Community Standards

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Office Mission
The Office of Campus Life’s department of Community Standards works to promote a civil educational environment for all community members and educate students on community values and expectations.

What is Community Standards?
As a UArts student, you are an integral part of a greater community. UArts expects all community members to abide by the Student Code of Conduct found in the Student Handbook. Community Standards addresses incidents during which an alleged violation of campus policies has taken place and provides a fair, unbiased, and educationally focused conduct process for accused students to address allegations of misconduct. Our process is designed to provide students with opportunities for dialogue and reflection and is restorative rather than punitive. 

About Us
Contact us.
The Office of Campus Life’s Community Standards staff is located in the Student Center (formerly Gershman Hall) on the third floor. 

Community Standards Coordinator: Rachel Williams
Senior Director of Student Engagement: Kristen Burkett

UArts is a member institution of the SUNY Student Conduct Institute (SCI). The Title IX coordinator, AVP for human resources, AVP for student affairs, appeal officers, investigators, and hearing officers receive training through SCI. Posted training materials can be found on the SCI website. If you have questions, contact titleix@uarts.edu.

 

Student Handbook


View or download the 2023–2024 Student Handbook. 

The Student Handbook and the Code of Conduct have been designed to empower students while holding them accountable. Everyone in the UArts community, from first-year students to seniors, is held to the same values and expectations and is informed about policies, procedures, rights, and privileges.

All students are expected to review and understand information in the Student Handbook to learn their rights, responsibilities, and resources at University of the Arts. The format of the Student Handbook is as follows.

Section One:  University of the Arts Mission and Core Values
Section Two: Academic Policies
Section Three: Campus Policies
Section Four: Residential Living Policies
Section Five: Student Code of Conduct, Adjudication, and Sanctions
Appendix A: Sex- and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy

 

Flow Chart
 

1. Incident reports are submitted by student staff, faculty, professional staff, public safety officers, or other members of the UArts community.

2. Incident report is reviewed by the Community Standards coordinator to determine if the burden of proof has been met for charges to be brought.

  • If there is evidence of a potential violation of the Code of Conduct, a conduct file is generated and charges are determined.

  • If there is no evidence of a violation, the incident report is closed and filed.

3. If the burden of proof is met during the review process, a Notice to Appear letter is sent through official university email listing the allegations and charges, and the date, time, and location of the hearing, with the rights of the respondent and the name of the hearing officer.

  • Respondents, who are defined as any person who is alleged to have violated University of the Arts policy or any local, state, or federal law that has resulted in adjudication, have the right to request a Community Standards advisor or a student, faculty, or staff member of their choice to serve as an advisor.

  • If a respondent wishes to request a reasonable accommodation, they must contact the Office of Educational Accessibility.

4. The hearing is conducted in either a general or advanced format, in which respondents have the opportunity to share their perspective.

  • Information about conduct hearing procedures can be found under Section Five of the Student Handbook.

5. Decision letters are sent within seven business days of the hearing via university email. The letter outlines whether a respondent has been found responsible or not responsible for the charges outlined in the Notice to Appear.

  • Respondents found responsible will find their sanctions listed in their decision letter.

6. Respondents have seven business days to submit an appeal. Respondents can choose to appeal the decision of their hearing officer or the sanctions assigned.

  • Appeals are reviewed by the senior director for student engagement or a designee. Information on the appeal process can be found in Section Five of the Student Handbook.

7. If a respondent receives sanctions after a “responsible” finding, sanction deadlines are included in the Community Standards Decision Notification Letter. Extension requests and sanction submissions should be directed to studentconduct@uarts.edu.

8. Once sanctions are completed and approved, the case file is closed.

 

Rights of a Respondent
 

Any student charged with violating a university policy has the following rights in the community standards process. These rights can also be found in the Student Handbook in Section Five. 

