Student Conduct & Colorado Creed

Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution 

What We Believe

Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (SCCR) strives to provide students with individualized responses to support community standards and conflict resolution that emphasize accountability and growth by:

• Fostering reflection on the impact of their behaviors;
• Promoting responsible community membership and repairing harm; and
• Cultivating the wellbeing and safety of the CU Boulder community.

What Is Important to Us

1. The student will understand the impact of their behavior on others.
2. The student will demonstrate ethical development, will comply with institutional policy and will engage in no further violations of policy.
3. The student will gain an understanding of the institutional values reflected in institutional policies.
4. The student will gain a better understanding of the importance of personal integrity.
5. Through SCCR processes, the student will be asked to reflect on their beliefs, ethics and values.
   1. The student will be able to articulate their personal ethics and values, will act in congruence with those ethics and values, and will make decisions that reflect their beliefs.
6. The student will contribute positively to the CU Boulder community and beyond.
7. The student will gain a better understanding of the consequences and potential consequences of their personal actions and will learn the purposes of institutional policies.
8. The student will employ critical thinking in problem solving and ultimately obtain a degree.

Why Do We Have a Student Code of Conduct? (Authority)

Article 7, Part B, of the Laws of the Regents of the University of Colorado requires each campus to develop a student code of conduct. Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (SCCR) is authorized to establish and administer this policy. Any questions regarding interpretation of this code or any of its provisions should be directed to the Dean of Students or their designee for final determination.

Questions regarding student behavior should be directed to Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution, studentconduct@colorado.edu, Center for Community, S485, 10 UCB Boulder, CO 80309, phone 303-492-5550.

When and Where Does the Student Code of Conduct Apply? (Jurisdiction)

1. The Student Code of Conduct applies to:
   1. Student conduct that occurs on, or as it relates to, CU Boulder property or at official functions and CU Boulder-sponsored programs conducted away from the campus.
   2. Student conduct that occurs off CU Boulder property is subject to this policy if it: 
      1. adversely affects the health, safety or security of any member of the CU Boulder community, including the student alleged to have violated CU Boulder policy or the mission of CU Boulder; or
      2. involves any records or documents of CU Boulder; or
      3. involves conduct that may be a violation of federal, state or local law, as determined by SCCR.
   3. For this policy’s purposes, CU Boulder’s mission is broadly defined to include its academic goals and the importance of developing civic responsibility in our students.
2. Recognized Student Organizations and Recognized Social Greek Organizations:
   1. Wherever the Student Code of Conduct refers to “responding student," the same also applies to Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) and Recognized Social Greek Organizations (RSGOs). RSOs, as described in the Student Organization Handbook, are general student organizations recognized by the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) and CU Boulder. Recognized Social Greek Organizations are recognized by Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) and CU Boulder.
   2. RSOs and RSGOs, as well as their members and other students, may be held collectively and/or individually responsible for violations.
   3. The RSO and RSGO officers, leaders, signers or individuals currently listed in an official position in the Center for Student Involvement records or Fraternity & Sorority Life records may be held collectively and/or individually responsible for violations when such violations are committed by persons associated with the organization who have received consent or encouragement from the organization's officers or leaders, if those officers or leaders knew, or reasonably should have known, that such violations were being or would be committed.
   4. The officers or leaders of a student organization may be directed by CU Boulder officials to take action designed to prevent or end violations by the organization or by any persons associated with the organization. Failure to comply with a directive may be considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, both by the officers or leaders of the organization and by the organization.
3. Actions taken under a resolution process are separate and apart from any law enforcement or other court process or proceeding, such as a civil lawsuit or criminal prosecution, that may relate to the same underlying factual incident. SCCR's jurisdiction does not depend on whether a responding student is criminally charged through the criminal justice system. A resolution process is not postponed while criminal or civil proceedings are pending unless otherwise determined by the resolution specialist. Dismissal of criminal charges or acquittal in a criminal case does not prevent SCCR from investigating and resolving an incident.
4. The unexcused failure of a responding student to appear and/or respond to a resolution process does not prevent CU Boulder from proceeding with or completing a resolution process.
5. For jurisdictional information related to sexual misconduct (including sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence and gender/sex-based stalking), protected class discrimination, harassment and any related retaliation, see Section M of the Student Code of Conduct
6. For jurisdictional information pertaining to academic misconduct, see Section M of the Student Code of Conduct.
7. Questions or concerns regarding policy and procedures for students charged or convicted of a crime that occurred prior to being admitted should be directed to SCCR.

