Code of Conduct Procedures

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Student Code of Conduct Response Procedures

Ringling College of Art and Design strives to maintain a professional work and academic environment in which all students are treated with respect and dignity. To that end, the College has a Student Code of Conduct. These procedures set out the College’s Procedures for Addressing and Responding to reports and complaints of violations of the Student Code of Conduct.

Addressing and Responding to Reports of Prohibited Conduct

Any member of the College community may report an alleged violation of the College Code of Conduct. Reports may be made online using the Ringling Reporting Form. Reports may also be submitted by email, mail, telephone, in person, or by any other means that result in the College receiving a verbal or written report. Reports should be submitted as soon as possible after the alleged violation occurs. Procedures for addressing prohibited conduct, as defined in the College’s Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Policy, are outlined in the policy’s applicable procedures. For all other violations, the list of sanctions, of which one or more may be imposed, is included below.

Reports and Complaints of alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct can be addressed through Student Conduct Administrators or the Dean’s Panel described below.

  1. Student Conduct Administrators
    The Student Conduct Administrators are the persons designated by the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students to be responsible for the administration of the Code of Conduct. The College Conduct Administrators for non-academic and organizational discipline in addition to the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students are the Associate Deans of Students for Housing and Residence Life, Student Development, Student Success, the Title IX Coordinator, the Senior Director of Housing and Residence Life, the Associate Director of Residence Life, Assistant Directors within Housing and Residence Life, the Directors of Recreation and Wellness, and Student Activities and Leadership Development. The Student Conduct Administrators are authorized on a case-by-case basis to meet with students alleged to have violated College policy and to set sanctions, when appropriate.
  2. Dean’s Panel
    When a disciplinary matter may result in the suspension or expulsion of a student, the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may convene a Dean’s Panel. This three-person Panel, consisting of the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students (or designee) and two faculty and/or staff members, form a hearing body to review all documentation and determine appropriate sanctions.

Code of Conduct Authority

  1. Rights of the Accused
    1. Students shall be considered not responsible until found in violation and given an opportunity to be heard.
    2. Students shall be notified in writing of the charges against them prior to any hearings.
    3. Students have the right to prepare a defense and to have the assistance of an Advisor.
    4. Students shall be free from disciplinary sanctions, pending conclusion of the hearing, except in cases that an interim suspension is deemed necessary.
    5. Students have the right to present evidence on their behalf.
    6. Students have the right to have their case heard within a reasonable amount of time.
    7. Students may request a private hearing when more than one student is accused of involvement.
  2. Interim Suspension
    The Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students (or designee) may impose an interim suspension prior to a hearing decision if the student presents a threat to any member of the community, including themselves. During this suspension, the student may be denied access to any or all of the College’s facilities, activities or privileges granted to students. This includes access to on-campus housing if a resident.
  3. Extraordinary Circumstances
    The Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may temporarily alter this conduct system if warranted by extraordinary circumstances. Additionally, an interpretation or application of the student code shall be referred to the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students for final determination.
  4. Withholding Degrees & Diplomas
    The College has the right to withhold the awarding of a degree and diploma pending the conclusion of the code of conduct hearing process.
  5. Search
    The members of the Office of Student Life and/ or Public Safety Officers may search a student room or other College property in use by a student when it appears that College policies may have been violated.
  6. Room Entry
    Members of the Office of Student Life and / or Public Safety Officers may enter a student room without permission of the residents when conduct in the room violates State law and / or College policy or is sufficiently disruptive as to require staff intervention.
  7. Preponderance of Evidence
    The standard used for investigating any potential violation of the Code of Conduct is a “preponderance of evidence,” meaning it is more likely than not that the violation occurred.

Non-Academic Conduct Procedures

Matters defined in the College’s Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Policy, follow the procedures that are outlined in the Sexual Misconduct and Title IX procedures. Matters defined in the Student Code of Conduct, follow the below procedures.

  1. Administrative Decisions
    The parties involved in the incident will meet with a Student Conduct Administrator to discuss ways to resolve the alleged violation(s) administratively. Prior to all formal hearings, the accused student will be informed in writing of the following:
    1. The time and place of hearing, with at least three (3) business days’ notice (unless student waives this right or the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students (or designee) believes “extraordinary” circumstances exist).
    2. The specific College policies that have allegedly been violated.
    3. The right to have an Advisor accompany student to the hearing.
    4. A hearing may be held in absentia if a student fails to show for a scheduled time and does not re-schedule. Should this occur, the student would forfeit the opportunity to appeal on new evidence.

