Any Rider University student who engages in any act or conduct proscribed in this Policy may, upon finding of responsibility by the appropriate hearing authority, be subject to one or more of the following consequences.

Violation Levels

For every allegation of misconduct, with the exception of the Alcohol Policy, which has its own sanctioning guidelines, the University assigns a corresponding level of violation. Levels, ranging from 1 (most serious) to 5 (least serious), indicate the alleged seriousness of a violation. Levels also dictate consequences that may be imposed if a student is found responsible for misconduct. The hearing authority ultimately determines a level of responsibility. A student may be charged at one level by the Community Standards administrator and the standards board or other hearing authority may find responsibility at a different level. Hearings are intended to allow a student to dispute the level of violation in addition to responsibility. Mitigating factors shall be taken into account by all hearing authorities, along with all relevant circumstances, in determining the appropriate consequence(s) to be assigned at that level.

Level 1

  1. The student may be expelled from the University indefinitely and possibly permanently.
  2. The student must be dismissed for a minimum of one year.
  3. As with any other separation from the University, students wishing to return to Rider must re-apply for admission to the Dean of Students. Students found responsible at this level are not entitled to a refund of tuition or housing costs.

Level 2

  1. The student may be dismissed from the University for a period not to exceed one year.
  2. If the option in “a” above is not warranted, then the hearing authority must remove the student from residency on campus and impose restrictions on that student’s access to campus areas. In the case of a commuter, the student shall be restricted from entry into non-academic buildings.
  3. As with any other separation from the University, suspended students wishing to return to Rider must re-apply for admission to the Dean of Students. In the case of removal from residency, students must apply for housing to the director of residence life. Students found responsible at this level are not entitled to a refund of tuition or housing costs.
  4. The student may be put on disciplinary probation for a specific time period. The hearing authority may impose any other consequence(s), other than dismissal, which it considers applicable including but not limited to, delay of diploma, non-attendance at commencement ceremonies, disallowance from entry to campus buildings or areas, loss of group recognition, recommended loss of Greek charter, personal counseling, community restitution, financial restitution, assigned tasks, etc.
  5. In every case at this level, except when dismissal is mandated, a fine of not less than $75 but not greater than $200 must be imposed. The fine may be per person when appropriate.

Level 3

  1. The student’s residency status may be terminated or altered, and they may be restricted from areas on campus. A commuter student may be restricted from some campus buildings or areas. In the case of removal from residency, the student(s) must apply for housing to the director of residence life. In the case of a commuter student, they shall be restricted from non-academic areas and unable to attend campus-wide events.
  2. Students found responsible at this level are not entitled to a refund of housing costs.
  3. In addition to option “a,” a student may be put on disciplinary probation for a period of time.
  4. If the options in “a” and “b” above are not warranted, then the hearing authority shall impose a consequence of community restitution hours, or social restrictions for a specified time, during which certain privileges may be revoked including, but not limited to, ability to participate in extracurricular activities, ability to attend or sponsor events such as intramurals or Greek Week, ability to use campus facilities, etc. It may also impose any other consequence(s) which it considers applicable including, but not limited to, non-attendance at commencement ceremonies, assigned tasks, participation in counseling, etc. Note: A violation of the Alcohol Policy at this level requires participation in the Alcohol Education Program.
  5. In every case, at this level a fine of not less than $30 but not greater than $100 must be imposed. The fine may be per person when appropriate.

Level 4

  1. The student may have social restrictions imposed for a specified period during which certain privileges may be revoked which include, but are not limited to, participation in intramurals, Greek Week, or other social events, ability to visit other buildings or use certain facilities, etc.
  2. If the options in “a” above are not warranted, then the hearing authority must include a warning to the student regarding future violations. It may also impose any other consequence(s), excluding those in “a” above, which it considers applicable, including, but not limited to, restitution, assigned tasks, community restitution hours, participation in counseling. Note: A violation of the Alcohol Policy at this level requires participation in Alcohol Education Program.
  3. In every case at this level, a fine of not less than $20 but not greater than $50 must be imposed. The fine may be per person when appropriate.

Level 5

  1. The hearing authority must impose a consequence of a general warning in the student’s file. It may also impose any other consequence(s) which it considers applicable, including but not limited to, community or financial restitution, assigned tasks, participation in the Alcohol Education Program, etc.
  2. In every case at this level, a fine not greater than $25 must be imposed. The fine may be per person when appropriate.

Consequences

  • Expulsion – Permanent termination of student status.
  • Dismissal – Temporary separation of student from University. Such action may be deemed appropriate as a consequence for more serious or repetitious violation of campus regulations. Dismissal shall not be construed as a permanent separation from the community and conditions of readmission (if any are ordered) shall be stated in the hearing authority’s decision. Students dismissed for violations of University policy are considered eligible for readmission to the University, and must apply for readmission through the Dean of Students Office prior to their anticipated return date.
  • Removal from Residence – Requirement that the housing contract of the individual with the University be voided and that the individual be removed from the residence halls within five days of the date of the hearing. Note: Removal from residency may occur at the discretion of the Associate Dean of Residential Programs, consistent with the University Housing agreement, for failure to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the University exclusive of any community standards process.
  • Alteration of Residence Status – Requirement that the residence location of the student be changed by the Residence Life Office within five days of the date of the hearing.
  • Disciplinary Probation – Time period during which any future violations will likely result in either removal from residency or suspension from the University depending on the offense and the student’s community standards history.
  • Social Restrictions – Restrictions from specific privilege(s), extracurricular activities, campus event(s), contact with person or organization, etc.
  • Campus Restrictions – Restrictions from being present in campus buildings or areas.
  • Community Restitution – Activities or actions designed to return to the community a portion of the goodwill that was taken away by the commission of the violation. Service to the community should be designed to better the social and/or physical environment of the University and its surrounding community.
  • Financial Restitution – Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property. Restitution may take the form of appropriate services to compensate for damages.
  • Fines – Monetary amounts imposed within the limits defined.
  • Referral to Appropriate Counseling Services.
  • Administrative Directive – A statement, written, oral, or as part of a University policy, from an administrator of the University to be complied with by student(s). May require refraining from conduct or completing an act.
  • Alcohol Education Program – Includes alcohol education class, an online program, and other educational activities to be determined by the Alcohol/Drug & Sexual Assault Prevention Education Coordinator (ASAP).
  • Warning – Notice to the student, in writing, that continuation or repetition of the conduct found wrongful within a period of time as stated in the warning, may be cause for more severe disciplinary action.
  • Other consequences as warranted.