Policies
- Community Standards
- Psychological/Medical Leave Policy
- Graduate Disciplinary Process
- Bias Reporting
- Sexual and Gender Based Misconduct Policy
- Honor Council
- Student Concerns about Athletic Programs and Activities
An Introduction to Community Standards
Go to the Student Conduct website to view the full policy
Guided by the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis, which underscores the value placed on the God-given dignity of every human person, Loyola University Maryland 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 University fulfill its goal to ensure the intellectual, ethical, social, and spiritual development, or formation, of its students. A caring university community can exist only when all of its members commit themselves to this purpose. Honesty, integrity, and taking responsibility for the welfare of self and others are characteristics of such a community. Loyola University Maryland, therefore, sets high expectations of its students, as well as its faculty, administration, and staff, for conduct that supports the maintenance of a caring community. As students, you are expected to conduct yourselves in such a manner as to ensure the health and welfare of all members of the Loyola community. To this end, all students are expected to know and respect the student code of conduct and the honor code.
The student code of conduct, the honor code, and other policies have been constructed to help ensure the well-being and development of all students, faculty, administration, and staff of Loyola University Maryland. In addition to setting forth expectations for student conduct in academic and social domains, these codes and policies identify for students the processes for the adjudication of violations to the codes and policies. The disciplinary process is established as a primarily educative mechanism by which students are provided with feedback about insensitive and harmful behaviors in which they may engage, and with opportunities and, in most cases, assistance to modify behaviors. Through the judicial process, students who violate the codes come to learn the importance of accepting personal responsibility for behavior that violates community standards. In some instances of misconduct, a student may be removed from the residential community or from the University. Being a member of the Loyola community is a privilege that carries with it responsibility for the well being of all other members of the community.
Psychological/Medical Leave Policy
The intent of this policy is to assist students who are not able to function effectively in the University community for medical reasons, including mental, emotional, or psychological conditions. It is also the intent of this policy to enable the student to continue toward the successful completion of his/her academic goals, if not immediately, then in the future.
A student will be subject to withdrawal from the University if it is determined that the student is suffering from a medical or psychological condition, which can include alcohol or other substance dependence, and as a result of the condition:
- Engages or threatens to engage in, or is likely to engage in, behavior that poses a significant danger to self or others;
- Engages or threatens to engage in, or is likely to engage in, behavior that directly and substantially interferes with the activities of others;
- Engages or threatens to engage in, or is likely to engage in, behavior that substantially impairs the student’s ability to pursue academic work; or
- Refuses to cooperate with efforts deemed necessary by the associate dean of students or his or her designee (the "associate dean") to determine whether the student's behavior falls within one or more of the criteria listed above.
The vice president for student development or the dean of students will appoint a designee who will notify the student that a separation for medical reasons is under consideration and arrange for a conference with the student. In addition, the designee may require that the student undergo an evaluation by an appropriate licensed health care practitioner of the student’s choosing within a time period specified by the designee. The results of this evaluation, along with any recommendations, will be forwarded to the dean of students’ office. The results of this evaluation, along with any recommendations, will be forwarded to the associate dean. Any such recommendations are not binding on the University.
Before a student is separated for medical reasons, the associate dean shall convene (and may participate in) a review committee comprised of professional staff members from the Counseling Center, the Health Center, and Residence Life & Housing. The committee will review all information related to the case, including any evaluation or treatment plan for the student, and make a decision regarding the student’s status. The associate dean shall notify the student in writing of any decision by the review committee to withdraw the student.
Within five days of receiving the notice of withdrawal, the student may appeal the decision by sending a written request to the vice president for student development explaining why the student believes the withdrawal is unwarranted. At the discretion of the vice president for student development, the withdrawal may remain in effect during the period of the appeal. The vice president for student development will review the student’s request, may consult with the student, the associate dean, and/or with the review committee, and may review the information considered by the committee. The vice president for student development will make a decision within five days of receiving the appeal and will notify the student of the decision. This decision is final. If the vice president for student development is not available to act in connection with the appeal, he or she may appoint a designee; provided, however, that the designee may not be the associate dean or an individual who served on the review committee in the student's case.
If a student’s behavior poses a significant danger of causing imminent harm to the student or to others, or of directly and substantially interfering with the activities of others, the associate dean may require an immediate interim withdrawal of the student. Such interim withdrawal will remain in effect until the review committee renders a decision regarding the student’s separation for medical reasons or the associate dean otherwise rescinds the interim withdrawal, whichever is sooner. During the period of the interim withdrawal, reasonable efforts will be made to expedite the evaluation and review process described above.
A student who is withdrawn under this policy is required to comply with any conditions established by the University at the time of separation or at the time of proposed re-enrollment. In this regard, the associate dean may require a recommendation from the director of the Health Center or the director of the Counseling Center or any additional documentation or evaluation deemed necessary.
Information regarding financial aid, federal student loans, and tuition refund policy in the case of a leave of absence is set forth in the undergraduate catalogue.