Student Resolution Processes

SCCR resolves alleged prohibited conduct through the informal resolution process, the formal resolution process or the restorative justice process. Resolution specialists have the authority and sole discretion to determine the type of resolution process. This decision is primarily based on, but not limited to, the following factors:

• If the responding student admits or otherwise takes responsibility for the alleged prohibited conduct;
• The responding student’s prior conduct record;
• The nature and severity of the alleged prohibited conduct;
• The alleged impact and/or harm caused to another person or the community;
• Whether the alleged conduct would violate the Student Code of Conduct; and/or
• Any other factors that the resolution specialist finds relevant to the specific allegations.

The formal resolution process is an adjudication of the alleged prohibited conduct, considered an educational but disciplinary process, and may result in resolution outcomes and a disciplinary conduct record.

The informal resolution process and restorative justice process are intended as forms of alternative dispute resolution. They are voluntary and primarily educational in nature. The informal resolution process and restorative justice process are not adjudications of the allegations and not considered disciplinary processes. Because SCCR does not consider the informal resolution process or restorative justice process to be disciplinary processes, they do not result in a disciplinary conduct record or file. Informal resolutions and restorative justice will never result in resolution outcomes such as suspension or expulsion. They will instead result in a written agreement with the responding student. 

The first step in each resolution process is initiated by the resolution specialist issuing a written Resolution Meeting Notice to the responding student, which prompts the responding student to attend a scheduled meeting with the resolution specialist as outlined in the notice.

Informal Resolution

This process may generally include, but is not limited to, a meeting with a resolution specialist, completion of the assigned resolution outcomes and/or participation in the restorative justice process.

During the meeting, if the resolution specialist determines that the informal resolution process may be appropriate, the resolution specialist will offer it as an option to the responding student and address any questions the responding student may have about the process. If the responding student accepts responsibility for the alleged prohibited conduct and completes educational resolution outcomes assigned by the resolution specialist, then SCCR will consider the matter to be resolved informally. 

Formal Resolution

This process generally includes:

1. Written notice of the factual allegations and alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct;
2. The opportunity to meet with the resolution specialist to address the allegations and provide information to the resolution specialist;
3. The resolution specialist reviewing the allegations and making factual and violation determinations based on preponderance of the evidence; and
4. Written notice to the responding student of the resolution specialist’s determinations.

The resolution specialist will consider the following in making this determination:

1. The allegations in the Resolution Meeting Notice and the responding student's response to those allegations;
2. Any documents or information that the resolution specialist finds relevant, including without limitation, relevant documents presented by the responding student, complainant or any other interested party; and/or
3. The oral or written statements of any witnesses with relevant information as presented by the responding student, any alleged victim or other interested party, as they appear in a report or as requested by the resolution specialist.

All students residing in Housing & Dining Services facilities are subject to Residence Hall policies or any policy properly communicated through Housing & Dining Services staff. For more information, visit the Housing Policies webpage.

Cases involving sexual misconduct (including sex assault, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence and gender/sex-based stalking), protected class discrimination and harassment, and any related retaliation are subject to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) process and procedures. For more information about these policies and procedures, contact the OIEC at (303) 492- 2127 or visit the OIEC website.

Excerpts from the Colorado Revised Statutes regarding hazing, ethnic intimidation and riots are also presented. Colorado law prohibits persons convicted of rioting from enrolling in state-supported universities/colleges for 12 months following the date of a conviction.

For information about student classroom and course-related behavior, visit the policies webpage.

Colorado Creed