When a student allegedly violates the Student Code of Conduct or the Policies & Procedures for Dorm Living, the student is subject to a University administrative process in which responsibility for a violation of these rules is determined. A legal process and University administrative process can be concurrent if a student has violated the law, as well as the Student Code of Conduct or the Policies & Procedures for Dorm Living. Due to FERPA regulations, it is your responsibility to speak with your student directly about their involvement in this process.
Find frequently asked questions (FAQs) for parents about the Policies & Procedures for Dorm Living and the Conduct Process below.
Conduct Process | Confidentiality & FERPA | Educational Interventions
Conduct Process
If your student is under the age of 21, the University may disclose to parents, or the legal guardian, information concerning a violation of any federal, state or local law, or any rule or policy of the institution governing the use or possession of alcohol and/or a controlled substance. The University of Arizona, in its continuing commitment to educate students, is providing this notice which is consistent with the recent amendments to FERPA.
Preponderance of evidence is the burden of proof a hearing officer uses to make a decision of responsibility. It means that if a hearing officer believes it is “more likely than not” that a student violated the Policies & Procedures for Dorm Living or the Student Code of Conduct, the hearing officer will find the student responsible for the violation and possibly issue educational interventions. Other burdens of proof that may be familiar include:
- Clear and convincing evidence
- Beyond a reasonable doubt
When a student allegedly violates the Student Code of Conduct or the Policies & Procedures for Dorm Living, the student is subject to a University administrative process in which responsibility for a violation of these rules is determined. A legal process and University administrative process can be concurrent if a student has violated the law, as well as the Student Code of Conduct or the Policies & Procedures for Dorm Living.
Students have the right to bring an advisor (friend, parent, student, etc.) to a hearing. However, advisors may not participate in the hearing in any way, other than to privately advise the student and provide personal support.A lawyer, as an advisor to a student, may not participate in the University’s administrative process. However, a lawyer can be retained at the student’s expense to consult and offer support.
A student’s conduct record is independent from their academic record, unless a finding of responsibility results in suspension or expulsion from the University.
Students are also held to a high standard regarding academic integrity. A violation of this code could result in disciplinary action. More information regarding the Code of Academic Integrity can be found on the Dean of Students Office website.
Students can request a Hall Transfer any time during the academic year through the University of Arizona Housing portal My UAHome, which can be accessed by clicking on the “Apply” icon located at the bottom of each Housing & Residential Life webpage. Availability in a specific residence hall dictates the approval process. The student can speak with their Community Director for additional information.
Moving a student's belongings is the student's responsibility. We recommend enlisting the help of friends to assist in this process.
Confidentiality & FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a set of federal regulations governing the rights of students and institutional responsibilities with respect to student records (educational records). It is also known as the Buckley Amendment. All of your students’ education records, including housing records, are protected by FERPA.
The student would submit the signed waiver to the original hearing officer, who can share additional information with the student’s permission. Download a copy of this waiver here.
Ultimately, a student’s conduct (and academic) record belongs to the student, regardless of who may be paying for a student’s education. The University adheres to the strict policies regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which governs the rights of students and institutional responsibilities with respect to student records (educational records). Find the confidentiality waiver here.
Educational Interventions
The Housing & Residential Life Conduct System is educational in nature. Its primary purpose is to help students learn from the choices they make and to become a positive contributor to the dorm community. Consequences, or "educational interventions," are assigned when a student is found responsible for violating the Policies & Procedures for Dorm Living, contractual obligation, or law. Educational interventions are intended to help students learn how their behavior affected the residential community. The educational interventions assigned for any subsequent violation build upon those assigned previously. Examples of possible educational interventions can be found in the Educational Interventions and Definitions page.
A monetary sanction is assessed as part of the conduct process only when a student is found responsible for violating Housing & Residential Life's Policies & Procedures for Dorm Living. The monetary sanction is utilized to offer on-going training to staff, additional community programming to residents, and to assist with maintenance of Housing & Residential Life's conduct database.
During a conduct hearing, the hearing officer provides information to a student regarding an option to do Community Service instead of being assessed the monetary sanction.
After being placed on Deferred License Agreement Termination status, a student is liable to have their License Agreement terminated and be required to move out of the residence halls if they are again found responsible for violating one or more Housing & Residential Life policies.