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Active Sanctions – Educational

These sanctions support students' learning and provide them with information that can guide them in making better decisions and avoiding future violations.

Educational Interview

  • Description: An interview with a member of the community on a topic related to the violation
  • Appropriate for: Incidents in which a student would benefit from gathering more factual information on a topic and by interacting with others to gather the information
  • Not appropriate for: N/A
  • Availability: As scheduled between student and interview subject
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Note: Indicate interview subject and topic
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to interview [INTERVIEW SUBJECT] or their designee on the topic of [TOPIC]. Once your interview is completed, you must then write a reflective essay on the experience. This essay must be no less than 500 words (typed, double-spaced) and should address the following questions:

A. What did you discuss in the interview?
B. What information were you previously unaware of?
C. In what way did the information that you gathered relate to the incident in question?
D. Would this information have impacted your decisions?

Be advised that this essay may not be used to justify your actions or to evaluate the actions of others. You are expected to use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

Article Review

  • Description: A written review of academic articles on a topic related to the violation in question
  • Appropriate for: Any circumstances in which the student would benefit by reviewing journal articles and writing an analysis of those articles, using the opportunity to make an educational connection to the incident in question
  • 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
  • Note: Indicate topic of articles and length of essay (in words)
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to write a review of three journal articles on the topic of [TOPIC]. Copies of or links to the articles must be submitted along with your essay. The review must be typed, double-spaced, and no less than [NUMBER] words in length. In the review, you should summarize the articles and explore how they relate to the violations in question. Be advised that this review may not be used to justify your actions or to evaluate the actions of others. You are expected to cite your sources using MLA style and to use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling. A guide to MLA format is available at the Purdue Online Writing Lab. If found to be unsatisfactory (not of passable quality), or if your review is found to contain material that is not properly cited, the review will be rejected and additional sanctions will be imposed.”

Book Review

  • Description: A written review of a book on a topic related to the violation in question
  • Appropriate for: Any circumstances in which the student would benefit by reading a book and writing an analysis of that book, using the opportunity to make an educational connection to the incident in question
  • 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
  • Note: Indicate topic of book and length of essay (in words)
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to write a review of one book on the topic of [TOPIC]. The review must be typed, double-spaced, and no less than [NUMBER] words in length. In the review, you should summarize the book and explore how it relates to the violations in question. Be advised that this review may not be used to justify your actions or to evaluate the actions of others. You are expected to cite your sources using MLA format and to use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling. A guide to MLA format is available at the Purdue Online Writing Lab. If found to be unsatisfactory (not of passable quality), or if your review is found to contain material that is not appropriately cited, the review will be rejected and additional sanctions will be imposed.”

Research Paper

  • Description: A research paper on a topic related to the violation
  • Appropriate for: Incidents in which a student has demonstrated a lack of knowledge in a given area (examples include multiculturalism, substance use, harassment, healthy relationships, etc.)
  • 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
  • Note: Indicate topic of paper and length of paper (in words)
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to write a research paper on [TOPIC]. This paper must be no less than [NUMBER] words in length (typed, double-spaced). Be advised that you must cite no fewer than three published sources (Wikipedia is not acceptable as a source). If utilizing journal articles or information from the Internet, you must submit copies of or links to the articles with your paper. All sources must be appropriately cited using MLA format. A guide to MLA format is available at the Purdue Online Writing Lab. This paper may not serve to justify your own actions or evaluate the actions of others. The paper should use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.If found to be unsatisfactory (not of passable quality), or if your paper is found to contain material that is not appropriately cited, the paper will be rejected and additional sanctions imposed.”

TED Talk Video

  • Description: The student is required to watch a TED Talk on a subject related to the violation and write a reflection paper
  • Appropriate for: Any circumstances in which the student would benefit from viewing a lecture and writing an analysis of that lecture, using the opportunity to make an educational connection to the incident in question
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Note: Indicate topic of TED Talk
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): List of TED Talk videos
  • Instructions to student: "Watch the assigned TED Talk ([TITLE]) and write an essay (at least 250 words, typed and double-spaced) on what you learned from the video. Write a response that demonstrates your level of understanding of what you learned from the video and also how you can apply concepts from the video to your life.

