Spectrum 2007-2008

Policies and Regulations
TN Board of Regents
State University and Community College
System of Tennessee

Institutional Student Disciplinary Rules

0240-3-2-.04 DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

  1. Upon a determination that a student or organization has violated any of the rules, regulations or disciplinary offenses set forth in these regulations, the following disciplinary sanctions may be imposed, either singly or in combination, by the appropriate institution officials.
  2. Definition of Sanctions
    1. Restitution. A student who has committed an offense against property may be required to reimburse the institution or other owner for damage to or misappropriation of such property. Any such payment in restitution shall be limited to actual cost of repair or replacement.
    2. Warning. The appropriate institutional official may notify the student that continuation or repetition of specified conduct may be cause for other disciplinary action.
    3. Reprimand. A written reprimand, or censure, may be given any student or organization whose conduct violates any part of these regulations. Such a reprimand does not restrict the student in any way, but does have important consequences. It signifies to the student that he or she is in effect being given another chance to conduct himself or herself as a proper member of the institution community, but that any further violation may result in more serious penalties.
    4. Restriction. A restriction upon a student or organization's privileges for a period of time may be imposed. This restriction may include, for example, denial of the right to represent the institution in any way, denial of use of facilities, parking privileges, participation in extracurricular activities or restriction of organizational privileges.
    5. Referral to the university counseling center. The student is mandated to visit the university counseling center for an initial evaluation and follow-through on any prescribed treatment program.
    6. Fines. In cases involving violation of the university alcohol and drug regulations, fines in the following amounts may be imposed:
      1. First offense $25
      2. Second offense $50
      3. Third offense $100

All funds from fines will be used to support the university's drug and alcohol education and awareness programs.

    1. Constructive or educational project. A project beneficial to the individual, campus, and/or community may be required. The project will be related to the offense the student is guilty of violating. This work will be commensurate to the offense the student is guilty of violating.
    2. Assignment of work hours. A specified number of supervised hours of work to be completed on campus may be assigned.
    3. Mandatory Participation. Mandatory participation in, and satisfactory completion of, a drug or alcohol abuse program, or rehabilitation program.
    4. Probation. Continued enrollment of a student on probation may be conditioned upon adherence to these regulations. Any student placed on probation will be notified of such in writing and will also be notified of the terms and length of the probation. Probation may include restrictions upon the extracurricular activities of a student. Any conduct in violation of these regulations while on probationary status may result in the imposition of a more serious disciplinary sanction.
    5. Suspension. If a student or student organization is suspended, the student or student organization is separated from the institution for a stated period of time with conditions of readmission or registration, respectively, stated in the notice of suspension.
    6. Expulsion. Expulsion entails a permanent separation from the institution. The imposition of this sanction is a permanent bar to the student's readmission to the institution or to the student organization's registration with the institution.
    7. Interim or summary suspension. Though as a general rule, the status of a student accused of violations of these regulations should not be altered until a final determination has been made in regard to the charges against him, summary suspension may be imposed upon a finding by the appropriate institutional official that the continued presence of the accused on campus constitutes an immediate threat to the physical safety and well-being of the accused, or of any other member of the institution community or its guests, destruction of property, or substantial disruption of classroom or other campus activities. Interim suspension may be invoked only by the president or his designee, the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, or the Vice Provost and Chief Student Affairs Officer in consultation with other university officials. In any case of immediate suspension, the student shall be given an opportunity at the time of the decision or immediately thereafter to contest the suspension, and if there are disputed issues of fact or cause and effect, the student shall be provided a hearing on the suspension as soon as practicable.
  1. The president of the university is authorized, in his or her discretion, to subsequently convert any sanction imposed to a lesser sanction, or to rescind any previous sanction, in appropriate cases.

Statutory Authority: T.C.A. Section 49-8-203