0240-10-06-.05
Disciplinary Outcomes
Cite as Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0240-10-06-.05
(1)
Purposes of disciplinary outcomes. The purposes of disciplinary outcomes that are
implemented include, but are not limited to:
(a)
To educate the Respondent about appropriate conduct;
(b)
To promote the personal and professional development of the Respondent;
(c)
To repair harm to the Complainant, University, and/or Community;
(d)
To discourage the Respondent and other students from violating the Behavioral
Expectations and Responsibilities; and
(e)
To protect other members of the University community.
(2)
Appropriateness of disciplinary outcomes. The disciplinary outcomes imposed on a
Respondent should be proportional to the Respondent’s misconduct and 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 Respondent’s conduct record; whether
the Respondent acted in self-defense, and, if so, whether the amount of force used was
reasonable under the circumstances; and other aggravating or mitigating factors.
(3)
Administrative sanctions. A student who accepts responsibility or is found responsible for
violating the Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities generally will be given one (1) or
more of the following administrative sanctions:
(a)
Warning. A warning is a written notice to a student that informs the student that the
student has violated the Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities, that the
misconduct must cease and/or not reoccur, and that further misconduct may result in the
imposition of more serious sanctions.
(b)
Disciplinary probation. Disciplinary probation is imposed for a specified period of time
during which the student may continue to be enrolled but must demonstrate conduct that
conforms to the Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities. 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 Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities during a
period of disciplinary probation may result in more serious sanctions such as suspension
or expulsion from the University.
(c)
Deferred suspension. A deferred suspension is a designated period of time during which
a student, while continuing to be enrolled, is given an opportunity to demonstrate the
ability to abide by the Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities. A student may be
placed on deferred suspension for serious misconduct or in the case of repeated
misconduct. If the student is found responsible for any additional violation(s) of the
Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities while the student is on deferred
suspension, then the sanction of suspension will be the minimum sanction that will be
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CHAPTER 0240-10-06
imposed in a Formal Hearing on the subsequent misconduct. Students who are placed
on deferred suspension are also generally given developmental sanctions.
(d)
Suspension. A suspension is an official separation of a student from the University for a
specific period of time and/or until certain conditions are met. A suspension may be
imposed for serious misconduct and/or for a violation of deferred suspension.
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 property without the prior approval of the
Dean of Students. The student may be required to meet with an assigned staff member
periodically while suspended to ensure the student is making satisfactory progress
regarding the developmental sanctions issued. The Dean of Students will determine
whether the student is eligible for consideration for re-enrollment by the University’s
admissions office(s). Students who are permitted to return to the University following a
period of suspension will automatically be placed on disciplinary probation by OSA 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 Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities and all terms and conditions placed
on the student’s re-enrollment.
(e)
Expulsion. Expulsion is a sanction that permanently bars a person from the University
and 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 property without the prior approval of the Dean of
Students.
(f)
Withholding of degree. The University may withhold a degree as a disciplinary sanction
for a specified period of time or until the student’s completion of all other sanctions
imposed, whichever occurs later.
(g)
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. This sanction will be noted on
the student’s academic transcript on a permanent basis.
(h)
Disciplinary probation for student organizations. A student organization given the
sanction of disciplinary probation is permitted to retain University student organization
registration on a probationary status. As a condition of the disciplinary probation, the
student organization also may be given developmental sanctions. Disciplinary sanctions
imposed on a student organization may be applicable to members of such organization.
(i)
Social probation for student organizations. 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 Dean of Students.
(j)
Deferred suspension for student organizations. A deferred suspension is a designated
period of time during which a student organization, while continuing to be active, is given
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an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to abide by the Behavioral Expectations and
Responsibilities. A student organization may be placed on deferred suspension for
serious misconduct or in the case of repeated misconduct. If the student organization is
found responsible for any additional violation(s) of the Behavioral Expectations and
Responsibilities while the student organization is on deferred suspension, then the
sanction of revocation or suspension of University registration will be the minimum
sanction that will be imposed in a Formal Hearing on the subsequent misconduct.
Student organizations who are placed on deferred suspension generally also receive
disciplinary probation and developmental sanctions.
(k)
Revocation or suspension of University registration. In cases of serious or repeated
misconduct, a student organization’s University registration may be suspended or
revoked.
(4)
Developmental conditions. A student may be given one (1) or more of the following
developmental conditions in an effort to foster student learning and development:
(a)
Educational activities. Educational activities are designed to educate the student about
why certain conduct was inappropriate. Examples of such activities include, without
limitation: 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 OSA.
(b)
Restitution. Restitution is compensation for loss, damage, and/or injury incurred as a
result of the student’s behavior. Compensation may take the form of money, service,
and/or material replacement. Restitution may be required to be made to the University,
a specific individual, or a specific organization.
(c)
Supervised service. A student may be assigned service that is both beneficial to the
University community and/or likely to assist the student in understanding the effects of
the student’s conduct.
(d)
Loss or restriction of privileges. 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,
University owned housing, or participation in University-affiliated activities including, but
not limited to, extracurricular activities.
(e)
University housing reassignment or removal. A student may be assigned to a different
residence hall or residence hall room. A student’s residence hall contract also may be
terminated, and the student may be prohibited from residing in University housing for a
definite or indefinite period of time.
(f)
Mandatory education. A student may be required to participate in one (1) or more
educational programs, classes, or workshops relating to the student’s misconduct,
including, without limitation, education concerning alcohol or drugs. The student may be
held responsible for the payment of expenses relating to the educational
program/class/workshop(s).
(5)
Academic sanctions. The following academic sanctions may be imposed in response to student
academic misconduct:
(a)
Diminished assignment grade. An instructor may issue a diminished grade for the
academic exercise that was the subject of a finding of academic misconduct.
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CHAPTER 0240-10-06
(b)
Failing assignment grade. An instructor may issue a failing grade for the academic
exercise that was the subject of a finding of academic misconduct.
(c)
Diminished course grade. An instructor may issue a diminished grade for the course in
which there was an academic exercise that was found to be academic misconduct.
(d)
Failing course grade. An instructor may issue a failing grade for the course in which there
was an academic exercise that was found to be academic misconduct.