Interim Measures and Sanctions

2.8 | Interim Measures and Sanctions

2.8.A | Interim Measures: The University may take immediate action to prevent misconduct, its recurrence, and address any effects on members of the community. This includes immediate steps to protect parties before the final outcomes of the investigations. These steps will attempt to minimize the burden on a reporter, witness, or alleged, while respecting the due process rights of all. The implementation of interim measures does not replace the conduct process, which shall proceed on the normal schedule. Interim measures can include, but are not limited to:

1. A hold placed on a student's account, limiting their ability to register for courses, pull transcripts, etc.
2. Revocation of access to on campus buildings/areas/halls.
3. No Contact Order placed between two parties, which prohibits individuals from contacting one another through any means.
4. Interim Suspension of a Student: At any point in the process, an alleged may be subject to removal from WT or the program/activity on an emergency basis, provided that an individualized safety and risk analysis (conducted by, or in conjunction with a WTAMU's Behavioral Intervention Team member) has determined that an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of any student or other individual arising from the allegations justifies immediate removal. The interim suspension does not replace the conduct process, which shall proceed on the normal schedule. The student should be notified in writing of this action and reasons for the interim suspension.
   1. Conduct, on or off campus, which may result in interim suspension:
      1. A significant and articulable threat to the health or safety of a student or other member(s) of the University community.
      2. Sexual assault, other forms of sexual misconduct, stalking, and relationship violence that create a hostile environment for the victim, and the remedy for the harassment requires a temporary separation. All sex based and civil rights-based cases will be adjudicated through the Title IX and Civil Rights process according to TAMUS Regulation and WTAMU Rules, which can be found here:
         1. TAMUS Regulation 08.01.01: https://policies.tamus.edu/08-01-01.pdf. 
         2. WT Rule 08.01.01.W1: https://www.wtamu.edu/_files/docs/about/rules-procedures/08-01-01-W1-Civil-Rights-Compliance.pdf. 
      3. Criminal felony charges related to weapons, drugs, aggravated assault, and/or terroristic threats.
      4. Severe disruption in the academic community related to erratic beahvior, threats, property damage, and/or verbal aggression with another student, where the offending student is uncooperative with staff requests.
      5. Violation of a No Contact determination.
      6. Retaliatory harm, discrimination, or harassment.

2.8.B | Resources and Referrals: Referrals and/or resources may be offered to students involved in the Conduct Process. These can include, but are not limited to:

1. Counseling Servies appointment
2. Victim's advocate assistance
3. Modifications to on-campus housing
4. Modifications to academic schedule

2.8.C | Interim Suspension of a Student Organization: If it is determined that a student organization's actions or activities are detrimental to the educational purposes of the University, and/or not in accordance with the Student Handbook, the student organization will lose its officially registration with the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership. The registration of a student organization may be temporarily suspended while an investigation is pending involving an alleged violation of registered student organization rules and regulations, as outlined in the Student Handbook. The Student Organization will be afforded all due process guidelines as described in the Student handbook. Conduct, on or off campus, of members of a Student Organization that may result in interim suspension can include, but are not limited to:

1. Violent or harassment-type behavior.
2. Organization events and activities resulting in allegations against individual students that may result in individual student interim suspension.
3. Cease and desist directives from regional or national entities.
4. Alcohol/drug rule/procedure violations during recruitment or social events.

2.8.D | Not in Good Standing: A student who is not in good standing is subject to the following restrictions:

1. Ineligible to hold an office in any student organization recognized by the University or to hold any elected or appointed office of the University.
2. Ineligibility to represent the University in any way, including representing the University at any official function, intercollegiate athletics or any forms of intercollegiate competition or representation. This includes events taking place both on and off of the University campus.
3. Eligibility to receive a University administered scholarship may be affected when the length of the period of not in good standing is greater than one semester. Some scholarships adhere to more strict guidelines, and, therefore, ineligibility may result from a lesser length of not in good standing.
4. Additional restrictions or conditions also may be imposed, depending on the nature and seriousness of the misconduct.

