Disciplinary Records & Confidentiality

Referrals to Student Judicial Services may result in the creation of student disciplinary records. Such records are considered educational records and are therefore confidential. While the University is committed to protecting the student's privacy to the greatest extent, confidential records can be released without the student's permission under provisions outlined in state and federal laws, including The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99). FERPA is a federal law that pertains to the release of and access to student educational records. On the rare occasion when information from a student's disciplinary record is released without consent, the University will notify the student accordingly, unless prohibited by law from doing so.

Disciplinary records are kept by Student Judicial Services in the Office of the Dean of Students, and are separate from all other educational records, including academic transcripts. The length of time a disciplinary record is maintained depends on the level of sanction issued, and/or the incidence of any additional violations while the initial record is currently on file. Additional violation(s) may result in file(s) being maintained for an extended period of time.

Most disciplinary records are retained for a minimum of five years, but some records must be kept permanently, including those matters involving an assessed penalty of suspension, expulsion, denial or revocation of a degree, or withdrawal of a diploma. The University also permanently maintains disciplinary records for matters resolved through University disciplinary hearings.

More specific information and the official University policies on disciplinary records can be found in Subchapters 9-300 and 11-900 of the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities.

The University does not contact parents when their son or daughter becomes involved in a disciplinary matter. The student's disciplinary record is considered part of the overall educational record and is therefore protected under FERPA, the same law that granted you, the parent, access to your child's primary and secondary school records. However, once the student entered the post-secondary level and enrolled at the University, your rights under FERPA conveyed to your son or daughter. Additional information about FERPA is available at the Office of the Registrar's Web site.

Consequently, Student Judicial Services does not contact parents or release information about a student's disciplinary matter unless the student provides express, written authorization for us to do so. We do, however, encourage students to talk with their parents about both the positive and negative experiences at the University. And we also encourage you, as the parent, to talk with the person who has the most information—your son or daughter.