Graduate Disciplinary Process
As a Catholic university in the Jesuit tradition, Loyola strives to nurture the formation of “men and women for others” and to provide an atmosphere of cura personalis, care for the whole person, so that each individual can realize his or her full potential. All members of the Loyola community have the right to be treated with courtesy and respect. In this spirit, Loyola espouses the highest ethical standards and expects students, faculty, administrators, and staff to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds these principles. There are several general areas in which these standards of conduct apply: official University-wide policies, legal regulations, specialized professional codes of ethics, and generally acceptable standards of personal conduct.
Loyola University 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 University 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 University community.
To these ends, students are expected to conform to all policies and regulations of the University. 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 University 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 online. 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 University, 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.
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 University.
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 University) 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 University 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 University 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 University 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 University-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 University Judicial Process.
If the matter is referred to the University 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 University 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 University 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 University 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 University 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 University.
An Introduction to Bias Reporting
Loyola is a community that welcomes people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a Loyola student, you have a responsibility to take an active role in fostering a sense of community and sending the message that mistreatment of others and insensitivity within our campus will not be tolerated. Students who feel they have been the target of bias (or who have witnessed a bias related behavior) may report the incident online, or contact the dean of students office. Thank you for taking a step toward creating a more inclusive community.
If you are interested in creating a community that welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, below is a list of organizations and departments that provide educational diversity programs and resources.
Sexual and Gender Based Misconduct Policy
For purposes of this section, “consent” is defined as an affirmative indication by words and/or actions of a voluntary agreement to engage in the particular sexual act or conduct in question. Consent for one sexual act or conduct does not constitute consent to all sexual acts or conduct. Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and once withdrawal of consent has been expressed, sexual activity must cease. Consent cannot be obtained through the use of force, threat, intimidation, or coercion. Consent cannot be given by someone who is not able to effectively communicate or to understand the nature of the conduct being engaged in as a result of incapacitation due to consuming drugs or alcohol or for any other reason (including but not limited to being unconscious, asleep, or otherwise unaware that sexual activity is occurring). Incapacitation may also exist because of a physical, mental or developmental disability. Silence or absence of resistance on the part of an individual does not constitute his or her consent.
Sexual and gender based misconduct includes gender based harassment that does not involve conduct of a sexual nature.
a. Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to or rejection of such conduct is a condition or basis for employment or educational decisions affecting the individual, or which is sufficiently severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive as to have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or work environment.
b. Sexual Verbal Abuse
Sexual verbal abuse is using language that is sexual in nature and unwanted on the part of another person. Examples include but are not limited to phone calls or use of written and/or verbal communication that are intimidating, threatening, or obscene in nature.
c. Sexual Assault
Sexual assault includes any sexual act or sexual contact without consent, including intercourse; oral sex; unwanted touching of an intimate body part of another person, such as sexual organs, buttocks, or breasts; or an attempt of any of the above. Rape is a type of sexual assault. This description of prohibited sexual acts and conduct is not intended to be inclusive of all conduct that could fall within this category. It is the intent of this policy to provide notice that any unconsented sexual conduct, whether by a stranger or an acquaintance of the victim, is prohibited.
d. Domestic Violence
Domestic violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse of the victim by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of Maryland, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic violence laws of Maryland.
e. Dating Violence
Dating violence encompasses a broad range of behaviors, including sexual assault, physical abuse, and other forms of violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the complainant and where the existence of such a relationship is determined based on the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
f. Stalking
Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.
g. Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation means taking non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another person for one’s own advantage or benefit or for the advantage or benefit of anyone other than the person being exploited. Examples include but are not limited to non-consensual photography, video, or audio recording sexual images or activity, distributing images of sexual activity without consent, allowing others to observe a consensual sexual act without the prior knowledge or consent of all involved parties, and voyeurism.
For information and guidelines on Sexual and Gender Based Misconduct please see the Title IX page
An Introduction to the Honor Council
The honor code states that all students of the Loyola community have been equally entrusted by their peers to conduct themselves honestly on all academic assignments. Our goal is to foster a trusting atmosphere that is ideal for learning. In order to achieve this goal, every student must be actively committed to this pursuit and its responsibilities, and is therefore called to be active in the governing of the community’s standards. Thus, all students have the right, as well as the duty, to expect honest work from their colleagues. From this, we students will benefit and learn from the caring relationships that our community trustfully embodies.
Student Concerns about Athletic Programs and Activities
This policy explains the process for reporting and addressing student concerns regarding the University’s athletic programs and activities. A student who has a concern about any University athletic program or activity may report the incident online or contact the Dean of Students Office at 410-617-5171. In reporting such concerns, students may choose to keep their identities confidential, although the University reserves the right to properly address the substance of student concerns in its discretion. Concerns reportable under this policy may relate to a men’s or women’s varsity athletic program, club sport, or other athletic club or organization.
A student who engages in the process described in this policy to share concerns about any University athletic program or activity may not be subject to, and the University prohibits, any form of discrimination, retaliation, or discipline as a result.
Concerns related to potential violations of the University’s Code of Conduct should follow the relevant process as stated in the Loyola Community Standards and direct reports of potential violations to the Office of Student Conduct.