Incident reports alleging violations of the Code of Community Standards come in many different forms. Reports of violations of the Code of Community Responsibility or other violations of the Student Handbook will be investigated in a fair and thorough manner by the Dean of Students Office. Incident reports may be forwarded to the Student Life Office from members of the university community, including students, staff, and faculty. Additionally, reports, complaints, or other information involving possible violations of the Student Handbook may come from local, state, and federal agencies or other outside sources. These reports may also be forwarded to the Dean of Students and investigated as warranted. Documentation and any subsequent response by the Dean of Students will become part of the student’s conduct file.
The university believes in the growth, rehabilitative nature, and applicability of sanctions in regard to violations of the Code of Community Standards. The Intelligent Decisions Advocacy Program (IDAP) is a program designed to, when applicable, closely relate the violation of the Code of Community Standards committed with an appropriate sanction. Students who violate this code will be enrolled in the IDAP program for a specific amount of time until their obligations have been fulfilled. Such obligations will range from community service on or off the campus of LCU to city-wide service or educational programs. Students enrolled in the IDAP program will be monitored by the Dean of Students.
A status indicates that a student's relationship with the university is tenuous and that specified conditions must be met and behaviors must be modified to continue as a student for the current and/or additional semesters.
Violations of the Code of Community Standards will result in the possible imposition of one or more of the sanctions listed below. Sanctions will take into account the facts and circumstances surrounding each case, intent, the safety of the university community, student conduct history, integrity, and honesty in investigation process, and the sanction that will best benefit both the student and the campus community. Violation of any federal, state, or local law while enrolled as a student of the university, whether or not explicitly listed as a conduct tier, may also result in one or more of the sanctions listed below. The sanctions below appear in alphabetical order. In each case, the student will be provided with written statement(s) outlining the specific conditions of University imposed sanction(s).
Definitions of possible sanctions include:
Tier 1 Violations - Violations falling under this category will result in corrective action warnings (either verbal or written). Additional stipulations or secondary conditions may be applied. All university officials, including the Dean of Students, Residence Hall Supervisors, and Residence Assistants may enforce compliance with this section. They include, but are not limited to:
- T1-01. Minor instances of disorderly conduct during chapel or any other public assembly or class
- T1-02. Failure to present official LCU ID card upon request of university authorities, including all administrators, deans, members of the faculty, LCU Public Safety personnel, residence hall and university staff
- T1-03. Exhibiting, displaying, or engaging in lewd, indecent, sexually explicit suggestive material, conduct, actions, or words not congruent with values of LCU, including but not limited to, alcoholic beverage containers, photographs, personal photographs, posters, decorations, displays, clothing, and advertisements
- T1-04. Violation of LCU campus dress code
- T1-05. Engaging or threatening to engage in behavior that would cause minor damage to university property or to the personal property of others
- T1-06. Use of profanity, vulgarity, or obscenity in any form
- T1-07. Violations of general university policies, or parking/safety regulations
- T1-08. Violations of general residence life policies including, but not limited to, curfew policies for freshman, overnight curfew policies, cleanliness, burning of candles and/or incense, misuse of university/residence hall furniture and/or equipment
- T1-09. Failure to accurately list with the university a current place of residence and to promptly inform the university of any subsequent changes in the listing
- T1-10. Use of tobacco, smokeless tobacco, or vapor products in any form on campus or at any university-sponsored event
- T1-11. Unauthorized entries into prohibited or restrictive areas
Note: Dependent on severity of the offense and the student’s conduct history, a violation in Tier 1 could be viewed as a Tier 2 violation or a Tier 3 violation and will be dealt with accordingly.
