San Francisco is a vibrant town, rich in culture and diversity. It's no wonder students are drawn to the University of San Francisco (USF), set in the heart of the City by the Bay. Students who attend USF have access to a code of conduct, provided in the Fogcutter Student Handbook. This includes residential policies, as well as policies specific to university-sanctioned organizations.
For USF students facing disciplinary action, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can be an invaluable resource. If you're dealing with misconduct allegations at USF, we can help. Contact us at 888-535-3686 or complete our online form and we'll be in touch.
Conduct Violations at USF
USF's Code of Conduct is a multi-part document with a long list of conduct expectations. Students can face disciplinary action for academic and behavioral violations. The school divides its conduct expectations into categories that include:
- Respect for self: This category includes following the school's alcohol and drug policies, reporting any violations, and abstaining from activities that could harm yourself.
- Respect for others: This category covers the school's expectations that you'll follow its hazing policy, abstain from harassment and threats, and avoid engagement in activities that could harm others.
- Respect for community: USF students are expected to be honest when providing information to the school and using university-issued credentials. This category also includes following all school policies and adhering to USF's technology policies.
Possible Sanctions at USF
USF calls its sanctions “outcomes,” and those outcomes take a variety of forms. A student found in violation of the code of conduct may face the following outcomes:
- Written reprimand. This communication from the school to the student will detail the area of the code of conduct that was violated and warn that repeated violations could result in further action.
- Discretionary outcomes. This category is reserved for a variety of small penalties, chosen at the discretion of the disciplinary authority. It could be written essays, community service, counseling sessions, or deferred suspensions that require the student to complete a variety of tasks to avoid the suspension taking place.
- Disciplinary probation: A student assigned to probation is on notice that further action can result in severe penalties. While on probation, students may not be eligible to participate in university-sponsored activities or serve in leadership positions within the school.
- Fines: Students may be required to pay fines for conduct violations.
- Loss of privileges: In some cases, administrators downgrade a student's privileges or revoke access to extracurricular activities.
- Restitution: Penalties for damage to school property can include fees to compensate for the loss.
- Housing consequences: Students living in residence halls could face reassignment, suspension, or expulsion from campus housing.
- University suspension: In more severe cases, the student may be removed from the school for a specific time period.
- University expulsion: The most severe violations can result in complete removal from campus.
- Graduation and degree outcomes: A student may be prohibited from graduating or have existing degrees revoked.
Failure to comply with an assigned outcome will result in a disciplinary hold being placed on your account. A disciplinary hold will keep you from registering for classes, adding or dropping classes, or receiving transcripts. You may also face additional outcomes as a result of ignoring the first disciplinary action.
Disciplinary Procedures at USF
The USF uses a multi-stage process to investigate reports of violations on its campus. They are:
- Initial report: Students report conduct violations through an online form or by directly contacting campus officials. All complaints are entered into a database maintained by the Academic Integrity Committee. Within two weeks of receiving a new report, the committee reaches out to both the complainant and the party(ies) named in the complaint.
- Referral and investigation: In some cases, the complaint can be resolved after contacting the complainant and the student(s) who allegedly committed the violation. But if a resolution can't be reached or the student contests the allegations, the complaint will be referred to the committee for a full review. At that point, the committee will conduct a full investigation, interviewing all parties and collecting documentation in order to make a decision.
- Resolution: If the committee determines enough evidence exists to confirm a violation, the committee will meet to choose an appropriate outcome. Within two weeks, the committee will provide written notification to the student, the complainant, the associate dean of the accused student's college, and the provost that a violation has occurred, with details on the chosen sanctions.
Appealing Disciplinary Action at USF
After being notified of the committee's decision, the student has the right to appeal. This will need to be done within one week of notification. The committee will schedule a hearing and notify the student of the date, time, and place of the hearing, as well as a list of the expected witnesses.
Students must submit all evidence for distribution to the committee at least five working days before the hearing. This request also needs to include any witnesses you'd like to bring, and you'll be responsible for reaching out to those witnesses and making sure they show up. You have the right to have one support person as an observer, but legal counsel is not permitted.
After the hearing, the committee will make a decision and notify the student in writing. The original complainant, the associate dean of the student's college, and the provost will receive a copy of the final decision.
How the Lento Law Firm Can Help
Although USF restricts legal counsel at appeals hearings, there are plenty of ways an attorney can help. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team fully understands the stress that college conduct violation investigations can bring. We can help you in the following ways:
- Reviewing the allegations and comparing them to the code of conduct to identify discrepancies.
- Developing a strategy to help you excel in your initial interviews.
- Preparing a negotiation strategy that could help you reduce consequences.
- Gathering evidence and witnesses for your appeal.
- Preparing a statement for your appeal.
If you're facing disciplinary action at USF, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is here to help. Contact us at 888-535-3686 or complete our confidential online form to find out what we can do for you.