  • The presumption that no violation occurred
  • The right to privacy throughout the community standards process
  • The written notice of all charges, allegations, and outcomes sent through official university email
  • The right to a fair and impartial hearing
  • The opportunity to participate in the community standards hearing, either physically or by contemporaneous means. (e.g., phone, Zoom)
  • The opportunity to have a trained advisor from the university community to support them throughout the entire community standards process: Advisors must receive training from the Office of Campus Life to be permitted to attend community standards proceedings. Parents, lawyers, and other third parties are only permitted to serve as advisors for respondents with advanced conduct proceedings that have corresponding civil or criminal cases.
  • The right to contest oral or written statements, including the complaint or report, and provide and question relevant witnesses
  • The right to participate or decline to participate in the investigation, disciplinary, or hearing processes: If a respondent declines to participate, the student conduct administrator or Campus Standards Board will base their decision on the information available at the time of the hearing. Respondents who refuse to participate are not excused from being found responsible for violations of the Student Handbook, and may be subject to additional disciplinary action (see: Non-compliance).
  • The opportunity to review all relevant, redacted information concerning the alleged violation(s) prior to the hearing
  • The right to submit a written appeal in the process outlined by Section Five of the Student Handbook
  • The understanding that information collected during the conduct process may be subpoenaed during criminal or civil proceedings and subject to applicable laws, as the community standards process is separate from criminal and civil proceedings

Direct questions about the rights of a respondent to your hearing officer, advisor, or the Community Standards team.

 

Advisors
 

Community Standards advisors are students, faculty, or staff members who have gone through training to assist students who are involved in a community standards process. 

Advisors are trained to discuss charges and university policies, answer basic questions about the hearing process, sit with respondents during hearings, debrief decision letters, and assist with appeals, as well as provide general support to students throughout every step of the community standards process. 

If a student is interested in contacting an advisor, they can do so by completing the Advisor Request Form. If you choose to work with an advisor, let your hearing officer know at least 24 hours in advance of your meeting, and submit a FERPA Consent Form. 

 

How to Report
 

If you would like to report an incident to the university, there are a number of ways to share it. You can

 

Getting Involved
 

Looking to get involved on campus? Consider these opportunities with Community Standards!

If you are looking for a paid position with a low time commitment, consider being an advisor for students going through the Community Standards hearing process. You will work with students to answer questions regarding each phase of the hearing process, and even support them during their hearing. To be considered for the position, you must complete our Interest form and attend the annual advisor training.

Another Community Standards position is serving as a panelist on our Campus Standards Board. As a panelist, you will listen to advanced conduct hearings through our Community Standards process and determine whether or not a policy violation has occurred. To be considered for the position, you must complete our Interest form and attend the annual Community Standards Board training (1.5 hours long).

If you would like to schedule a group training or request any additional information about these opportunities, contact Community Standards at studentconduct@uarts.edu. 

 

Campus Crime Report
 

More Info Here.

 

Campus Partners
 

If you are looking for additional support at UArts or need to connect with another office, consider reaching out to the following offices and resources.

Advising & Tutoring Services
Tutoring 
General Advising 

Counseling 
Online
counseling@uarts.edu
New client paperwork

Health Services 
Online 
healthservices@uarts.edu

Educational Accessibility
Online
access@uarts.edu
Registration process 

Residence Life
Online 
reslife@uarts.edu
215-717-6970

Student Financial Services
Online 
finaid@uarts.edu 
215-717-6170

Title IX
Online
titleix@uarts.edu 
215-717-6362

UArts Cares
Online

 

Community Standards FAQ

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I was involved in an incident. What do I need to do?

If you were documented (by Public Safety, Campus Life staff, faculty, or anyone else) as being involved in an incident, there will be an investigation to determine if you will be charged with violating a university policy. View our Student Conduct Flow Chart to learn more about the steps of the conduct process. If you are charged, it is important to understand that the process is meant to be educational, unbiased, and reflective, and you will be able to share your perspective on the incident. It is your right to refuse to participate in the community standards process.

Review all the rights you have as a respondent in the community standards process.

I witnessed an incident and want to report it to the university. How do I report it?

If you would like to report an incident to the university, there are a number of ways to share it. You can

I didn’t do anything wrong. Why am I being asked to come to a hearing?