    Your response should answer the following questions:
    (1) What was the speaker's main message?
    (2) What part of the video resonated with you the most?
    (3) Are there any tools that could be implemented in your life?
    (4) What are they?
    (5) In what ways do you plan to incorporate the lessons shared by the speaker in your own life?
    (6) In what ways has this video changed your perspective or understanding of your experience?

    Your paper may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others. It should use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling."

Social Media Post

  • Description: A series of informational social media posts intended to educate other students about a relevant issue (for example, underage drinking, fire safety, etc.)
  • Appropriate for: Minor violations in which the student would benefit from gathering additional information; also appropriate for educating the community on behavioral issues
  • 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 three social media posts that provide new information to your peers about a topic related to your incident. Submit these posts to your Conduct Officer for review. You may use your Twitter, Instagram, or any social media account to share with your peers if you so choose. After completing your social media posts, write a reflection paper (at least 250 words, typed and double-spaced) on why you chose those posts. Your paper may not serve to justify your own actions nor evaluate the actions of others. It should utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”
  • Description: A research paper on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the consequences of online copyright violations
  • Appropriate for: Incidents in which a student has inappropriately used or distributed copyrighted material
  • Not appropriate for: All other incidents
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to write a research paper on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the consequences of online copyright violations. This paper must be at least 500 words in length (typed, double-spaced). You must cite at least three sources (Wikipedia is not acceptable as a source). For music file sharing, we recommend www.riaa.com or www.musicunited.org. All sources must be appropriately cited using MLA format. A guide to MLA format is available at the Purdue Online Writing Lab.This paper may not serve to justify your own actions or evaluate the actions of others. The paper should use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling. If found to be unsatisfactory (not of passable quality), or if your paper is found to contain material that is not appropriately cited, the paper will be rejected and additional sanctions will be imposed.”

Video Review

  • Description: A written review of a video on a topic related to the violation in question
  • Appropriate for: Any circumstances in which the student would benefit by viewing a video and writing an analysis of that video, using the opportunity to make an educational connection to the incident in question
  • 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): Video suggestions; for example, Haze:The Movie (for hazing) or Shattered Glass (for academic dishonesty and/or providing false information)
  • Note: Indicate topic of video and length of review (in words)
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to write a review of a video on the topic of [TOPIC]. The review must be typed, double-spaced, and no less than [NUMBER] words in length. You must submit a link to the video with your review. In the review, you should summarize the video and explore how it relates to the violations in question. This review may not be used to justify your actions or to evaluate the actions of others. If you use outside sources, you must cite those sources using MLA format. A guide to MLA format is available at the Purdue Online Writing Laboratory. Your review should use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling. If found to be unsatisfactory (not of passable quality), or if your review is found to contain material that is not appropriately cited, it will be rejected and additional sanctions will be imposed.”

Policy Review

  • Description: A written review of a University policy relevant to the violation
  • Appropriate for: Any case in which the student would benefit by reviewing a specific University policy for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of the policy and the reason for its existence
  • 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
  • Note: Indicate the University policy under review (for example, the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy for Students, the Acceptable Use Policy for Information Technology Resources, etc.)
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to write a review of the [NAME OF POLICY] as outlined in the University Policy Library (http://policies.rutgers.edu/). The review must be typed, double-spaced, and no less than 500 words in length. In the review, you should summarize the policy and explore how it relates to the violations in question. State the rationale behind the policy, and elaborate on the consequences for the Rutgers community if the policy did not exist. This review may not be used to justify your actions or to evaluate the actions of others, nor may this paper promote a philosophy which is in direct conflict with the law or with University regulations. If you use outside sources, you must cite those sources using MLA format. A guide to MLA format is available at the Purdue Online Writing Laboratory. Your review must use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling. If found to be unsatisfactory (not of passable quality), or if your review is found to contain material that is not appropriately cited, it will be rejected and additional sanctions will be imposed.”