All students have a right to request reasonable accommodations in advance for a conduct hearing within 48-hours of the scheduled date for this hearing by emailing sas@ringling.edu. Should additional documentation be required, it can be reviewed by a non-biased party, Student Access Services. Examples of reasonable accommodations include a student selected advocate to assist with situation processing and a non-biased note taker to allow for full attention. Each accommodation will be reviewed on an individual basis.

  1. Appeal
    1. Decisions rendered by the Student Conduct Administrator may be appealed to the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. Decisions of the Dean’s Panel or the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may be appealed directly to the President of Ringling College. Appeals must be submitted to the appropriate authority in writing within three (3) business days of the written notification of the decision.
    2. In the written appeal, it is the responsibility of the person presenting the appeal to demonstrate grounds for the appeal. Appeals may be made on the following grounds:
      1. The accused student has suffered a violation of rights and this violation significantly impacted the decision reached.
      2. Significant and relevant new information, which could not before have been presented has since surfaced.
      3. The accused student has reason to believe the sanctions or decisions levied are unduly arbitrary or unjustified and can provide reasonable evidence or apparent cause to support this contention.
    3. The Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may uphold or overturn the decision of the Student Conduct Administrator, return a case for further consideration or reduce or retain any sanction. Similarly, the President may uphold or overturn the decision of a Dean’s Panel or the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, return the case to the Panel or Senior Vice President for further consideration or reduce or retain any sanction.
    4. In all cases, the decision reached by the authority hearing the appeal is final.

 Organizational Conduct

  1. Decisions rendered by the Student Conduct Administrator may be appealed to the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. Decisions of the Dean’s Panel or the Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may be appealed directly to the President of Ringling College. Appeals must be submitted to the appropriate authority in writing within three (3) business days of the written notification of the decision.
  2. In the written appeal, it is the responsibility of the organization presenting the appeal to demonstrate grounds for the appeal. Appeals may be made on the following grounds:
    1. The accused organization has suffered a violation of rights and this violation significantly impacted the decision reached.
    2. Significant and relevant new information, which could not before have been presented has since surfaced.
    3. The accused organization has reason to believe the sanctions or decisions levied are unduly arbitrary or unjustified and can provide reasonable evidence or apparent cause to support this contention. The Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may uphold or overturn the decision of the Student Conduct Administrator, return a case for further consideration or reduce or retain any sanction. Similarly, the President may uphold or overturn the decision of a Dean’s Panel or the Vice President or Senior Vice President Student Life and Dean of Students, return the case to the Panel for further consideration or reduce or retain any sanction.
  3. In all cases, the decision reached by the authority hearing the appeal is final.

Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment, and Hazing Procedures:

The College will at its discretion designate the appropriate Investigator(s) to conduct an investigation into the allegations in the Complaint. 

The Investigator will conduct an investigation, which will generally include the following:

  1. The Respondent having an opportunity to submit a written response to the Complaint within five (5) business days of receiving the Notice Letter;
  2. The Complainant and Respondent having an opportunity to separately participate in an interview with the Investigator and to provide the Investigator with relevant information and documents; and
  3. The Investigator interviewing witnesses, collecting other information, and consulting with other individuals and departments as they deem appropriate.

The Investigator will conduct a prompt, thorough and fair investigation and may, to that end, set or modify deadlines for the Complainant, Respondent, and witnesses’ participation in the investigation. 

After completing the investigation, the investigator will prepare an Investigation Report with findings of fact and a determination as to whether or not the Respondent violated the applicable Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, or Hazing Policy (i.e., whether the allegations were substantiated or unsubstantiated).  In finding facts, the investigator will apply the preponderance of the evidence standard.  The report will be submitted to the applicable Student Conduct Administrator or Dean’s Panel.

The applicable Student Conduct Administrator or Dean’s Panel will provide the Complainant and Respondent with an Outcome Letter at the conclusion of the investigation. If the Respondent is found to have violated the Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy or Hazing Policy (i.e., the allegations were substantiated), the Student Conduct Administrator or Dean’s Panel will determine and implement the appropriate sanctions and/or remedial measures.  Sanctions and remedial measures will be determined and implemented promptly after the conclusion of the investigation.

