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General
Policies,
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General FAQs for Students
1. What services does Judicial Affairs provide? The Office of Judicial Affairs is responsible for implementing the Student Code of Conduct. Through Disciplinary Conferences, Administrative Hearings, and University Hearing Boards, the Office of Judicial Affairs responds to allegations of student misconduct. In addition to implementing the Student Code of Conduct, the Office of Judicial Affairs also serves as another resource for victims. If you, or someone you know, have been the victim of a student’s misconduct, you can contact our office and a staff member will meet with you and review your options. The Office of Judicial Affairs also provides workshops and programs on a variety of topics to help educate students on what is expected of them and what rights they are afforded as members of the University community. 2. Where do I go to file a complaint? If you are a victim or witness of student misconduct and wish to file an allegation, you should go to the Office of Judicial Affairs located in 135 Boucke or contact the Office by phone at (814) 863-0342. 3. What are the specific sanctions for common offenses like underage drinking? Offenses like underage drinking are sanctioned based on an established set of precedent guidelines. The Judicial Affairs Designee will use the Code of Conduct and Precedent Guidelines in conjunction with the facts of the individual case when deciding whether or not to charge a student and determining the appropriate charge and sanction. For example, the range of sanctions for a first time underage alcohol violation is a Disciplinary Warning to Disciplinary Probation, completion of an alcohol education program, and Parental Notification is also considered. 4. What is the major difference between the Judicial Affairs process and the traditional criminal process? The Judicial Affairs process is educationally based with an emphasis on student development and accountability, where the goal of the criminal justice process is focused entirely on punishment. Therefore, Judicial Affairs professionals work with students who have been charged with violating the Student Code of Conduct through educational assignments like counseling or disciplinary probation instead of fines or incarceration like the traditional criminal process. However, it is important to remember that it is possible to be sanctioned through the University process and be held accountable through the traditional criminal process depending upon the nature and/or location of the violation. 5. What is the difference between off-campus and on-campus offenses? On-campus offenses occur on University property, while off-campus offenses can occur anywhere a student may be when they are found violating the Student Code of Conduct. 6. Can I still be charged with violating the Code of Conduct if the situation occurred off-campus? The University does have an Off-Campus Misconduct Policy that states if a student is involved with a situation that could be a violation of the Code of Conduct and affects a Substantial University Interest, then it may warrant disciplinary action. This means that regardless of where the violation occurred, whether it is downtown State College or another state, a student may be charged by the University if that violation is reported to the University. See the University Off-Campus Misconduct Policy. 7. Can my parents be notified? Yes, depending upon the severity of the charge and the implemented sanctions your parents may be notified of the charges and sanctions. Federal legislation allows Penn State to disclose records of disciplinary violations of federal, state, or local law governing use or possession of alcohol under the age of 21 or use of possession of controlled substances. During the Disciplinary Conference, the Judicial Affairs Designee will give you more information and will be able to tell you whether or not the situation warrants parental notification. Please note that University Police do notify parents of students charged with an underage alcohol violation. This notification is separate from the notification that the Office of Judicial Affairs may do at the conclusion of the process. See the University Parental Notification Policy. 8. What steps should I follow if I have been charged with an offense? First, someone from the Office of Judicial Affairs will contact you via email or phone. It is very important that you respond promptly. Once you’ve contacted a staff member, they will set up a date and time for a Disciplinary Conference. It is important that you attend your Discipline Conference at the scheduled time. It is equally important that if you were also cited by local or state police that you respond to that citation within ten days. The criminal process is separate from the University process and it is crucial that you respond to the citation given by local or state police. 9. Is there a monetary fee for Judicial Affairs services? No. However, if part of your sanction was to attend an educational program or to provide restitution, there may be a fee for the educational program and out of pocket costs for restitution. 10. What is my educational record? Any information about a student that is kept by the University is part of the student’s educational records, which includes a student’s disciplinary record. These records are confidential and in most cases, the student’s permission is needed in order for the record to be released. Often this information is requested through background checks and/ or job references. 11. What information in my educational record is released? If you are found responsible or accept responsibility for violating the Code of Conduct, the charge and sanction will be released. For more information, please consult the Student Discipline Records Policy. 12. If I have been sanctioned what will appear on my transcript? If you receive a sanction of Deferred Expulsion, Temporary Expulsion, and/or Indefinite Expulsion, that will be noted on your transcript while the sanction is in effect. After the sanction ends, the notation will be removed, however, the charge and sanction remain as part of your Disciplinary Record. If you receive a sanction of Permanent Expulsion, that information becomes a permanent notation on your transcript. 13. What will happen to my disciplinary records after graduation? Your disciplinary records are kept in the Office of Judicial Affairs for seven years past your graduation, but only reported out for three years past your graduation. For more information, please consult the Student Discipline Records Policy. 14. What is an Administrative Directive? An Administrative Directive is a written notification for a student to have NO direct and/or indirect contact either physical or verbal (i.e. email messages, phone calls, etc.) with another person(s). Indirect contact would include contact through friends, family, acquaintances, etc. An Administrative Directive is not a Judicial Affairs Sanction, but can be used as part of a sanction for violating the Code of Conduct.
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Updated October 31, 2007