be made in writing within 72 hours from the time the decision is presented to the accused. In no case may the president make the sanction more severe than the original action.  The decision of the president is the university's final decision.