Section 1720-07-01-.11 - SANCTIONS(1) Disciplinary sanctions are primarily intended to educate students and student organizations about appropriate behavior, encourage students and student organizations to take responsibility for misconduct, promote the personal and professional development of students, discourage other students and student organizations from violating the Standards of Conduct, and protect members of the University community. The sanctions imposed should be appropriate for the particular case based on the gravity of the offense (including without limitation how the violation affected or reasonably could have affected other members of the University community). Consideration may also be given to the student's or student organization's conduct record; the student's or student organization's responsiveness to the conduct process; whether the student acted in self-defense, and, if so, whether the amount of force used was reasonable under the circumstances; student academic classification; and other aggravating or mitigating factors.(2) The following sanctions may be imposed on any student found to have violated the Standards of Conduct: (a) Warning. A warning is a notice that the student has violated the Standards of Conduct, that the misconduct must cease and/or not reoccur, and that further misconduct will likely result in the imposition of more serious sanctions.(b) Loss of Privilege. Specified student privileges are lost or restricted. Such privileges include, without limitation, representing the University in any official manner, the use of or access to University-controlled property, University parking privileges, or participation in University-affiliated activities (e.g., extracurricular activities).(c) Educational Activities. Educational activities are designed to educate the student about why certain conduct was inappropriate. Examples of such activities include, without limitation, offering a formal apology (in writing and/or in person); attending an educational class, training, or workshop; giving or attending a presentation; preparing and submitting a research project or paper on a designated topic; or offering a written reflection responding to a prompt given by OSC. The student may be held responsible for the payment of reasonable expenses relating to the educational activity.(d) Restitution. Restitution may be required in situations that involve destruction, damage, or loss of property, or unreimbursed medical expenses resulting from physical injury. Restitution may take the form of a monetary payment or appropriate service to repair or otherwise compensate for the destruction, damage, or loss.(e) Disciplinary Probation. Disciplinary probation is imposed for a specified designated period of time during which the student may continue to be enrolled but must demonstrate conduct that conforms to the Standards of Conduct. Conditions may be placed on the student's continued enrollment. A student may be placed on disciplinary probation for moderate misconduct or in the case of repeated minor misconduct. Also, a student allowed to re-enroll following a suspension will be placed on disciplinary probation. Subsequent violations of the Standards of Conduct during a period of disciplinary probation may result in more serious sanctions such as suspension or expulsion from the University.(f) Suspension. A suspension is an official separation of a student from the University for a specific designated period of time and/or until certain conditions are met. A suspension may be imposed for serious misconduct. Suspension may include conditions that must be satisfied prior to a student being allowed to re-enroll and/or conditions that will be in place if the student is allowed to re-enroll. The effective date of a suspension may be imposed retroactively to the date that the misconduct occurred. While suspended, the student loses all University rights and privileges (e.g., enrollment privileges), shall not represent the University in any official manner, and shall not be present on University-controlled property without the prior approval of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. The student may be required to meet with an assigned University staff member periodically while suspended to ensure the student is making satisfactory progress regarding the developmental sanctions issued. The Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs will determine whether the student is eligible for consideration for re-enrollment by the University's admissions office(s). Prior to reenrollment, the student must satisfy the terms and conditions of all sanction(s) that are required to be completed prior to re-enrollment. Students who are permitted to return to the University following a period of suspension will automatically be placed on disciplinary probation for a designated period of time, which is designed to facilitate a smooth transition back to the University community. A student on post-suspension disciplinary probation must abide by the Standards of Conduct and all terms and conditions placed on the student's re-enrollment.(g) Expulsion. Expulsion is a sanction that permanently bars a person from re-enrolling as a student at the University. This sanction generally is imposed when the student's misconduct is deemed so serious as to warrant total and permanent disassociation from the University community without the possibility of re-enrollment; and/or when, by the student's repeated misconduct, a student has exhibited a blatant disregard for the health, safety, or welfare of other members of the University community or the University's right to establish rules of conduct. A person who has been expelled shall not be present on University-controlled property without the prior approval of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs.(h) Revocation of Degree. The sanction of the revocation of a degree may be imposed if a student has obtained a degree at least in part through cheating, plagiarism, other academic dishonesty, or through research misconduct. Revocation of a degree shall be approved by the Chancellor before the revocation is effective. If approved by the Chancellor, this sanction will be noted on the student's academic transcript on a permanent basis(3) A disciplinary hold may be placed on a student's account until the completion of the student disciplinary process and/or until the student satisfies the terms and conditions of any sanctions imposed. A student who, at the time of commencement, is subject to a continuing disciplinary sanction or an unresolved disciplinary charge shall not be awarded a degree before the conclusion of all sanctions and/or resolution of all disciplinary charges.(4) In addition to the sanctions in Section .11(2), the following sanctions may be imposed on a student organization found to have violated the Standards of Conduct:(a) Social Probation. Social probation prohibits a student organization from sponsoring or participating in specified social activities. While on social probation, a student organization may not host social events or participate in University-affiliated activities. Any exceptions to social probation must be approved, in advance, by the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs or his/her designee.(b) Disciplinary Probation. Disciplinary probation means that a student organization is permitted to retain University registration on a probationary status. Violation of the Standards of Conduct during the period of disciplinary probation may result in more serious sanctions, including revocation of University registration.(c) Revocation or Suspension of University Registration. In cases of serious or repeated misconduct, a student organization's University registration may be suspended or revoked.(5) More than one (1) of the sanctions listed above may be imposed for any single violation of the Standards of Conduct.(6) Voluntary intoxication or impairment because of alcohol, drugs, chemicals, or other substances does not diminish or excuse a violation of the Standards of Conduct.(7) Except for interim restrictions, disciplinary sanctions shall not become effective until after opportunities for appeal have been exhausted. Sanctions may be applied retroactively to the date of the offense. Coursework performed while disciplinary charges are pending or disciplinary proceedings are underway shall be considered conditional. Coursework may be affected or disregarded based on a final finding of misconduct or the sanction imposed, which may result in loss of course credit, a loss of tuition and/or fees, a delay in the awarding of a degree, or revocation of a degree that was awarded prior to a final decision in the disciplinary proceeding.(8) Parental Notifications. If a student accepts responsibility or is found responsible for violating a Standard of Conduct involving drugs or alcohol, and that student is under twenty-one (21) years of age, OSC shall inform the parent or legal guardian of that student of the violation, as required by state law. Typically, OSC fulfills the parental notification requirement by mailing written notification to the parent or legal guardian's address listed with the Office of the University Registrar. OSC may also notify parents or legal guardians through other means when necessary or appropriate. Parental notification is not considered a disciplinary sanction.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1720-07-01-.11
New rules filed August 21, 2023; effective 11/19/2023.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-101, et seq.; 49-7-146; and 49-9-209(e).