These sanctions enable members of student organizations to reflect on their behavior, repair harm to the community, support the growth of the organization, and develop skills to avoid future violations.
When an organization violates University policies, sanctions are put in place to inform the organization that the behavior(s) exhibited are unacceptable and are not aligned with the values of the University. Where possible (and necessary), sanctions put in place can be a combination of punitive, educational, and/or restorative.
Conduct Conversation
- Description: A developmental conversation between representatives of the organization and a Conduct Officer. This conversation is documented and places the organization on notice that any further violations related to the conversation shall result in further disciplinary action.
- Appropriate for: Limited circumstances in very minor cases
- Not appropriate for: Major violations; repeat violations
- Availability: As scheduled between organization representatives and Conduct Officer
- Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
- Instructions to organization (included with sanction letter): "Your organization is required to participate in a conduct conversation, which is a developmental conversation between representatives of the organization and a Conduct Officer. This conversation is documented and places the organization on notice that any further violations related to the conversation shall result in further disciplinary action."
Mediation
- Description: A conversation between parties in conflict facilitated by a trained mediator. This conversation will be documented and places the organization on notice that any future violations related to the conversation shall result in further disciplinary action.
- Appropriate for: Minor violations
- Not appropriate for: Major violations; repeat violations
- Availability: As scheduled between the parties and the mediator
- Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
- Instructions to organization (included with sanction letter): "Your organization is required to participate in mediation. Mediation is a facilitated conversation between members of the organization and other parties affected by the organization's actions. This conversation will be documented and places the organization on notice that any future violations related to the conversation shall result in further disciplinary action."
Plan of Action
- Description: A plan outlining various actions the organization must take (for example, participation in workshops) in order to enhance itself and be a benefit to the University community
- Appropriate for: Lower-level hazing (without physical violence), mid- to higher-level social policy violations
- Not appropriate for: Severe hazing, hazing involving physical violence, or repeat offenses
- Availability: No restrictions
- Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
- Instructions to organization (included with sanction letter): "Your organization is required to develop a plan of action, which is a plan outlining various actions the organization must take in order to enhance itself and be a benefit to the University community. You must develop your plan in cooperation with [STAFF]."
Fines
- Description: Payment of a monetary fine (usually $500)
- Appropriate for: Recruiting or inducting ineligible members to the organization
- Not appropriate for: All other cases
- Availability: No restrictions
- Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
- Instructions to organization (included with sanction letter): "Your organization is required to pay a fine in the amount of [AMOUNT]. Payment must be in the form of a money order or certified check payable to [PAYEE] and delivered to the Office of Student Conduct (101 Bishop House) by no later than [DATE]. Cash will not be accepted."
Restitution
- Description: Compensation for loss, damage, or injury to the appropriate party (may take the form of service, money, or material replacement)
- Appropriate for: Incidents in which an organization has damaged, destroyed, or stolen property belonging to the University or to a member of the community
- Not appropriate for: All other cases
- Availability: No restrictions
- Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): None
- Instructions to organization (included with sanction letter): "Your organization is required to pay restitution in the amount of [AMOUNT]. Payment must be in the form of a money order or certified check payable to [PAYEE] and delivered to the Office of Student Conduct (101 Bishop House) by no later than [DATE]. Cash restitution will not be accepted."
Class/Workshop Attendance
- Description: Attendance and completion of a class or workshop that will assist the student organization to avoid future non-compliance with the Student Organization Standards of Conduct
- Appropriate for: Incidents in which members of an organization would benefit from education on a particular topic
- Not appropriate for: Incidents involving violence or threats of violence (may be appropriate as a supplementary sanction, but not as a stand-alone sanction)
- Availability: Workshop attendance may be virtual depending upon the university’s operating status
- Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): Proof of Attendance form
- Instructions to organization (included with sanction letter): "The organization is required to have 75% of members from the current roster on file attend an educational program on [TOPIC]. This program must be at least forty-five minutes in length and be presented by an appropriate expert in the topic area. Programs must be approved in advance with OSC staff.
Once the members have attended the program and gained written proof of their attendance (see enclosed Proof of Attendance form), they are also required to answer the following questions:
- Reflect on the program you attended:
- Write a quick summary of the information presented.
- Is this new information to you?
- How does this information relate to the policies that the organization violated in this instance?
- If placed in the same situation again, how would members' actions be similar or different?
- Why would the actions be similar or different?
- What changes in the organization's systems have changed as a result of this experience?
- What are the three (3) most important things the organization has learned from this experience?
The organization must then combine the members' responses to write the organization's overall response reflecting what the organization, as a whole, has learned from this experience. This essay must be no less than 750 words (typed, double-spaced) and submitted by email to me no later than [DATE]. Please make sure to write the organization's name and case number in the top right corner of your paper.
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."
Service
- Description: Performance of a task, or tasks, designed to benefit the community and that also assists the organization to avoid future non-compliance with the Student Organization Standards of Conduct.
- Appropriate for: Instances in which the required service can be related to the violation in question (such as a community cleanup in a case of vandalism)
- Not appropriate for: All other cases
- Availability: As scheduled between service organization and student organization
- Supporting materials (included with sanction letter): Supervisor Notification form
- Instructions to organization (included with sanction letter): "Your organization is required to complete [NUMBER OF HOURS] hours of educational service with [SERVICE ORGANIZATION]. The student organization is expected to begin immediately and to have members complete five hours per week until the sanction has been fulfilled. The organization has a deadline of [DATE] by which time to complete the hours and have the Supervisor Notification (also enclosed) signed and returned to this office (101 Bishop House).
In addition, the members of your organization are required to answer the following questions:
A. What does it mean to have your organization be a part of the Rutgers community?
B. What responsibilities do you have as a member of your organization?
C. In what way did your (personal) and the organization's actions in this incident impact the community?
D. What did you learn from completing this service?
E. What do you think the organization learned from completing this service?
The organization must then combine the members' responses to write the organization's overall response reflecting what the organization, as a whole, has learned from this experience. This essay must be no less than 750 words (typed, double-spaced) and submitted by email to me no later than [DATE] Please make sure to write the organization's name and case number in the top right corner of your paper."
