Frequently Asked Questions by Students

It means that you have been referred to the Office of Student Conduct for an alleged violation of University policy. Referrals come from a variety of places, including but not limited to, housing, campus police, faculty, coaches, etc. At this meeting, the Coordinator or Assistant Dean will discuss your rights with you, the information that was presented in the referral, and ask for your side of the story.

A referral does not mean you are responsible. The violations are alleged and are pending until the full conduct process is completed.

You must submit a written incident report and any supporting documentation necessary to prove the case. Please submit the incident report via the online form.

A registration and/or transcript hold is placed on your student account preventing you from registering for future semesters and preventing the release of your transcript. This hold typically is not removed until the pending conduct matter is resolved. If you live on campus, we will request that your locks be changed, and you will not have access to your room until you have scheduled an appointment. You will be charged for the lock change.

Generally this is a bad idea. If you wait until the last minute to try to resolve the issue, you run the risk of not being able to register on time. If you have a registration hold on your account, it will NOT be removed until you have attended a meeting and addressed the issue at hand.

Cooperation and honesty. The disciplinary process is educational and requires that you own up to a mistake you may have made. You will be given all the information about how the process works and what you can expect during your initial meeting.

The process begins when the notification letter is sent. We will send a “Rights and Responsibilities” form to you prior to your meeting, and you will be asked to read and sign the form. Upon arrival to the office, you will also be asked to complete a form that asks you whether or not you accept responsibility for the alleged violation(s). This allows the staff member to quickly ascertain “where you stand” regarding the potential violations. You and the Conduct Officer will then discuss the situation.

If further investigation is needed, you will be asked to schedule another appointment for a later date. If further investigation is not needed, and you want to go ahead and have an administrative hearing, the Conduct Officer will hear your case and issue their finding (responsible, not responsible, and/or dismissed). If you are found responsible for any violation, appropriate sanctions (consequences) will be issued. If you are found not responsible or the charge(s) are dismissed, no sanctions are issued.

No. You may sign a FERPA(Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) form to release our staff to discuss your case with anyone of your choosing; however, you cannot be represented by anyone. Our staff will not speak to anyone about your circumstances without a signed form on file in our office and under no circumstances will anyone be allowed to represent you in the conduct process unless you are facing suspension or expulsion from the institution. Please stop by the office in KUC 208 to fill out a “FERPA Release” form.

You are allowed to call fact witnesses during the disciplinary process. A fact witness is someone who was present during the incident in question and can provide direct information about what happened. The fact witness(es) will be asked questions by all parties involved. If you are found responsible for any violations, you are permitted to call a character witness during the sanctioning phase of the process. A character witness is someone who can speak to your character and what kind of person you are outside of this incident. A character witness will be asked to provide a statement about your character and will not be asked specific questions.

No. The university uses the “preponderance of the evidence” standard. In simple terms, the staff member will examine the incident and determine “what is more likely than not” to have occurred. In percentage terminology, the evidence has to be at 51% or higher to support a finding of responsibility.

It is the choice of an individual student whether or not to retain an attorney. If you choose to have an attorney present during the initial meeting(s), the attorney may only act as your advisor. The advisor's role is limited to advising the student. An advisor cannot make opening statements, cross-examine witnesses, engage in argument, or represent the student in any way. The advisor is simply there to encourage, support, and guide the student. Only students who are recommended for suspension or expulsion have an option to be represented by an attorney.

No. You are required to meet with a representative from our office. We do not conduct disciplinary meetings via any other means. We will not discuss the matter with you via telephone prior to your meeting.

Yes. As a student here at MTSU, you are responsible for violations of the law and violations of University rules. The student conduct process is separate from the legal system. For more information please refer to dual responsibilities.

It depends on your individual circumstances. Sanctions at the university range from a verbal warning through expulsion from the institution. Generally the following factors are considered when sanctions are given: nature of the offense, previous disciplinary history, motivation for the behavior, mitigating and aggravating circumstances, sanctioning precedents, the student's attitude, the likelihood of repeated behavior, and the developmental and educational impact for the individual student and MTSU community. Violence, sexual misconduct, drug sales, and repeated, pattern behavior are the most consistent behaviors that warrant suspension or expulsion from the institution.

Yes. This is 100% true and drug violations are the number one reason students are removed from housing. It is important to note that students are removed immediately and are required to pay out their housing contract, meaning that you will have to pay for your on-campus room/apartment even though you don’t live there.

It is also important to note, that repeated instances of your room or person smelling like an illegal drug may result in your removal. 

No. If you choose to withdraw before dealing with the disciplinary process, a registration hold will be placed on your student account. You will not be allowed to register for future classes until you go through the conduct process.

Student traffic citation appeals are heard by the Court of Traffic Appeals. Please visit the Student Government Association web site for full information.

Appeals may be made here.