Bloomfield College sets forth a Code of Conduct for all students to follow. The Code of Conduct is designed to protect community well-being and secure academic standards. The Code outlines a number of actions that can be considered "misconduct" that can endanger a student's standings with the university. There are rules set forth Bloomfield College has a disciplinary policy that follows a judiciary program for cases that make it to the hearing level.
The disciplinary process beings with charges being brought forward regarding an incident of misconduct. Misconduct charges against a student can be brought forward by anyone in the Bloomfield College community, unless charges are for academic dishonesty, in which cases only instructors or other faculty may bring them forward. Academic issues are placed in the charge of the Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of Students, or a designee; while behavioral misconduct is in the care of the Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students or a respective designee. Once the charges are brought forward the respective Vice President & Dean will then begin the investigation.
Investigation
The investigation is a brief preliminary process to determine the necessity of a hearing. The Vice President & Dean, or an appointed designee will meet with all parties involved. The issue may be resolved without a judicial hearing and can result in the Vice President & Dean imposing appropriate sanctions outright after interviewing all parties. However, it may be necessary to bring the case to the judiciary board for a more scrutinized hearing.
Hearings
Bloomfield College hearings are intended to hold the student responsible for the misconduct of the student. Hearings will be overseen by an administrator known as an ombudsman; this position can be likened to a judge in a criminal case. Similarly, a panel known as the judiciary board will be the ones to deliberate on the matters of the case; they can be likened to a jury. Students will be able to present witnesses and statements, as well as any relevant evidence. All parties, including the accused student is welcome to questioning any witnesses. After the members of the judicial board are satisfied that they have heard a sufficient amount of evidence, they will begin their deliberation. They will determine whether the student was responsible for misconduct, the severity of the offense, and also the sanction that they believe is proper. The respective Vice President & Dean that handles the type of case will make the final decision on what sanctions to impose.
The hearing itself will be limited to College community members only, however, an attorney can still help students from behind the scenes. Students will feel a boost of confidence if an attorney is able to provide counsel and advice on testimony and evidence presentation prior to hearings. An attorney's advice can result in a more favorable hearing, especially when a student is confident that there is someone in their corner.
Sanctions
Bloomfield College will impose disciplinary sanctions if an accused student is found responsible for violating the Code of Conduct. When appropriate, sanctions may include a learning component in an attempt to prevent future disciplinary offenses. More than one of the sanctions listed below may be imposed for a violation, and the full range of sanctions is available depending on the nature and severity of the violation. Although the following sequence is followed in most instances, the severity of the student infraction may preclude this progression. Possible sanctions include:
- Disciplinary Warning
- Disciplinary Reprimand
- Remuneration
- Conduct Probation
- Withdraw from Class Due to Misconduct
- Suspension from Housing
- Dismissal from College Housing
- Partial Suspension from the College
- Total Suspension from the College
- Dismissal from the College
- Banishment
In addition to any of the above, the College will impose additional sanctions for academic integrity violations as deemed appropriate. The College can also invoke "Emergency Powers," and summarily suspend, dismiss, bar from campus, or take any other disciplinary action against a student deemed necessary.
Regretfully, some Bloomfield College students, despite their and their parents' best intentions, proceed with the College disciplinary process without a full understanding of the possible consequences, both immediate and long-term. Those unfamiliar with the realities of the disciplinary process often do not realize until it may be too late that Bloomfield College imposes suspensions and expulsions as a sanction more often than would be expected; even in disciplinary matters that may seem to be less serious. The stakes are very high, and some consequences are unforeseen; even sanctions lesser than suspension or expulsion can greatly jeopardize a student's academic and professional goals.
Bloomfield College sanctions for Title IX sexual misconduct violations, which include sexual harassment and sexual assault, stalking, and intimate partner violence, will always be severe, and Title IX sexual misconduct violations can have lifetime consequences. Bloomfield College will also promptly impose interim measures as deemed necessary to protect the complainant before the final outcome of a Title IX investigation and disciplinary proceeding involving Dating, Relationship or Sexual Misconduct or Violence.
Experience Matters - An Experienced Attorney's Role When Representing a Bloomfield College Student
Bloomfield College and a student's attorney may be able to work together to achieve an agreeable resolution before Code of Conduct disciplinary violations and/or academic misconduct charges are filed in certain instances. If charges have already been filed against a student, the accused student's attorney, also in certain instances, may be able to serve as an a liaison between Bloomfield College, the accused student, and other involved parties, in an effort to achieve a constructive resolution. Whether before or after Code of Conduct charges and/or academic integrity charges are filed, in working towards the prospect of an agreeable resolution, the extent of an attorney's involvement will be at the discretion of Bloomfield College. Every student's case is unique; an experienced attorney will understand what the College may be receptive to, and will approach the matter accordingly.
An attorney's involvement at Bloomfield College in matters involving Code of Conduct disciplinary charges and/or academic disciplinary charges should not be confused with Bloomfield College disciplinary cases involving Title IX sexual misconduct allegations. In Title IX student disciplinary proceedings, an experienced attorney must work both as the point of contact between the accused student and Bloomfield College as well as behind the scenes to defend against sexual misconduct and sexual assault allegations.
An experienced student discipline defense attorney will understand and use the most effective strategies when handling a student's case at Bloomfield College.
Appeals
In the event of an unfavorable outcome from the hearing, students are given an opportunity to make an appeal, so long as it is submitted within one week of receiving the written notification of the judiciary decision. Bloomfield College appeals must be made in writing to both the Vice President & Dean and the chairperson of the board that originally heard the case. The appeal must also be based on one of the following grounds of new evidence, procedural error or unfairness, inapplicability of the regulation, or unduly severe sanctioning. If the appropriate Vice President & Dean determines to move forward with the appeal, then an appellate hearing will be held in front of the Bloomfield College Board of Appeal. The appellate board will then hear out the case and make a recommendation once more to the Vice President & Dean overseeing the case.
If you or your student is facing disciplinary action from Bloomfield College, contact college student defense attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