Fire Safety Workshop

  • Description: A one-hour, interactive, in-person workshop on fire safety conducted by Student Conduct or Emergency Services staff
  • Appropriate for: Violations involving misuse of fire safety equipment or violations of Residence Life fire safety policies
  • Not appropriate for: All other violations
  • Availability: As scheduled by the Office of Student Conduct
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to attend a Fire Safety Workshop offered by Rutgers University Emergency Services.”

Educational Poster Board

  • Description: An informational poster board intended to educate other students about a relevant issue (for example, underage drinking, fire safety, etc.)
  • Appropriate for: Minor violations in which the student would benefit from gathering additional information; also appropriate for educating the community on behavioral issues
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: No restrictions
  • Note: Indicate the topic of the poster and the name and residence hall of the Residence Life Coordinator who will facilitate the project
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to create an informational poster board on the topic of [TOPIC]. This board must be no smaller than 24″ x 36″ and must include information from appropriate on-campus and/or off-campus offices. This board must be submitted to me for approval. If your poster is approved, you will be required to give it to [NAME], Residence Life Coordinator in [RESIDENCE HALL] for immediate posting. The poster board must remain publicly posted for a period of two weeks. This project may not be used to justify your actions or to evaluate the actions of others. It also may not be used to promote a philosophy that is in opposition to University regulations. You are expected to use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling. All sources must be appropriately cited using MLA format. A guide to MLA format is available at the Purdue Online Writing Lab. Your name must be printed clearly on the front of the poster, in letters no smaller than one inch high. You must abide by all residence hall posting regulations. If found to be unsatisfactory (not of passable quality), or if your poster is found to contain material that is not appropriately cited, it will be rejected and additional sanctions will be imposed.”

Program Attendance

  • Description: Required attendance at a program on a relevant topic
  • Appropriate for: Any circumstances in which the student would benefit from attending an educational program designed to expose the student to new and/or clarifying information on a specific topic
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: As scheduled by the program
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): Proof of attendance form
  • Note: Indicate the topic of the program
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to attend an educational program on [TOPIC]. This program must be at least thirty minutes in length and be presented by an appropriate expert in the topic area. Programs must be approved in advance by Student Conduct staff. Students who behave in a disruptive manner during the program will not receive credit for attendance. Successful attendance is contingent on your arriving on time, attending the entire program, and participating as desired by the presenter. Once you have attended the program and gained written proof of your attendance, you are also required to write a paper reflecting on what you have gained from this experience. 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 program you attended. Write a summary of the information presented. Is this new information to you?
B. How does this information relate to the policies that you have violated in this instance?
C. If placed in the same situation that led to incident, 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 use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”

Program Presentation

  • Description: Development and presentation of a program on a relevant topic
  • Appropriate for: Any violation in which the student would benefit from gathering and presenting educational information to other members of the community
  • Not appropriate for: Major violations (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
  • Availability: As scheduled by the student and their program supervisor(s)
  • Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): Proof of presentation form
  • Note: Indicate program topic
  • Instructions to student: “You are required to present an educational program on [TOPIC]. This program must be at least thirty minutes in length and be presented in conjunction with appropriate University officials. Program supervisors must be approved in advance by Office of Student Conduct staff. You are to gather data independently on the topic, using a minimum of three published resources (Wikipedia is not acceptable as a source). All sources in your program outline must be appropriately cited using MLA format. A guide to MLA format is available at the Purdue Online Writing Lab. You will then develop a program outline, as well as publicity for your program, both of which are to be reviewed and approved by your program supervisor(s). Your program may not be used to promote a philosophy that is in opposition to University regulations. You must have at least ten people in attendance for the full length of your program.

Once you have presented the program and gained written proof of your completion, you are also required to write a paper reflecting on what you have gained from this experience. 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 information you gathered to develop this program. Write a summary of the information presented. Is this new information to you?
B. How does this information relate to the policies that you have violated in this instance?
C. If placed in the same situation that led to incident, 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 use appropriate language, grammar, and spelling.”