GRADUATE STUDENT STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Loyola College places in highest regard the establishment and maintenance of a campus environment of interpersonal care and personal responsibility. Only when such a community exists can the College fulfill its goal to ensure the intellectual, ethical, social, and spiritual development and growth of its students. Honesty, integrity, and taking responsibility for the welfare of self and others are characteristics of such a community. Loyola, therefore, sets high expectations of its students, as well as members of its faculty, administration, and staff, for conduct that supports the maintenance of a caring community. Students are expected to conduct themselves in such a manner as to ensure the health and welfare of all members of the College community.

To these ends, students are expected to conform to all policies and regulations of the College. These include officially adopted policies such as the Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Procedures, Employee Grievance Policy and Hearings Procedures, Policy on Consensual Relationships, Loyola College Alcohol Policies and Procedures, and Ethical Use of Technology Policy as well as policies on academic integrity and regulations concerning parking and the use of the Loyola-Notre Dame Library. Copies of these documents are accessible on-line, www.loyola.edu/academics/academicaffairs/gradprgms. Many of these policies specify procedures for handling alleged violations.

Some graduate programs require students to participate in an international field study or other study abroad experience. When involved in international programs, students should remember that each country has distinct laws, regulations, and acceptable standards of conduct. Loyola’s graduate students, as representatives of the College, are expected to abide by local standards for conduct, dress, speech, and social behavior. Graduate students should not violate local standards or laws, and should not engage in behaviors that damage the reputation of international study programs or Loyola College.

Students must abide by federal, state, and local laws. A student who is accused of a crime may be required by the appropriate Dean to take a leave of absence until the matter is resolved. Upon resolution of the matter by federal, state, or local authorities, the appropriate Dean will forward the case to the appropriate body for determination of the student’s status, which may include dismissal from the College.

Graduate programs that have as their mission training students for a service profession include professional comportment as a requirement for students, in addition to academic performance and integrity. These departments have a Professional Assessment Review (PAR) process that allows for assessment of professional behavior and recommendation of remedial interventions. Such remedial recommendations or requirements may include personal counseling, additional supervision, additional coursework, or other assignments deemed useful for professional development. On occasion, students are unable to meet standards following remedial efforts or refuse to accept recommendations for remediation. In these cases, the PAR Committee may recommend dismissal from the program. In addition, if the PAR Committee finds substantial evidence of personal or professional difficulties, the Committee may recommend suspension (during which time the student may not take academic courses, clinical placement, or research work, or be in any other way connected with the College) with a required program of remediation or dismissal from the program. If the PAR Committee recommends suspension or dismissal, that recommendation is sent to the appropriate academic Dean, with a copy to the student. The Dean considers the Committee’s recommendation, makes a decision about appropriate action, if any, and informs the student in writing; normally, this notification occurs no later than 10 working days after the Dean receives the Committee’s recommendation. The student may appeal to the College Board on Discipline. The student must file the appeal within five working days of receiving the Dean’s decision. The only grounds for appeal are procedural. The appeal is heard by a Review Panel drawn from members of the College Board on Discipline. The Review Panel hears the case and informs the student in writing of its decision. The Review Panel’s decision is final.

Any member of the College community who observes a violation of the standards of conduct for graduate students should bring it to the attention of the appropriate Dean, or his or her designee. Upon receiving information about a possible violation, the Dean, or his or her designee, investigates whether there is sufficient evidence to explore the matter further. If there seems to be such evidence, the Dean, or his or her designee, notifies the student in writing of the alleged misconduct. The student may submit written information related to the allegation to the Dean, or his or her designee, and may also request a meeting with the Dean, or his or her designee. If the Dean, or his or her designee, determines that a violation of the standards of conduct for graduate students has likely occurred, the Dean, or his or her designee, forwards the file to the appropriate body for further consideration. For alleged violations of College-wide policies, such as harassment, the Dean, or his or her designee, follows the procedures as specified in the particular policy document. If the allegation concerns misconduct related to clinical work, the Dean, or his or her designee, refers the matter to the appropriate department chair who convenes a departmental PAR Committee, following the procedures set forth in the appropriate program handbook. In all other cases, the Dean, or his or her designee, refers the matter to the College Judicial Process.

If the matter is referred to the College Judicial Process, then Vice-President for Student Development, or his or her designee, appoints an Administrative Panel, drawn from faculty and administrators. The Panel hears the case, according to established procedures, and makes a decision about responsibility. If the student is found responsible, the Panel also determines the sanction. The Panel sends a written copy of the decision and sanction, if any, to the student. If the student is found responsible, the student may appeal to the College Board on Discipline. The student must file the appeal within five working days of receiving the Administrative Panel’s decision. The only grounds for appeal are procedural. The appeal is heard by a Review Panel, drawn from members of the College Board on Discipline. The Review Panel hears the case and informs the student in writing of its decision. The Review Panel’s decision is final.

Warnings, suspensions, and dismissals are possible penalties for violations of College regulations and standards of personal conduct. Suspension and dismissal are normally the only actions that are recorded on the student's permanent record.

A student may be separated from the College if it is determined that the student is suffering from a psychological or medical disorder, and as a result of the disorder engages in or threatens to engage in, or is likely to engage in, behavior that poses a danger to self or others; behavior that directly and substantially interferes with the lawful activities of others; behavior that results in the student’s inability to pursue academic work; or if the student is in need of treatment beyond what is available at the College.