Tier 2 Violations - Tier 2 violations will result minimally in the enrollment to the Intelligent Decisions Advocacy Program (IDAP). In addition, the Dean of Students may deem suspension, dismissal, additional conditions, or alternative requirements as an appropriate consequence for first or subsequent Tier II offenses. Violations include, but are not limited to:
- T2-01. Failure to respond in an appropriate and timely manner to a summons to any administrative office or to appear at a university conduct hearing
- T2-02. Failure to comply with a disciplinary decision, conditions of probation (including terms of student appeals), or the directive of a university official acting in the performance of his/her duties
- T2-03. Misuse of fire or safety equipment; that is using such equipment for other than its intended purpose. Also includes automatic fines for misuse of fire extinguishers, pulling fire alarms, or making false emergency notifications
- T2-04. Unauthorized use, duplication, or possession of university keys, as well as the unauthorized entry or use of university buildings, facilities, equipment, supplies, or resources
- T2-05. Possession of pornographic material in any form (i.e. print, video, electronic), as well as suggestive or otherwise sexually inappropriate material
- T2-06. Violations of the visitation policies of university residence halls
- T2-07. Violation of federal, state, or local law or university policy concerning technology use
- T2-08. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of university documents, forms, records, identification cards, or meal plans
- T2-09. Violation of Community Alcohol Policy
- T2-10. Gambling, defined as playing games of chance for money, is prohibited in any form including, but not limited to, wagering, gaming, bookmaking, and on-line gambling
- T2-11. Possession of stolen property
- T2-12. Lying to a university authority, including all administrators, deans, members of the faculty, student workers, LCU Public Safety personnel, and residence hall supervisors
- Note: Any reports of academic dishonesty (plagiarism, cheating, etc.) will be reported to the Dean of Students and will be noted in the student’s permanent conduct file.
- T2-13. Failure to adhere to university requirements concerning the Spiritual Life Policy.
- T2-14. Unauthorized use of university identification numbers, personal login information, and access codes.
- T2-15. Any participation in hazing. See Hazing Policy
- T2-16. Engaging or threatening to engage in behavior that would cause major damage to university property or to the personal property of others
- T2-17. Engaging in behavior that poses a threat of harm to the health or safety of self or others, as described in university policy.
- T2-18. Possession, distribution, or sale of drug paraphernalia
- T2-19. Violation of Harassment and Intimidation Policy.
Note: Dependent on severity of the offense and the student’s conduct history, a violation in Tier 2 could be viewed as a Tier 3 violation and will be dealt with accordingly.
- Tier 3 Violations: Tier 3 violations may result in dismissal from the university for one or more semesters, including permanent expulsion, on the first occurrence. These offenses include, but are not limited to:
- T3-01. Violation of community drug policy, including, but not limited to, possession, use, distribution, or sale of illegal drugs, including illegally obtained prescription drugs
- T3-02. Second, or subsequent, violation[s] of the Community Alcohol and Drug Policy
- T3-03. Violation of Sexual Violence, Sexual Harassment and Stalking Policy
- T3-04. Arson
- T3-05. Possession, use, or discharge of any weapon on campus or at a university-sponsored event
- T3-06. Any intentional interference of university activities or events
- T3-07. Willful participation in any campus or LCU sponsored activity in which drunkenness, lewd, disorderly, or indecent behavior takes place
- T3-08. Theft
- T3-09. Failure to comply with the terms of the Community Disruption Policy
Please Note: Honesty, a spirit of cooperation in the disciplinary process, and consideration of the student’s prior offenses will be evaluated as an integral part of the Office of the Dean of Students investigation process.
Violation of any federal, state, or local law not specifically covered in the above conduct tiers may result in disciplinary action.
Dismissal is the separation of the student from the university as a result of an official decision to terminate a student’s enrollment for the remainder of the academic semester in which the offense occurred and/or for additional semesters as warranted by circumstances of the offense. Notification of dismissals will be sent to appropriate university officials, including the student’s academic advisor and parent or guardian as allowed by FERPA. Students who are dismissed for conduct reasons may apply for admission after satisfying requirements of the original dismissal agreement, but the university reserves the right to deny or place conditions on admission.
Loss of privilege to live in university housing. Students who lose the privilege to live on campus for conduct reasons will not receive a refund of room and board charges.
Charges for violation of regulations must be paid in the Student Life Office or the Student Business Office.
Any monies received from LCU, including, but not limited to, scholarships for academics and athletics or discounts. This sanction may be imposed for the current and/or additional semesters.
Loss may include eligibility to represent the university officially on athletic teams or performing groups, attendance at school functions, seeking or holding an elected or appointed student office, right to advance register, eating in the Cafeteria, participation in social clubs or intramural sports, and use of specific university facilities, computer systems, equipment, services, or restriction to residence hall or room.
Written warning that continuation or repetition of misconduct may result in a more severe sanction.
Requirement to pay for the repair or replacement of damaged property. If restitution is due the university, the charges will be added to the student’s account. Failure to pay appropriate restitution to another student will result in additional sanctions including denial of future enrollment or refusal to release official transcript.
Temporary separation of the student from the university for a specified amount of time.
An oral or written warning for conduct unbecoming a Lubbock Christian University student.