Disciplinary Sanctions

(1) Disciplinary sanctions are primarily intended to: (i) educate Respondents about appropriate behavior; (ii) encourage Respondents to take responsibility for Honor Code violation(s); (iii) encourage and promote the personal and professional development of Respondents; (iv) discourage other students from violating the Honor Code; and/or (v) protect the academic reputation of the University. (2) The disciplinary sanctions imposed on a Respondent should be appropriate for the particular case based on the gravity of the Honor Code violation, including, without limitation, how the violation affected or reasonably could have affected the academic reputation of the University and members of the University community. Consideration also may be given to other aggravating or mitigating factors, including, without limitation: (i) the Respondent's Student HONOR CODE CHAPTER 1720-02-01 Conduct Record; (ii) the Respondent's academic record; (iii) the Respondent's responsiveness to the Honor Code Process; and (iv) the Respondent's academic classification. (3) A Respondent who accepts responsibility for an Honor Code violation pursuant to a Resolution Agreement may be subject only to a grade modification as provided under Section .10(4)(a) of this Chapter. No other disciplinary sanction may be imposed upon a Respondent pursuant to a Resolution Agreement. A Respondent who is found responsible for an Honor Code violation by the decision-maker in a Formal Hearing may be subject to one (1) or more disciplinary sanctions provided under Section .10(4) of this Chapter. (4) The following sanctions may be imposed on a student found to have violated the Honor Code: (a) Grade Modification. 1. Assignments. The University may impose a grade modification for an academic assignment if the Respondent is found to have violated the Honor Code in connection with performing or completing the assignment, including, without limitation, by providing another student with unauthorized assistance with the assignment. 2. Examinations. The University may impose a grade modification for an examination if the Respondent is found to have violated the Honor Code in connection with taking or completing the examination, including, without limitation, by providing another student with unauthorized assistance on the examination. 3. Courses. The University may impose a grade modification in a course if the Respondent is found to have violated the Honor Code in connection with taking or completing the course, including, without limitation, by providing another student unauthorized assistance with taking or completing the course. (b) Disciplinary Reprimand. A disciplinary reprimand is a written warning that informs a Respondent that the Respondent is violating or has violated the Honor Code and must cease and desist from engaging in the Honor Code violation and/or prevent the Honor Code violation from occurring again. A disciplinary reprimand will also inform the Respondent that any further violations of the Honor Code may result in the imposition of more severe sanctions. (c) Disciplinary Probation. A Respondent may be placed on disciplinary probation for serious or moderate Honor Code violations or in the case of multiple or repeated minor Honor Code violations. A Respondent may be placed on disciplinary probation for a definite or indefinite period of time, during which time the Respondent may continue to be enrolled at the University. While the Respondent is on disciplinary probation, conditions may be placed on the Respondent's continued enrollment at the University, and University departments, programs, and/or services may limit or prohibit participation in certain activities. If a Respondent commits any further Honor Code violations while on disciplinary probation, the Respondent may be subject to more severe sanctions up to and including permanent dismissal. (d) Educational Sanction. A Respondent may be required to complete an educational assignment or program. Educational assignments and programs are designed to educate the Respondent about why certain conduct is inappropriate. Examples of educational assignments include, without limitation: (i) writing a reflection and/or research paper on a designated topic; (ii) completing a research project on a designated topic; (iii) giving a presentation on a designated topic; and (iv) issuing a HONOR CODE CHAPTER 1720-02-01 formal apology in writing and/or in person. An educational program may include, without limitation, attending and satisfactorily completing an in-person or distance learning course, training, or workshop on alcohol or drug use, civility, ethics, or other topics deemed appropriate by the Office of Student Conduct. The Respondent will be responsible for all costs associated with the educational assignment or program. (e) Suspension. Suspension is an official separation from the University for a specific period of time and/or until certain conditions are met. A Respondent may be suspended from the University for serious Honor Code violations, multiple moderate Honor Code violations, multiple or repeated minor Honor Code violations, and/or any Honor Code violations while on disciplinary probation. While on suspension, a Respondent (i) loses all rights and privileges at the University; (ii) may not represent the University in any manner; and (iii) is ineligible to apply for readmission to the University during the suspension period and/or until certain conditions are met. If a Respondent is suspended, the Respondent is prohibited, without the prior approval of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (or his or her designee), from entering upon all University-controlled property, including University residence halls, from the date the suspension period begins until such date that the Respondent is readmitted to the University (even if the suspension period ends prior to the date of the Respondent's readmission). Entering upon University-controlled property without prior approval from the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (or his or her designee) may result in criminal trespass charges against the Respondent under the criminal laws of the State of Tennessee. Respondents permitted to return to the University following a period of suspension will be automatically placed on disciplinary probation for a designated period of time following their return. A Respondent who commits any Student Code of Conduct violations while on suspension may be subject to suspension for an additional period of time or barred from readmission and/or re-enrollment at the University. (f) Permanent Dismissal. Permanent dismissal is an official and permanent separation from the University. A Respondent may be permanently dismissed from the University when the Respondent's commission of one (1) or more Honor Code violations is deemed so serious as to warrant total and permanent disassociation from the University or when, through repeated violations of the Honor Code and/or violations of the Honor Code while on disciplinary probation or suspension, the Respondent exhibits blatant disregard for (i) the academic integrity and reputation of the University or (ii) the University's right to establish rules of conduct. A Respondent who is permanently dismissed from the University: (i) loses all rights and privileges at the University; (ii) may not represent the University in any manner; (iii) is indefinitely prohibited, without prior approval of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (or his or her designee) from entering upon all University-controlled property, including University residence halls; and (iv) is permanently barred from re-enrolling at the University. Entering upon University-controlled property without prior approval from the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (or his or her designee) may result in criminal trespass charges against the Respondent under the criminal laws of the State of Tennessee. (g) Withholding of Degree. The University may withhold awarding a degree to a Respondent who has violated any University rule or policy. The University may withhold a degree for a definite period of time and/or until the Respondent has completed or served all sanctions or other requirements imposed by the University for releasing its award of the degree. (h) Revocation of Degree. The University make revoke a degree awarded to a Respondent if the Respondent obtained the degree, in part, through cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty, research misconduct, or other serious violation of the Honor Code. The University may also revoke a Respondent's degree if, after the degree was awarded, the University determines that the Respondent committed a serious violation of the HONOR CODE CHAPTER 1720-02-01 Honor Code while a student, but prior to being awarded the degree, that would have warranted permanent dismissal of the Respondent. Before a Respondent's degree may be revoked, the Chancellor must approve the revocation of the degree. (5) More than one (1) of the disciplinary sanctions provided in this Section .10 may be imposed on a Respondent for any single violation of the Honor Code. (6) Disciplinary sanctions may be applied retroactively to the date of the Honor Code violation committed by the Respondent.