Disciplinary Procedures
Judicial policies within an educational institution parallel the institution's academic policies in that they are concerned with promoting an effective academic community, the freedom to learn, and personal responsibility.
It is every student’s responsibility to help ensure that the College is an orderly and responsible community, one in which each member is assured of personal safety and well-being and of the opportunity to obtain desired educational experience. For this reason any member of Monmouth College who observes a violation of accepted guidelines for behavior has the responsibility to ensure that corrective action is taken.
Therefore, any member of the community -student, faculty, or staff- may bring a complaint and has the responsibility to do so. Help with preparing a complaint can be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs when the violation concerns a general campus policy. Assistance can be obtained from a hall director or head resident if the violation pertains to residence hall behavior.
Violations & Offenses
Official College sanctions may be imposed upon students and/or student organizations for violations of College policy on or off campus. The following list is intended to provide examples of inappropriate behavior for which sanctions may be levied and is not intended to be exhaustive.
Violating the law while on College property or away from the College may subject the person to prosecution and to review by the College.
Participating in the malicious destruction, defacement or arson of property, buildings or furnishings or participating in gaining or attempting to gain unauthorized entry into a property is a violation of Illinois law as well as College regulations. Willfully damaging, destroying, stealing or applying graffiti to property will require restitution and will result in disciplinary and/or prosecution by appropriate authorities. Additionally, it should be noted that the chalking of seats or benches is prohibited.
Other examples of conduct that may result in disciplinary action include:
- Creating, maintaining, or participating in a situation detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the community.
- Tampering with fire equipment, bomb threats, and similar conduct.
- Violent acts, either overt or covert. Violence is not acceptable. Those involved in physical altercations should expect a response from the College that can include but is not limited to an immediate report to law enforcement as well as emergency suspension from the College.
- Failing to show a College identification card or other valid identification when requested by a College official.
- Possessing or discharging firearms or fireworks.
- Academic cheating, including plagiarism.
- Disregarding College policy, reputation, and welfare through disorderly conduct of any kind.
- Producing, distributing items or wearing apparel with profane or abusive language or pictures.
- Infringing on the rights of students, faculty and staff members, and guests of the College to have free access and movement.
- Possessing illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.
- Creating, maintaining, or participating in a situation detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the community.
- Tampering with fire equipment, bomb threats, and similar conduct.
Responsibility and authority for the regulation of student behavior is vested by the College Senate in the president of the College. In all disciplinary matters the president of the College shall have final authority.
The president delegates authority and certain responsibilities to the dean of students. The president may, but need not, review decisions by the dean of students.
In turn, the dean of students may delegate authority and certain responsibilities to staff members or student groups. The College shall not be required to conduct hearings or grant students any other due-process rights before imposing sanctions, suspension, or dismissal.
The College reserves the right to determine what constitutes inappropriate behavior and the appropriate sanctions at its unreviewable discretion. The list of sanctions includes but is not limited to the following: warning, social probation, suspension, dismissal, fines, community service, restitution and exclusion from co-curricular, extracurricular and sport activities. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
When hearings are conducted only members of the College community (faculty, staff and students) may participate. The student may bring witnesses and also a support person from the College community (faculty, staff or student) but that individual may not participate unless invited to do so by the hearing officer or the hearing committee.
Warning
A warning may apply when it is determined that an official notification of misconduct is warranted. An additional admonition that further incidents may be cause for more serious disciplinary action may also be included.
Social Probation
Social probation may apply when it is determined that the misconduct does not warrant suspension or dismissal but is of a nature serious enough to warrant sanctions such as fines, work assignments, restitution and/or exclusion from co-curricular, extracurricular or sport activities. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. An additional admonition that further incidents may be cause for more serious disciplinary action up to and including dismissal may be included. Social probation is for a specific period of time.
Suspension
The length of suspension will be determined by the seriousness of the offense, but in no case will suspension be for less than the remainder of the academic semester. A student who is suspended will be given a grade W or WF in cases in which the work of the course has not been completed before the suspension. A student who does not vacate the campus or returns during the suspension without the official approval of the Office of Student Affairs is subject to extended suspension or dismissal.
Dismissal
A dismissed student will be given a grade of W or WF in cases in which the work of the course has not been completed before dismissal. Transcripts will show that the student was dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
Search & Seizure
The search and/or seizure of a student's room and/or motor vehicle may be conducted for reasons of repairs, maintenance, or preserving the health and safety of the students, upon suspicion of violation of law or College regulations by the student, or whenever authorized by the dean of students, who may approve such search and seizure at his/her discretion.
The search and seizure will be conducted by members of the student personnel staff, Monmouth College Security, and/or other College students or employees as designated by the dean of students. Except in an emergency situation that threatens the health, safety, or well being of the residents, a search warrant obtained from the dean of students will be presented to the occupants of the room to be searched. Before entering, the person(s) who conduct the search must knock at the door; identify themselves, and request entrance for the purpose of the search. If the door is not opened by the occupant(s), the room may be entered and searched without permission.
Whenever a student's room is entered through the use of a master key, except for repairs, maintenance, or preserving the health and safety of the occupant, a written report shall be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs.
Refunds
No refund of tuition is made to students suspended or dismissed for disciplinary reasons. Board charges may be refunded as provided by College policy.
However, if a student is called to military service in which she/he is enrolled, the college will cancel that semester's direct costs for tuition if she/he has not completed sufficient work to receive a grade. The student will be entitled to a pro-rata cancellation of room and board charges based upon the percentage of the semester completed. Indirect costs such as parking permits, insurance, books, class fees, etc. will not be pro-rated.
Financial Restitution
Financial restitution must be made in all cases in which judged misconduct has resulted in financial loss to an offended party or parties.
Emergency Action
When it is judged that a student's continued presence on campus is a danger to him or her, to the welfare of the campus, or to other students, a dean may temporarily suspend a student and remove him or her from campus.