Sanctioning

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After a finding or acceptance of responsibility, the Conduct Review Administrator will impose sanctions after considering the following:

  1. The nature of the violation and the circumstances surrounding it, including the actual or potential impact on the individuals involved and/or the community as a whole;
  2. Statements made and/or information presented during the conduct review process;
  3. Disciplinary history of the student;
  4. Disciplinary precedent;
  5. Guidelines in the Code of Student Conduct.

The Conduct Review Administrator, in their discretion, will consider overall severity and any aggravating and/or mitigating factors related to the violation when determining sanctions. Bias-based conduct will be considered an aggravating factor and therefore subject to more severe sanctions. In some cases, cooperation during the incident may be considered a mitigating factor. Additionally, and when appropriate, the Conduct Review Administrator may consider level of intent, demonstrated remorse, and the student's understanding of their impact when determining outcomes.

The Conduct Review Administrator may consult with other University officials as they deem appropriate and may, at times, delay or defer the imposition of any of the following sanctions. 

Sanctions for Violations of the Code

Sanctions serve to reinforce that students are held responsible and accountable for their conduct. This is accomplished by measures whose purposes are to educate and to deter future misconduct, to acknowledge and repair harm inflicted on the community, to provide accountability for one’s conduct, and to promote the health, safety and well-being of the individual and community.

Villanova University reserves the right to notify family/legal guardian(s) regarding the disciplinary violations, status, and/or sanctions or outcomes related to their student, to the extent consistent with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

The following sanctions and measures shall comprise the range of official actions which may be imposed for violations of regulations. Any violation of the Code of Student Conduct may result in the full range of sanctions outlined below, and one or more may be imposed in response to a given situation.

Disciplinary Sanctions

Non-Reportable Disciplinary Sanctions

The following non-reportable disciplinary sanctions are not disclosed by the University to external third-parties, except when required by law, and provide notice to a student that their conduct is in violation of University policies, and therefore unacceptable. Continuation of similar conduct or future violations will result in more severe sanctions, which may impact a student’s disciplinary standing at the University.

Conduct Notice

A Conduct Notice is a written notification to a student that their conduct is in violation of University policy, and that future violations may be cause for additional disciplinary action, including more severe sanctions. This notification typically is delivered via University email and requires no in-person meeting with a Conduct Review Administrator.

Conduct Warning

A Conduct Warning is an official notice to a student that their conduct has violated the standards and expectations of the University. Future violations likely will result in additional disciplinary action, including more severe sanctions.

Probationary Warning

Probationary Warning is an official notice to a student that their conduct has violated the standards and expectations of the University and similar conduct or continued non-compliance with University policy likely will result in Housing Probation, Disciplinary Probation and/or more severe sanctions.

Reportable Disciplinary Sanctions

The following reportable disciplinary sanctions are disclosed to authorized external third-parties for a stated period of time, in accordance with the Student Conduct and Concern Records Policy, and typically are the outcome of serious or repeated violations of the Code of Student Conduct. These sanctions impact a student’s disciplinary standing at the University, and may include other restrictions and/or conditions of membership. Typically, family/legal guardian(s) are notified when a student is issued a reportable sanction.

Disciplinary Probation

Disciplinary Probation is a defined period of time during which a student is not in good disciplinary standing with the University. This sanction serves as an official notice that a student’s continued membership at the University is conditional and dependent upon demonstrated and sustained compliance with University policy. Continued violations of University policy or non-compliance with the conditions of Disciplinary Probation will result in more severe sanctions, including suspension or expulsion from the University. Eligibility for certain academic or extra-curricular organizations or programs may be restricted while a student is on Disciplinary Probation.

Disciplinary Probation with Loss of Privilege

Disciplinary Probation with Loss of Privilege is a defined period of time during which a student is not in good disciplinary standing with the University. This sanction serves as an official notice that a student’s continued membership at the University is conditional and dependent upon demonstrated and sustained compliance with University policy. Additionally, for the defined period of time, this sanction excludes a student from all extracurricular University privileges, including, without limitation: membership in student organizations; participation and/or attendance in non-academic activities, programs, and events; representing the University in intercollegiate and athletic teams and clubs; holding any elected or appointed office in a University recognized organization; and selection for extracurricular committees or programs.  Eligibility for certain academic programs and campus residency may also be restricted. This sanction permits a student to pursue their academic course work and is the strongest sanction short of suspension. Additional violations of University policy or non-compliance with the conditions of this sanction will result in suspension or expulsion.

