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Active Sanctions – Reflective

These sanctions encourage students to reflect on their decisions, exercise good judgment, and understand the perspective of others.

 

Personal Journal

  • Description: A daily writing exercise in which the student can reflect upon their own ethics and decision-making skills
  • Appropriate for: Students in need of critical self-examination of their lifestyle and decision-making style; typically for repeat offenders
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to maintain a written journal each day for a two-week period. In this journal, you are expected to address the following questions each day:

A. What were the most important decisions you had to make regarding your own behavior and/or lifestyle today?
B. How did you make these decisions?
C. What were your decisions?
D. Were your decisions the “best” decisions you could make, reflecting on lessons from family, school, and society?
E. What did you learn about yourself today?

Each daily entry is to be no less than 300 words in length (typed, double-spaced). This journal may not serve to justify your own actions in this incident or evaluate the actions of others. The journal should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

Autobiographical Essay

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect on their past life and their future at Rutgers
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations; students in need of self-reflection
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “Write an autobiographical essay (at least 500 words, typed, double-spaced). Focus on what your life was like prior to attending Rutgers, how your life has changed during your time at Rutgers, and the events that led to your current situation. Finally, explain what you have learned from this experience and how you plan to make a positive contribution to the Rutgers community. This essay may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others. The essay should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

Reflection Paper

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect upon their actions related to the violation
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to write a paper reflecting on your actions in this incident. This paper must be no less than 250 words in length (typed, double-spaced) and should address the following questions/issues:

A. Reflect on the policies you were found in violation of: Why do they exist? What purpose do they serve?
B. How was your behavior inconsistent with the University’s expectations?
C. If placed in the same situation again, how would your actions be similar or different?
D. Why would your actions be similar or different?
E. What is the most important thing you have learned from this experience?

This paper may not serve to justify your own actions or evaluate the actions of others. The paper should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

BuzzFeed Meme/List/Quiz

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect on their actions and their impact on the University community
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations; incidents in which a student has assumed some level of responsibility for their actions and has negatively impacted the University community
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations; incidents in which a student refuses to acknowledge any responsibility for their actions
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “Create a BuzzFeed-style meme, GIF, list, or quiz that will provide advice/information to help other students make better decisions while attending college. Examples may include “10 Reasons Not to Get a Fake ID” or “8 Things to Do to Avoid Violating RU Policies.” At the end of the meme/list/quiz, please explain why you chose this topic, and why you think it is important. The paper must contain appropriate language, grammar, and spelling. This assignment may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others.”

Letter to First-Year Self

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect on their past life and their future at Rutgers
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations; students in need of self-reflection
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “Write a letter to yourself as a first-year student in college or high school senior and share advice on what you know now and explain how the information would have been helpful to know when entering college. This letter should be at least 250 words (typed, double-spaced) and may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others. The letter should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

Letter to Future Self

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect on lessons learned from their disciplinary violation and how those lessons may impact their future
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations; students in need of self-reflection
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “Write a letter addressed to your future self using the website www.futureme.org. The letter should remind your future self about values, feelings, lessons learned, hopes for the future, and changes you hope to make. This letter should be at least 250 words (typed, double-spaced) and may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others. The letter should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

Letter to Loved One

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect on their actions and their relationship with others
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations; students in need of self-reflection
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “Write a letter to a loved one and share how this incident has impacted your life. Discuss in the letter how you felt during the incident, how you felt when you realized there would be consequences for your decision, and how you felt after learning the consequences. Explain to your loved one why it is important to make good and responsible decisions. Your letter should be at least 250 words (typed, double-spaced) and may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others. The letter should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

Pros & Cons List

  • Description: A reflective exercise in which the student compares the advantages and disadvantages of a particular course of action
  • Appropriate for: Minor violations which may have resulted from poor decision-making
  • Not appropriate for: All other violations
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student (included with sanction letter): “Create lists of the pros and cons regarding the decision you made. Each list should have at least five items. Upon completion of the lists, write a reflection essay (at least 250 words, typed and double-spaced) on your lists. The reflection should focus on how you made your decision, whether or not it was the correct decision, and how you might make decisions differently in the future. Your essay may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others. It should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

You Tell Me Essay

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect on their past actions and experiences and plan for the future
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations; students in need of self-reflection
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: "In an essay of at least 500 words, tell me your story. Explain the experiences that may be negatively impacting your decision-making. Describe the challenges you have encountered and outline the necessary steps to overcome said challenges. These steps should include a description of any resources you may need and a plan for utilizing those resources. You may be asked to speak about your experience in person in a follow-up meeting."

Sum It Up Essay

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect on the violation and plan for the future
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations; students in need of self-reflection
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: "Sum up the result of your incident in one appropriate word. Explain why you chose this word to summarize your incident, how you are currently feeling about the incident, and how you can avoid such incidents in the future."

44 Things Project

  • Description: A writing exercise in which the student can reflect on their goals and create a plan for the future
  • Appropriate for: Any minor violation of University regulations; students in need of self-reflection
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: "Create a list of 44 things you want to accomplish before you graduate Rutgers. You will then select 5-10 items and develop an action plan to accomplish them. The action plan must reflect SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, & Timely) and be at least 500 words."

Newspaper Article

  • Description: A letter to the editor of The Daily Targum, in which the student can reflect on their actions and their impact on the University community
  • Appropriate for: Incidents in which a student has assumed some level of responsibility for their actions and has negatively impacted the University community
  • Not appropriate for: Incidents in which a student refuses to acknowledge any responsibility for their actions
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Note: The student will submit the letter to the Conduct Officer, not directly to The Daily Targum. The Conduct Officer will then transmit the letter to the Targum without the student’s name.
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to write a reflective letter to the editor to be submitted to The Daily Targum for publication. This letter should be between 200 and 250 words in length (typed, double-spaced) and should reflect an understanding of the inappropriateness of your actions and their impact on you and the University community. This letter will be screened by Student Conduct staff prior to being forwarded to The Daily Targum and will be submitted without your name. This letter may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others. The letter should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”