The educational experience at St. John’s University is intended
to promote personal growth within a healthy learning environment,
to instill high moral values, especially of charity and justice and
to encourage the development of character and fortitude to live by
these values. In such an environment, it is essential that students
learn to look critically at their behavior and to accept
responsibility when their behavior violates the policies and
precepts of conduct at the University. The system for adjudicating
alleged violations must be fair and should involve students.
Ultimately the system of discipline at St. John’s University is
designed to promote a healthy learning environment and to promote
human dignity and potential.
The Student Conduct Process is designed to adjudicate cases of
alleged violations of University policies and regulations, and when
necessary to investigate matters of student conduct in a manner
which reflects the Vincentian tradition and the educational mission
of St. John’s University. Students are responsible for their
actions as well as the actions of their guests while on the St.
John’s campus and sanctions may be imposed on the host when the
guest violates the Student Code of Conduct.
This Student Conduct Process pertains to University discipline for
non-academic infractions. It is not exclusive and does not pre-empt
or preclude independent disciplinary action that may be taken
against any member of the University community including (but not
limited to) student organizations, student committees, and athletic
teams.
Section A: Student Conduct Process Authority
Ultimate authority over student discipline is vested in the
President of the University, who may exercise it in his discretion
whenever he believes that the interests of the University warrant
it. The President may impose any penalty, including expulsion. In
exercising such plenary authority, the President will afford the
student an opportunity to know the charges against him or her, and
to offer his or her version of the events. Action taken by the
President is final and closes the matter. The President may
designate an appropriate senior administrator to exercise this
authority when he deems it necessary or convenient.
As an ordinary matter, the President has delegated authority
over student discipline to the Senior Student Affairs Officer at
the University, who may exercise it consistent with these
procedures. Currently, the Senior Student Affairs Officer is the
Vice President for Student Affairs.
The Student Conduct Officer administers the Student Conduct
Process. The Dean of Students will designate and maintain oversight
of the Student Conduct Officers on each of the University’s
campuses, both domestic and international. The Student Conduct
Officer is responsible to ensure that all student conduct
proceedings are carried out in accordance with University policy
and procedures.
The Senior Student Affairs Officer in collaboration with the Dean
of Students or designee shall determine the composition of the
University Conduct Board, the Student Conduct Board and the
University Appeal Board. The Dean of Students or designee will
determine if a University Conduct Board, a Student Conduct Board or
a Student Conduct Administrator shall be authorized to hear a
student conduct matter. The composition of the University Conduct
Board, the Student Conduct Board and the University Appeal Board
shall be selected as set forth herein. Decisions made by a
University Conduct Board, a Student Conduct Board or a Student
Conduct Administrator shall be final, pending the normal appeal
process.
Section B: Violations of Law
All members of the University community are subject to federal,
state and local laws. Students are subject to such reasonable
disciplinary action as deemed appropriate, including suspension and
expulsion, for breach of federal, state or local laws when such
conduct is likely to have an adverse effect on the University or on
the educational process at the University or affects the student’s
suitability as a member of the University community.
Section C: Definitions
- The term “University” means St. John’s University.
- The term “student” includes all persons taking courses at
the University, either full-time or part-time, pursuing
undergraduate, graduate or professional studies. Persons who
withdraw after allegedly violating the Student Code of Conduct, who
are not officially enrolled in a particular term but who have a
continuing relationship with the University, or have been notified
of their acceptance for admission, are considered students. This
Student Conduct Process does apply to all locations of the
University, including the campuses in Staten Island, Manhattan,
Oakdale, and abroad.
- The term “member of the University community” includes
any person who is a student, faculty member, University official,
employee of a University vendor or any other person employed by the
University.
- The term “University premises” includes all land,
buildings, facilities and other properties in the possession of or
owned, used, leased or controlled by the University (including
adjacent streets and sidewalks). The term includes property the
University leases from third parties or contracts with third
parties for the use of, including the shuttle bus.
- The term “organization” means any number of person or
persons who have complied with the formal requirements for
University recognition.
- The term “University Conduct Board” means any person or persons
authorized by the Senior Student Affairs Officer or designee to
determine whether a student has committed a serious violation of
the Student Code of Conduct and to recommend sanctions that may be
imposed when a violation has been committed, including suspension
or expulsion.
- The term “Student Conduct Board” means any person or persons
authorized by the Senior Student Affairs Officer or designee to
determine whether a student has violated the Student Code of
Conduct and to recommend sanctions that may be imposed when a
violation has been committed.
- The term “University Appeal Board” means any person or
persons authorized by the Senior Student Affairs Officer or
designee to address appeals of decisions made by the University
Conduct Board.
- The term “University Advisor Panel” means a group of persons at
the University who are selected to appear to act as advisor to
either the charged student or complainant (where applicable) at a
hearing before a Student Conduct Board or University Conduct
Board.
- The term “Conduct Board Panel” means the group of persons at
the University from which the hearing panel is selected in each
matter.
- The term “Appeal Board Panel” means the persons selected to
hear the appeal of a particular matter.
- The term “Student Conduct Administrator” means a University
official authorized on a case-by-case basis by the Senior Student
Affairs Officer to impose sanctions on any student(s) found to have
violated the Student Code of Conduct.
- The term “Student Affairs Administrator” means a University
official authorized on a case-by-case basis to Senior Student
Affairs Officer or designee to impose sanctions on any student(s)
found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct.
- The term “policy” means the written regulations of the
University as found in, but not limited to, the Student Code of
Conduct, Residence Life Handbook, the University web page, sexual
misconduct policy, Title IX and computer use policies and
graduate/undergraduate catalogs.
- The term “complainant” means any person who submits a charge
alleging that a student violated this Student Code of Conduct. When
a student believes that s/he has been the victim of another
student’s misconduct, the student who believes that s/he has been a
victim will have the same rights under the Student Code of Conduct
as are provided to the complainant, even if another member of the
University community submitted the charge itself.
- The term “accused student” or “charged student” means any
student accused of violating this Student Code of Conduct.
- The term “shall” is used in the imperative sense.
- The term “may” is used in the permissive sense.