Kent State University seeks to foster a campus community that provides students with the opportunity to reach their educational goals and that protects the safety and security of its students, faculty and staff. The Office of Judicial Affairs serves the university by helping to maintain a safe and secure campus community through administration of the Code of Student Conduct.

The purpose of Judicial Affairs is to:

• ensure the safety and security of the university community;
• create good citizenship through the use of educational programming and sanctioning; and
• provide an educational experience for hearing participants concerning due process conflict resolution.

Enforcement of university policy, rules and regulations is everyone's responsibility. The university community has adopted a Student Conduct Policy for adjudication of complaints between students and between faculty/staff and students. Complaints may be filed by completing a Student Incident Report with the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Student organizations also are held to the community expectations outlined in the Digest of Rules and Regulations. When a charge of misconduct is made against an organization, the judicial process is much the same as that for individuals.

Community Expectations and the Code of Student Conduct

The Digest of Rules and Regulations encourages personal freedom, maturity, and responsibility by clarifying behavior that is expected of students. As members of the University community, students are expected to:

• demonstrate responsible conduct;
• respect the cultural, lifestyle, and religious differences of others;
• be honest and forthright in academic endeavors;
• accept freedom of expression and be civil in disagreement; and
• use university-owned or controlled property responsibly.

The Code of Student Conduct translates these expectations into specific policies and describes the process through which claims of violations are resolved. Each student is responsible for knowing and abiding by the terms of the code. The full text is available in the Digest of Rules and Regulations.

In administering the Code of Student Conduct, the Office of Judicial Affairs holds students accountable for misconduct; that is, behavior inconsistent with these community expectations. The judicial process protects the rights of both individual students and the university community by ensuring that claims of student misconduct are handled equitably and uniformly.

Educational Discipline and Disciplinary Sanctions

The judicial process is built on the concept of educational discipline. Educational discipline focuses on promoting responsible conduct, providing opportunities for growth and development, holding students accountable for their behavior, and teaching about the consequences of misconduct on individuals and the community.

Disciplinary sanctions are imposed when misconduct is found to have occurred. These sanctions are designed to be educational and, whenever possible, to provide an avenue for continued membership in the university community. If, however, a student demonstrates an unwillingness to abide by the standards established in the Code of Student Conduct or poses a threat to others, he or she will be separated from the university community. Sanctions may take the form of probation, suspension, or dismissal. Requirements such as attendance at an educational program or community service may be included as a condition of a disciplinary sanction.

All disciplinary information is kept on file in the Office of Judicial Affairs. Each disciplinary record is confidential and will not be released without the student's written consent. Students may review their own files by appointment. Because these records are considered educational in nature, university officials with a valid "need to know" may be informed of a student's disciplinary status. If a student with unresolved judicial charges is dismissed academically or leaves the university, the Office of Judicial Affairs may proceed in resolving the judicial charge or place a disciplinary hold on the student's records restricting future enrollment.

Opportunities for Involvement

• The All-University Hearing Board hears cases of University policy violations and determines appropriate sanctions
• The Student Rights & Standards Committee, the legislative branch of the university disciplinary system, makes policy recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

Appointments to these committees are made during the fall semester and last throughout the academic year. Members are chosen from a pool of applicants representing undergraduate and graduate students, administrators, and faculty members. Candidates are expected to be responsible members of the university community.

Additional opportunities are provided through the Undergraduate Student Senate - Student Advocate Program, in which student volunteers assist defendants in understanding the disciplinary process and making informed decisions.

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact us at:

Office of Judicial Affairs
Kent State University
119 Twin Towers
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242-0001
Phone: 330-672-4054
Fax: 330-672-2753