2.8.E | Student Conduct Findings: A student conduct officer may impose sanctions, conditions, and/or restrictions as a result of an Informal Resolution or Formal Resolution where a student is found Responsible.

1. Sanctions: Sanctions are defined as the primary outcome of the alleged violation.
   1. Disciplinary Reprimand: An official warning that the student's conduct is in violation of the WTAMU Student Handbook.
   2. Social Probation (for organizations): A period of time during which a student group or organization will not be allowed to have, host, or attend social gatherings as an entity of their organization.
   3. Conduct Review: An official warning that the student’s conduct is in violation of the WTAMU Student Handbook, but is not sufficiently serious to warrant expulsion, suspension, or disciplinary probation. A student on conduct review shall have their conduct under review for a specified period of time. This sanction may require regular meetings with an appropriate official to ascertain and evaluate the nature and seriousness of the misconduct. Students placed on this sanction remain in good standing with the University. If there is a finding of responsibility for subsequent violations of the WTAMU Student Handbook during this period of time, more severe sanctions may be administered.
   4. Disciplinary Probation: An official warning that the student’s conduct is in violation of the WTAMU Student Handbook, but is not sufficiently serious to warrant expulsion or suspension. A student on conduct probation is deemed “not in good standing” with the university. If there is a finding of Responsibility for subsequent violations of the WTAMU Student Handbook during this period of time, more severe sanctions may be administered.
   5. Suspension: A period of separation of the student from the University. The student is not guaranteed readmission at the end of the suspension, but is guaranteed a review of the case and a decision regarding eligibility for readmission. Suspension takes effect upon exhaustion of the disciplinary process. Suspensions may be implemented in one of two ways: immediate implementation of suspension or deferred implementation of suspension. A student who has been issued a suspension sanction is deemed “not in good standing” with the University. At the end of the suspension period, the student is eligible for reenrollment. Actual admission to the University will be determined by the academic rules in place at the time of application for re-enrollment.
      1. Immediate Suspension: Separation of the student from the University for a definite period of time.
      2. Deferred Suspension: The sanction of suspension may be placed in deferred status. If the student is found in violation of any University rule during the time of deferred suspension, the suspension takes effect immediately without further review. Additional student conduct sanctions appropriate to the new violation also may be applied.
   6. Expulsion: Separation of the student from the University whereby the student is not eligible for readmission to West Texas A&M University.
2. Conditions: Conditions are additional components of a disciplinary sanction. A condition is usually an educational element that is to occur in conjunction with the assigned sanction. Some examples of conditions include, but are not limited to:
   1. Personal and/or academic counseling intake session. This condition is attached to the outcome of the intake requiring a certain number of follow-up session to be determined by the intake administrator.
   2. Educational conditions and/or programs of educational service to the University and/or community.
   3. Residence hall relocation and/or contract review/cancellation of Residence Hall contact and/or use of dining facilities.
   4. Restitution or compensation for loss, damage, or injury, which may take the form of appropriate service and/or monetary or material replacement.
   5. Completion of an alcohol or drug education program.
   6. Completion of personal growth or development education program. For example, Anger Management, Substance Abuse, Hazing, Stress Management, etc.
   7. No Contact Order: This is an official directive from WT that two parties not have any contact with one another. This mutual No Contact Order asks both students to refrain from communicating in person, through electronic communications, or contacting one another via a third party.
3. Restrictions: The withdrawal of specified privileges for a defined period of time, but without the additional stipulations contained in the imposition of a sanction which results in a student being not in good standing. The restrictions involved will be clearly defined. Some examples of restrictions include, but are not limited to:
   1. Revocation of parking privileges.
   2. Denial of eligibility for holding office in registered student organizations.
   3. Denial of participation in extracurricular activities.
   4. Prohibited access to university facilities and/or prohibited direct or indirect contact with members of the University community.
   5. Loss of privileges on a temporary or permanent basis.