General Policies,
Rules & Procedures

Code of Conduct

Off-Campus
Misconduct Policy

Academic Integrity

Victim Rights

Alcohol Policy

Sexual Assault

Student Discipline Records

Parental Notification

Crime Statistics

Fees

Reference Manual

Terms to Know

The following is a quick dictionary of the most commonly used terms on the Office of Judicial Affairs Website and within the Discipline Process.

Academic Integrity:  Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner.  Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception.  Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.

Academic Sanctions:  Academic sanctions are actions or interventions that affect the student’s grade and/or enrollment in a course in which an act of academic dishonesty was committed.

Administrative Directive:  An administrative directive is a written notification for a student to have no direct and/or indirect contact either physical or verbal with another student.

Administrative Hearing:  If during the Disciplinary Conference the student contests the charges, he/she may be assigned to an Administrative Hearing.  The Administrative Hearing is consists of a single Administrative Hearing Officer. During the course of an Administrative Hearing, the hearing officer is investigating an Allegation of Student Misconduct to determine if a violation took place, and if so to determine the appropriate sanction.

Attempt:  A person commits an attempt, when with intent to commit a specific violation of the Student Code of Conduct; he/she performs any act that constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of that violation.

Charge: The section of the Code of Conduct that a student violated during the course of an incident.

Code of Conduct:  The Code of Conduct describes behaviors that are inconsistent with the essential values of the University community.  Intentionally attempting or assisting in these behaviors may be considered as serious as engaging in the behavior.

Disciplinary Conference:  The Disciplinary Conference is an informal, non-adversarial meeting between a student and a Judicial Affairs staff member.  The purpose of the Disciplinary Conference is to examine the complaint, listen to the student, discuss circumstances regarding the incident, and hear student concerns.  Typically, the Judicial Affairs staff will not file formal charges prior to the Disciplinary Conferences except in special cases like Interim Expulsion.

Disciplinary Probation: Disciplinary probation is assigned for a specified period of time and is intended to foster reflection, responsibility, and improved decision-making.  Additional conditions and/or educational programs may be assigned as a component of the probation.  Future established misconduct,  failure to comply with any conditions or to complete any assignments may lead to a more severe disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion.

Disciplinary probation may be recorded on the official University transcript when, either due to the serious nature of the offense or when a student’s disciplinary history is significant, the Office of Judicial Affairs determines a notation is merited.  

Disciplinary Suspension: Disciplinary suspension of the student from the University is assigned for a specified period of time that excludes the student from registration, class attendance, residence on campus, and use of University facilities.  During the period of disciplinary suspension, the student will be prohibited from using or visiting University facilities unless special permission is obtained from the Senior Director of Judicial Affairs or designee. During the period of the suspension a notation will appear on the student’s official University transcript.

Disciplinary Warning:  A warning to a student that conduct was questionable and/or inappropriate and that further misconduct will result in moiré severe disciplinary action.  The warning is recorded in the files of the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Discipline Records: Student Discipline Records are part of a student’s formal educational record.  The Disciplinary Record includes:  Judicial Affairs records related to the Student Code of Conduct, Residence Life records related to the residence hall Community Standards Program and records related to Academic Integrity Policy.

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.  See the University Records Policy at:

Educational Sanctions:  Educational Sanctions are sanctions that the University reserves the right to assign to students in lieu of, in conjunction with, or in addition to administrative sanctions.

Expulsion:  Expulsion of the student from the University is permanent.  The student will be prohibited from using or visiting University facilities unless special permission is obtained from the Senior Director of Judicial Affairs or designee. Expulsion requires administrative review and approval by the President.  The sanction of expulsion will be permanently noted on the student’s official University transcript.

Harassment:  General harassment is a violation of University policy. A personviolates this section when, with intent to harass or alarm another, the person (a) subjects the other person or group of persons to unwanted physical contact or the threat of such contact; or (b) engages in a course of conduct, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances which demonstrate intent to place the other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause the other person substantial emotional distress.

Indefinite Expulsion:  Indefinite expulsion of the student from the University for no less than one calendar year and re-enrollment must be approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs at University Park or by the Chancellor at other campus locations.  During the period of the indefinite expulsion, the student will be prohibited from using or visiting University facilities unless special permission is obtained from the Senior Director of Judicial Affairs or designee.  If a student wishes to return to the University he/she must request re-enrollment (in writing) from the Senior Director of Judicial Affairs or designee. During the period of the expulsion a notation will appear on the student’s official University transcript.

Interim Expulsion:  Requires that a student immediately leave the campus pending disciplinary proceedings (or medical evaluation). During the period of the interim expulsion, the student will be prohibited from using or visiting University facilities unless special permission is obtained from the Senior Director of Judicial Affairs or designee. Any student who is expelled and returns to campus during the Interim Expulsion shall be subject to an Indefinite Expulsion or Permanent Expulsion.

Loss of Privilege:  Loss of privilege is the withdrawal of the use of service, participation in an activity, or withdrawal of privileges consistent with offense(s) and may be imposed separately or in addition to other sanctions.

Restitution: Restitution requires a student to pay for damages or misappropriation of property and may be imposed separately or in addition to other sanctions.

Sexual Misconduct:  Sexual Misconduct is attempted or actual unwanted sexual activity, such as sexual touching or fondling.

Transcript:  A transcript of a student's academic record is a chronological report of the student's academic work recorded at the University and a record of the student's performance in Penn State courses

University Hearing Board: If during the Disciplinary Conference the student contests the charges, he/she may be assigned to an University Hearing Board (UHB) Hearing.  The UHB consists of a chair person along with four other people- 2 faculty/staff, 2 students. During the course of a UHB hearing, the boardmembers are investigating an Allegation of Student Misconduct to determine if a violation took place, and if so to determine the appropriate sanction.

“XF” Grade:  The “XF” grade is an official University sanction noting a serious violation of academic integrity and appears on the student’s transcript.