For Students

The Student Code of Conduct or “the Code” is a set of behavioral expectations and policies to follow while you are a student at the university. Not only are you part of the Vandal community, but a valued member of the Moscow community. The philosophy of the Code is to balance your safety and the safety of the Moscow community through education and accountability. When there is a report of an alleged Code violation, students are provided an opportunity to reflect on their choices and to think about ways to restore good faith to those harmed and to the communities that they are a part of.

The following sections are designed to help you navigate the student conduct process and help you understand what you can expect. You can also refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

The Conduct Process

The Dean of Students Office (DOS) and Conduct and Community Standards will open an investigation when we receive information that a University of Idaho student possibly violated the Student Code of Conduct. Information may come in different forms from a variety of sources:

• Moscow Police Department often refers reports to our office when they encounter students whose conduct may have violated the law, the Code or both.
• Other university offices may refer information to our office that will prompt an investigation. This may include reports from Housing and Residence Life, the Department of Student Involvement, Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Office of Civil Rights & Investigations, as well as academic departments.
• Individuals can also submit a complaint, concern or allegation using a VandalCARE referral.

When the Dean of Students Office receives a complaint, they may:

• Open an investigation.
• Refer the referral to another office for consideration or further action.
• Review the referral for other response or resolution options.

Next Steps

Once an allegation of misconduct is received, a conduct hearing officer will begin an investigation. You can expect to receive an official letter via your Vandal email that outlines the nature of the violation and a date/time to meet with the hearing officer. The meeting might occur in person or over Zoom.

The hearing officer will explain the student conduct process and offer you some options on how best to proceed. During the meeting, you will have an opportunity to explain your involvement in the incident and to identify any other relevant individuals or information that would be helpful to the investigation. The best way to approach this conversation with the hearing officer is to be as open and honest as possible, so that they can best understand the situation. No special dress code is necessary for the meeting — just come as you are!

Your Meeting Options

You may choose to resolve the matter informally, which means that during your meeting, the hearing officer will share the allegation and all available information with you. You will be offered an opportunity to speak about your experience in the incident. The hearing officer will assess your level of involvement (if any) in the incident and then make the determination of your responsibility using a “more likely than not” standard of proof. If you are found responsible, the decision and educational outcomes will be shared with you via email after the meeting. The decision is final and cannot be appealed. You can also accept responsibility for a Code violation at any point in the process (even before the meeting), and the hearing officer can determine the outcomes.

OR

You may choose to have a formal resolution/investigation. An investigator will review documentation of the incident, meet with any witnesses, and draft two reports. You will have the opportunity to review these reports and provide written comments. An Administrator from the Dean of Students Office will determine if there has been a Code violation or refer to a Student Conduct Board for a hearing and decision. This decision can be appealed.

Learn more about both resolution processes.

What Happens Next

After the conduct meeting, you will receive a decision outcome letter via your Vandal email that will let you know if you have or have not been found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. If you are found responsible, you will see a list of educational outcomes and a deadline to complete them. The outcomes are in place to help you develop and grow from the incident. When possible, outcomes are selected to provide opportunities for you to repair the harm caused by your behavior. Educational outcomes may also address university values and community expectations for behavior.

Educational outcomes are selected appropriately for the violation, but keep in mind that subsequent violations may result in more serious disciplinary outcomes such as suspension or expulsion.

The Amnesty Policy

The health and safety of our Vandals is our top priority. We understand that you may be hesitant to seek help due to fear of getting in trouble with the university. The Amnesty Policy was created to remove any barriers for you to seek emergency medical attention for yourself or for your friends who are consuming alcohol or drugs before something tragic occurs. The Amnesty policy extends to those students who seek medical attention or who have medical attention sought on their behalf and for bystander students who call who are also under the influence. The Amnesty Policy does not absolve you from intervention or a follow up with the university- we care for you and will be having conversations with you about what happened. There may also be recommendations to complete but you will not be found responsible for a Code violation. You can learn more about some specifics of the Amnesty policy on the Dean of Students website.