Student Judicial Policies and Procedures

6. Violation of Public Laws by Students

6.1 The University shall take such prescribed action that is mandatory under federal, state or municipal laws. However, it is not the University’s desire to assume the regulatory and police functions of government. Students who violate the law may incur penalties prescribed by civil authorities, but institutional authority should never be used merely to duplicate the function of general laws. Only where the University’s interests are distinct and clearly involved should the special authority of the University be asserted to discipline/educate its students. Students are citizens with not only rights but responsibilities to abide by the law.

6.2 Student conduct in violation of public law may be treated by the University as serious student misconduct when:

6.2-1 The person, property or activity involved is that of another student, an employee of the University, a guest of the University, or the interests of the University itself.

6.2-2 The conduct takes place on University owned or controlled property, or at a function under the supervision of the University.

6.2-3 In cases where a student is subject to both external and internal judicial proceedings arising from a single set of circumstances, the University may initiate and pursue its internal judicial process to conclusion without regard to the status of the external process.