Suspension

Suspension is a defined period of time during which a student is excluded from class registration, class attendance, residence on campus, use of University facilities, and the award of any degree. Suspended students are not permitted on the campus without prior approval from the Dean of Students Office. Upon completion of the period of suspension, a student will be considered for readmission if:

  1. The student is academically eligible for readmission; and
  2. The student has complied with all conditions for readmission placed upon the student by the Dean of Students and/or their designate.

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. Students may also be subject to additional terms or conditions of Probation, including Loss of Privilege, upon their return.

Expulsion

Expulsion is an action which permanently excludes a student from class registration, class attendance, residence on campus, use of University facilities, and the award of any degree. Expelled students are not permitted on the campus for any reason, and those who enter the campus are subject to arrest.

Housing Sanctions

As living on campus is a privilege and not a right, Housing Sanctions typically are issued in cases where a student’s conduct has also impacted the residential community. Housing Sanctions may be issued separately or in conjunction with Disciplinary Sanctions. Housing Sanctions are not reported or disclosed to external third-parties, except when required by law.

Housing Probation

Housing Probation is a defined period of time during which a student’s status as an on-campus resident is conditional and dependent upon demonstrated and sustained compliance with University policy.  Future violations will result in more severe disciplinary sanctions, including loss of campus residency. Additional housing measures may also be issued as a condition of Housing Probation. Typically, family/legal guardian(s) will be notified when a student is placed on Housing Probation.

Loss of Campus Residency

An action which excludes a student from residence on campus, either on a temporary or permanent basis.

Additional Housing Measures

In addition to the housing sanctions above, students may be subject to one or more of the following.

  1. Guest and Visitation Restrictions: An action which restricts guest and visitation privileges, including a student’s ability to host guests in their room/apartment and/or visit other rooms/apartments or residence halls. These restrictions may also impact a student’s ability to utilize common lounge space or participate in residence hall activities.
  2. Residence Hall Room Change: An action which requires a student to vacate their current room/apartment and relocate to another room/apartment and/or residence hall.
  3. Restrictions on Housing Selection: An action which may exclude a student from participation in a particular housing lottery, or affect their ranking within a particular lottery, or affect eligibility to live in certain residence halls.
  4. Other Administrative Housing Measures, as appropriate.

Additional Outcomes for Violations of the Code of Student Conduct

In addition to the sanctions above, students may be subject to one or more of the following. These outcomes are not disclosed to external third-parties except when required by law.

  1. Educational Measures: An action that requires the student to complete an educational activity, project and/or experience as assigned by the Conduct Review Administrator or the Dean of Students. Failure to complete this assignment within a specified period of time may result in additional disciplinary action. These assignments include but are not limited to reflection activities, alcohol and drug education, research and other written assignments, trainings, workshops and other educational programs.
  2. Exclusion from University Property, University Buildings, University Events or Programs, Student Organizations, Intramural or Club Sports, and/or Extracurricular Activities for a stated period of time.
  3. Fines or Restitution: Payment by the student of reasonable monetary fines to the Bursar’s Office. These monetary payments may be for accountability purposes or for purposes of restitution because of damage to persons or property, or misappropriation of property.
  4. Community Service: An action that requires a student to give a specific number of hours of uncompensated service to an effort recognized as valuable to the University community. The Conduct Review Administrator will make the particular assignment of duties. The person under whose direction the work is done shall certify to the Conduct Review Administrator when the work has been completed. Failure to complete the service within a specific period of time will result in additional disciplinary action. The Conduct Review Administrator has the discretion to assign work in the community-at-large or on-campus service.
  5. Dean of Students Hold on Records: A hold may be placed on the academic records of any student who fails to comply with any requirements imposed following a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. A hold may prevent, among other things, class registration, the release of transcripts, and the award of a diploma. Students who are suspended or expelled from the University are subject to a hold to prevent class registration.
  6. No Contact Directive: This is an official notice to a student that they may not communicate or interact with another individual. This directive may prohibit contact of any kind including, but not limited to, in-person, by phone, text message, social media, or any other electronic means. This also includes contact through third-parties.
  7. Withholding a Degree: The University may withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned for a stated period or until the completion of the Conduct Review Process set forth in this Code, including the completion of any sanction imposed.
  8. Other administrative, supportive, educational and/or restorative measures, as appropriate.