Head back to the Student Affairs page

Conduct System

The overriding concern of the judicial system at Carroll shall be promoting individual responsibility and ensuring community welfare. (This process is currently under review and is subject to change.) Every infraction of university regulations shall be reported to the appropriate person or committee in writing by any member of the Carroll community.

This report shall be forwarded to the appropriate administrative hearing officer or committee.

Academic matters: vice president for academic affairs
Financial matters: vice president for finance
All other matters: the designated administrative hearing officer (referred to as the administrative hearing officer throughout the document). If the incident is a minor offense, the student will meet with a complex director from the residence life staff. If the infraction is of a serious nature or a student has accumulated a number of offenses, he/she will be referred to the dean of students' office.

The administrative hearing officer or committee involved shall take appropriate action. The administrative hearing officer (or his/her designee) shall notify the accused that both a complaint has been filed and the hearing has been scheduled.

Hearing: The defendant has a choice between a hearing with the Carroll Conduct Committee (student hearing board) or the administrative hearing officer. The defendant may waive the right to a hearing. In instances when the Carroll Conduct Committee cannot schedule a hearing within two weeks, the defendant will have an administrative hearing. If the student does not appear for his or her hearing, the administrative hearing officer or Conduct Committee may process the case without him/her. An additional complaint of defiance of authority also may be charged.

If, while awaiting hearing, a student commits additional policy violations, these violations will be presented at the hearing as well.

The administrative hearing officer (or his/her designee) may request immediate suspension of any student for the interim period pending a hearing whenever it is determined that a student's presence poses a threat to the security or good order of the campus or the safety or emotional well-being of the student. The student shall be informed of this decision in writing and must leave campus within four hours of the receipt of the letter. Unless such a suspension takes place, the defendant(s) is/are considered to be in good standing while the case or any appeals are in process.

The Carroll Conduct Committee

Duties and responsibilities: The committee will meet to consider matters referred to it in accordance with the Judicial System as described in the most recent edition of the Carroll University Student Handbook.
Committee membership:

Five (5) undergraduate students chosen in the following way: four (4) by the dean of students and one (1) by the dean of students from among a list of nominees identified by the Student Senate. Three (3) alternates will be chosen by the dean of students to substitute for committee members who cannot be present. The dean of students (or appropriate designee) will serve as moderator and adviser to the Carroll Conduct Committee.
Selection and training: Selection and training will be handled by the dean of students' office. Each alternate and committee member participates in training and in-service programs during the year.
Officers: A chair and vice chair will be determined during the training period.

The Carroll Conduct Committee and administrative hearing officer are authorized to determine innocence or guilt and decide sanctions in their respective cases.

A set agenda will normally be followed in each case to ensure consistency and fairness.
The defendant(s) may produce witnesses whose testimony bears upon the case. Both the Carroll Conduct Committee and the administrative hearing officer reserve the right to dismiss witnesses after their testimony.
The chairperson/adviser may call witnesses deemed necessary by the committee.
Only members of the Carroll Conduct Committee who have heard all of the testimony may be present during the subsequent deliberations.
The defendant(s) shall be informed in writing of the hearing decision and further avenues of appeal within 5 working days.
A student is considered in good standing while a case is in process or while an appeal is in process unless the student's presence poses a threat to the security or good order of the campus or the safety or emotional well-being of the student. The decision of an exception to good standing normally shall be made by the dean of students. The student shall be informed of this decision in writing and must leave the campus within four hours of the receipt of the letter.

University Appeal Board

Duties and responsibilities: To hear appeals of disciplinary sanctions taken by a college officer or committee in accordance with the Judicial System as described in the most recent edition of the Carroll University Student Handbook
Board membership:

Faculty member appointed by the Faculty Executive Committee from a pool of candidates composed of past presidents of the faculty. This person will serve as chair of the committee.
President of the administrative staff
Faculty member appointed by the Faculty Executive Committee (opposite sex of chair of the committee)
President of the Student Senate
Vice president of the Student Senate
A senior resident assistant, elected by the resident assistants
Resource (not to be present during deliberations): dean of students (or his/her designee)

Faculty members of this committee will serve staggered two-year terms.

Appeal Procedures

The request for an appeal and the specific reason(s) for the appeal shall be made in writing to the chairperson of the Appeal Board within five working days following the date of the decision letter. The Appeal Board will consider only the specific reason for review stated by the student and its action shall relate only to those matters involved in the specific appeal. (It is not the function of the Appeal Board to re-try the case.) Failure to request an appeal within the specified time normally forfeits the defendant's right to an appeal.
The board shall be convened by the chairperson subsequent to a written appeal. The quorum shall be five members, all of whom must be present for all of the testimony and deliberations. If there is a conflict of interest, the chair of the board shall dismiss the board member from the case and shall appoint a comparable alternate.
A set agenda will be followed in each case to ensure consistency and fairness.
A designee of the Carroll Conduct Committee or the administrative hearing officer will present the rationale for the decision in the case.
The defendant(s) may produce witnesses whose testimony bears upon the case. The defendant(s) is/are encouraged to bring a faculty or staff member to the hearing to act as an adviser, who, at the defendant's discretion, may be present throughout the testimony. The Appeal Board reserves the right to dismiss witnesses after their testimony.
The chairperson may call witnesses deemed necessary by the board.
Only members of the Appeal Board may be present during deliberations.
The defendant(s) shall be informed in writing of the appeal decision within 2 working days. The decision of the board will be final.

Conduct Standards and Procedures for Off-Campus Study

All off-campus study experiences, including those offered through the International and Off-Campus Programs (IOP) Office, such as the New Cultural Experiences Program (NCEP), semester abroad exchanges and approved off-campus study (OTH), are governed by the rules, regulations and policies described in the Student Handbook.
In case of a Carroll University short-term study course, such as an NCEP or departmental off-campus course, the instructor of the course is an agent of Carroll and therefore is expected to uphold the standards of the institution as set forth in the Student Handbook

If a student commits a violation of a Carroll rule, regulation or policy, the instructor will prepare an incident report which will be processed through established judicial channels upon return to the campus.
If a violation is serious enough to jeopardize the purpose of the off-campus experience or to threaten the well-being of the student or other participants, the instructor may require that the offending student return to campus. An incident report will be prepared for processing through established judicial channels upon return to the campus. A student who is asked to leave an off-campus course will not receive course credit and will forfeit all monies paid for the activity. He or she will pay the full cost incurred in return to the campus (including any penalties charged by the airline or other vendors).

Carroll University assumes no responsibility for any person who violates the laws of any state or country. If necessary, the university will help to secure legal counsel, but all expenses for legal aid will have to be borne by the person involved. In no case will refunds be made to a student for losses or additional expenses caused by detainment resulting from violation of any law or ordinance while engaged in a university-sponsored activity. The person in charge will determine whether the behavior in question justifies requiring a student to refund the amount of any college subsidy.
Students whose on-campus course work or conduct is unsatisfactory will be asked by the instructor to withdraw from the off-campus portion of the course. This includes preparatory NCEP, departmental or OTH courses. Appeals of decisions relating to IOP will be handled by a panel composed of the IOP Committee, the dean of students, and the director of IOP.
In the case of IOP academic offerings, the IOP director will review, with the dean of students, the conduct records of students applying to participate in the program in the spring and fall of each year. Students whose conduct has demonstrated disregard for the University and fellow students, as evidenced by serious violations of the standards described in the Student Handbook, may be denied the privilege of participation in the IOP program. Such determinations will be made by the director of IOP in consultation with the dean of students and the course instructor. Appeals will be handled by the IOP committee.