You will have an opportunity during your hearing to explain your perspective of an incident. Our staff will then make a determination as to what occurred, based on preponderance of the evidence. Keep in mind that our process is meant to be educational, and that is the focus when we meet with students.

What might happen to me?

If you are found in violation of the UArts Student Code of Conduct, sanctions will be applied and outlined in your Hearing Decision Outcome letter. All sanction options are included in Section Five of the Student Handbook.

I have a general conduct hearing. What can I expect?

During a general conduct hearing, you will meet one-on-one with the staff member listed as your hearing officer. If you have contacted an advisor, they are able to be present if you have completed a FERPA waiver for the advisor. The hearing officer will explain the process outlined in the flow chart, discuss charges, provide you with the opportunity to review the incident report and any other relevant documentation, and ask you if you would like to share the incident from your perspective. The hearing officer asks questions based on the information available to organize the incident details and determine, to the best of their ability, what occurred. The hearing officer will then make a determination of “responsible” or “not responsible” and, if applicable, apply sanctions. 

Who can I contact if I have questions?

Contact your hearing officer—whose contact information is listed in your Notice to Appear—email Community Standards, or request a Community Standards advisor. 

Where do I go for my hearing?

Refer to your Notice to Appear to find the date, time, and location of your hearing. If you are unable to attend, contact your hearing officer or Community Standards as soon as possible to have your hearing rescheduled. If you would like to change the location of your meeting to a virtual/in-person format, contact your hearing officer. 

I was found responsible for a violation. Does this go on my permanent university record?

Conduct records are confidential and cannot be released without your written consent, and Student Affairs professionals are the only staff with access to conduct records. Note: If the violation is also a violation of the law, the university will communicate all information about the incident to the police as requested.

Our office maintains students’ conduct files for seven years after the incident. In the event of an expulsion, records are indefinitely maintained.

How can being found responsible affect me at the university?

Implications of being found responsible for violating a university policy vary greatly, depending on the incident. If you have questions about your sanctions and how they impact the remainder of your time at UArts, contact your hearing officer, Community Standards, or your advisor for a meeting to discuss your concerns. 

Do my parents find out?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) keeps university students’ academic records (including conduct) confidential. You must complete a Release of Information Form (in the portal) in order for our office to share details with anyone other than you about your conduct history.

However, there are exceptions to FERPA. Students who are under the age of 21 at the time of the incident and found responsible for violating the university’s alcohol or drug policies may have a letter sent to their parent/guardian notifying them of the violation. We encourage you to talk with your family before such a notification is sent.

Can I bring my parents or a lawyer to my hearing?

Parents or lawyers may not attend the hearing in the general conduct process. Parents and lawyers may attend an advanced conduct hearing as an advisor if there is a corresponding civil or criminal case regarding the incident.

If you would like to have an advisor present for your conduct hearing, you may request a UArts student, faculty, or staff member. View our Advisors page for more information.

I do not agree with my sanction(s). Can I appeal?

You can make a written request for an appeal as long as the appeal is based upon one or more of the following reasons, which must be specified in the appeal.

The limited grounds for appeal of an outcome are 

  • new evidence that could affect the finding of the hearing that was unavailable at the time of the hearing; and/or 
  • procedural error(s) that had a material impact on the fairness of the hearing.

The limited grounds for appeal of a sanction(s) are 

  • if imposed sanctions were inappropriate under university sanctioning guidelines.

For general conduct hearings, a request for an appeal must be submitted in writing to the senior director for student engagement or their designee via the link in your decision letter within seven business days of the decision. Requests for an appeal in advanced conduct hearings must be made within 10 business days of the decision and can be submitted to the associate vice president for student affairs via the link in your decision letter. 

Can I request a presentation from Community Standards?

Absolutely! If you would like to have your students/staff receive training from Community Standards, send an email outlining the following information.

  • A description of the group being presented to
  • Topics you would like to see covered
  • The anticipated date and time of the presentation

Check out our Getting Involved section to see other involvement opportunities within Community Standards!