Student Disciplinary Systems

The University of Chicago is a community of scholars dedicated to research, academic excellence, and the pursuit and cultivation of learning. Every member of the University — student, faculty, and staff — makes a commitment to strive for personal and academic integrity; to treat others with dignity and respect; to honor the rights and property of others; to take responsibility for individual and group behavior; and to act as a responsible citizen in a free academic community and in the larger society. Any student conduct, on or off campus, of individuals or groups, that threatens or violates this commitment may become a matter for action within the University's system of student discipline.

The intent of the student disciplinary systems is to ensure a fair and orderly proceeding on questions of possible student misconduct. A disciplinary proceeding enjoys neither the advantages nor the limitations inherent in an adversarial proceeding of a court of law.

The University's disciplinary systems and the legal-judicial structures of the general society differ and are distinct in principle. It may be taken as self-evident that students do not abdicate any of the rights that are guaranteed to them by the civil society and that they are at all times free to claim and assert those rights through the institutions, presumably judicial, of that society. At the same time, it is affirmed that the University is a private enclave, dedicated to a purpose that imposes additional and special obligations while granting certain privileges to its members. The University's disciplinary procedures are therefore not to be confused with the processes of law: the University's regulations are applied to incidents that are not "cases," the bodies that hear and dispose of incidents are not "courts," individuals who may accompany a student in the course of a disciplinary proceeding are not "counsel" advocating on behalf of the student and scrutinizing procedures for compliance with "rules of evidence," and requests for review of disciplinary decisions are not "appeals." As a leading illustration of the sense of this statement, it should be understood that the relation of collegiality and trust that binds all members of the University community entails an obligation of truthfulness and candor on the part of everyone who participates in a disciplinary proceeding. An accused student must appear before a disciplinary committee to help it reach a complete and fair understanding of the facts of the incident at issue, not merely to present a narrowly constructed answer to the complaint.

The University has three student disciplinary systems:

• Area Disciplinary Systems in the College, graduate divisions, professional schools, and the Graham School of General Studies address violations of University policies and regulations and other breaches of the standards of behavior expected of University students. Each academic unit has written procedures for student discipline that follow similar processes with variations that reflect the values and educational goals of the specific academic unit. Those procedures may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Students of the academic unit or from the Office of the Vice President/Dean of Students in the University.
• The University House System Discipline applies to offenses within or against the House System (e.g. vandalism, disruption, excessive noise). Serious offenses within the House System are referred to an appropriate Area Disciplinary System.
• The All University Disciplinary System is a procedure for student offenses that are organized or designed to hinder or disrupt the operations of the University (for example: the disruption of teaching, research, administration, or meetings).

Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students, 2007