The College, at its discretion, will also implement Remedial Measures it deems appropriate, including Remedial Measures directly provided to a Complainant.  Remedial Measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to the College’s education programs and activities.  Remedial Measures for a Complainant that do not affect the Respondent must not be disclosed to the Respondent.

Decisions rendered by the Student Conduct Administrator or Dean’s Panel may be appealed following the appeal process detailed in the Code of Conduct.

Disciplinary Sanctions

One or more of the following sanctions may be imposed on a Respondent(s) for any violation(s).

Article Review
A written review of journal articles on a specific topic designed to assist the student to explore the violations in question. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Apology
An apology reflecting an understanding of the inappropriateness of actions and the impact it had on the letter’s recipient. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the sanction letter.

Behavioral Agreement
A signed behavioral agreement to live responsibly within the Ringling College of Art and Design community outlining specific behavior guidelines that must be followed. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

College Suspension
Separation of the student from the College for a definite period of time without refund, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified in the outcome letter.

College Dismissal
Immediate and permanent separation of the student from the College without refund.

Computer Privileges Restriction
Loss or restriction from College computer network access or privileges for a stated period of time. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Contact Restriction
Restriction of personal contact with another individual or group for a stated period of time. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Counseling
An assessment or an initial counseling session either at the College Counseling Center or at an approved community mental health provider. Students are encouraged to abide by any treatment plan provided by provider.

Disciplinary Probation
Designated period that includes the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions, which may include suspension or dismissal from the College or College housing if the student is found violating any policy during the probationary period.

Educational Bulletin Board
Design, research, and create a bulletin board on a specific topic. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Educational Community Service
Completion of a determined number of hours of educational community service. Specific guidelines and hours will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Formal Written Warning
Notice in writing to the student that they are or have violated a specific College policy and that continuation or repetition of similar misconduct, may be cause for further disciplinary action and more severe sanctions.

Organizational Probation
Designated period of time that includes the probability of revocation of organizational privileges during the probationary period.

Organizational Suspension
Prohibition of all organizational activities, formal and informal, both on and off campus for a designated period of time after which the organization is eligible for reinstatement/recognition. Conditions for reinstatement/recognition may be specified in the outcome letter.

Other Restrictions
Loss of specific privileges including, but not limited to, attendance at social events; organization participation; and access to specified College facilities for a designated period of time. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Parent/Guardian, faculty/staff, and/or on-campus Employer Notification
Notification to parent/guardian and/or on-campus employer, and/or faculty/staff concerning a specific incident, outcome and appropriate sanction(s). Notification will be in accordance with FERPA regulations. Such notification may in turn cause other non-disciplinary consequences resulting from the student’s violation in relation to other campus activities.

Probationary Review Meetings
Scheduled meetings with a member of the Student Life staff. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Program Presentation
Plan, implement, and evaluate an educational program on a specific topic. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Reflection Paper
Reflective paper on a specific incident and its impact. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Research Paper
Research paper on a specific topic citing at least three sources. Specific guidelines will be outlined in the outcome letter.

Residence Hall Probation
Designated period of time that includes the probability of expulsion from campus housing and/or revocation of privileges to live in campus housing if the student is found violating any policy during the probationary period.

Residence Hall Suspension
Immediate removal from the College housing without refund for a designated period of time.

Residence Hall Dismissal
Immediate and permanent removal of the student from the residence halls without refund.

Restitution
Compensation for loss, damage, or injury. This may take the form of appropriate service and/or monetary or material replacement.

Substance Use Evaluation
A required substance use evaluation. Students are responsible to make arrangements for this evaluation in accordance with the outlined terms in the outcome letter. Students are encouraged to meet the recommendations of the certified treatment professionals as indicated in the evaluation. Results must be released to appropriate College officials as per the outcome letter.

Verbal Warning

A verbal warning highlights that the behavior is counter to the expectations in the Student Code of Conduct and a continuation or repetitive behavior in question may cause further disciplinary action. This may be issued on its own or in conjunction with additional educational or restorative sanctions.