Documentation

Resident Life staff are required to document any event that occurs in the residence halls (including South Campus Commons). This includes routine fire drills, rule violations or serious medical emergencies. Staff may document events in a Log or in an Incident Report. These both serve as official documentation for administrative/disciplinary proceedings.

Adjudication Process

Infractions that occur in residence halls often violate the rules set forth in both the Residence Halls/Dining Services Agreement and the Code of Student Conduct. Students found responsible for a violation may have their status as a resident and/or as a student affected.

The following information outlines the process that occurs when residents violate the prohibitions listed within this booklet or the other terms listed in the Residence Halls/Dining Services Agreement.

These procedures are designed to serve two purposes:

1. To provide an orderly process in which cases of rule violations can be handled fairly and expediently, and
2. To provide reasonable procedural protection for individual students accused of violating the Residence Halls/Dining Services Agreement and/or the Code of Student Conduct.

Referrals
The first step in the adjudication process is a referral. To have a referral made you may either:

Referrals for administrative/disciplinary action are made by Resident Life staff, residents, University Police or other members of the campus community. Those charged will be referred to the Manager for Resident Student Conduct. The time period from the referral to the issuing of a sanction normally ranges from a few days to a few weeks.

Preliminary Interviews
For students who have been referred, the preliminary interview is the second step in the adjudication process. Students have three (3) days to schedule their preliminary interview with the Manager for Resident Student Conduct or designer after they receive their referral letter.

The preliminary interview with the Manager for Resident Student Conduct serves to review the Resident Life and University charges, lay out hearing options and explain possible consequences of the violations.

Failure to schedule an interview may result in:

Disciplinary Conferences
Disciplinary Conferences are held with the Manager for Resident Student Conduct or designer when a case would normally not result in a sanction of suspension/expulsion from the University, although the full range of sanctions may be imposed, including Administrative Housing Termination. The Manager acts as a fact finder and makes the administrative housing sanction recommendation to the Community Director. The recommended sanction is reviewed by the Community Director who makes the final decision. Students will normally receive a letter from the Community Director to inform them of the sanction before the case is closed. Additionally the Manager will impose a disciplinary sanction for violations of the Code of Student Conduct which will be reviewed by the Office of Student Conduct.

Any individual whose Residence Halls/Dining Services Agreement is terminated as a result of a Conference may petition to have his or her case reviewed. The review request should be addressed to the Director of Resident Life and delivered to Rights and Responsibilities Office in 3020 South Campus Commons #3 within three business days.

Failure to request a review within the allotted time will render the original decision final and conclusive.

Judicial Board Hearings
Judicial Board hearings are held when a case would normally result in suspension/expulsion from the University. The Board, which includes at least three students and one non-voting advisor, acts as a fact finding body and makes the administrative sanction recommendation to the Community Director who makes the final decision. The Board also makes a disciplinary sanction recommendation to the Manager for Resident Student Conduct who makes the final decision regarding the student’s disciplinary sanction. Like the Disciplinary Conferences, students involved in hearings will normally receive letters from both staff members to inform them of the sanctions before the cases are closed.

For more specific information on the Hearing procedures students may consult the Code of Student Conduct, part 33.

Procedural Protection
Residents having their cases resolved in Conferences or Hearings are accorded the following protection:

• Written notice of charges prior to the Conference (3 days)/Hearing (5 days)
• Reasonable access to their case file prior to the Conference/Hearing
• Opportunity to present their version of the incident and call appropriate witnesses
• The opportunity to rebut the testimony given by witnesses against them
• The right to be accompanied and assisted by a representative.

Representation
Students have the right to be represented in a Conference/ Hearing by a person of their choice. Representation may be provided by the Legal Aid Office, located in the Stamp Student Union, free of charge to students. Students may also be represented by an attorney from outside the University. If you choose to be represented by an attorney, we request that you inform the Manager for Resident Student Conduct in writing three days before your Hearing/Conference.

Resident Life Administrative Sanctions

Violations of residence hall rules can result in a resident having to face a range of administrative sanctions. Sanctions 1-3 may be implemented at the community level or as a result of a Conference or Hearing.

1. Warning Letters- Further violations may result in a referral or a more serious sanction. The letter is kept on file for one calendar year.
2. Administrative Housing Probation – Probation is a serious Administrative Sanction and is deemed as the Final Warning. In conjunction with this sanction two (2) housing priority points will be permanently deducted from a resident’s total number of housing priority points. Committing any violation while on active Housing Probation is an automatic “A” level violation. Probation letters are kept for one year after the end of the probationary period. A resident will be precluded from employment with the Department of Resident Life as a Customer Service Supervisor, Resident Assistant or Staff Assistant and from serving as a Judicial Board member. A resident may be precluded from employment, including but not limited to the positions of: Community Assistant and office Clerical Assistant.
3. Community Service Project – A community service project is assigned in addition to, or in lieu of, other sanctions or referrals. The project will be completed under the supervision of Resident Life staff.
4. Administrative Housing Termination * - This sanction may be implemented only after a Conference or Hearing. Records on those students whose housing has been terminated are kept for three years. The conditions of Administrative Housing Termination are as follows:
   • Residents are notified that the Residence Halls/Dining Services Agreement is terminated. The current assignment must be vacated, usually within forty-eight (48) hours.
   • Residents may also be prohibited from re-entering their former residence hall or any/all University of Maryland residence halls. This additional sanction is called Denial of Access and, if violated, can result in suspension/expulsion from the University.
   • The period of Housing Termination is stated in the sanction letter from the Community Director. Students who wish to return before the date stated in the sanction letter must write to their Community Director. The Community Director will make a recommendation to the Director of Resident Life who will review the recommendation and notify the student of the decision.