The Disciplinary Authority
The National Park College (NPC) Board of Trustees charges the President with the responsibility of maintaining appropriate standards for student conduct.
The President of National Park College has delegated the disciplinary function to the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Dean of Students.
The Dean of Students has the responsibility to initiate, implement, and supervise the disciplinary process for students. In the event of a conflict of interest, the Vice President for Student Affairs may assign these duties to another individual as designated by the College President.
The Board of Trustees authorizes the President, the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, and the members of the Student Discipline Committee to expel, dismiss, suspend, place limitations on continued attendance and/or levy other penalties in order to maintain appropriate standards of student conduct. This policy does not include academic sanctions defined in Policy Number 6.300.
Discipline Committee Assignment
At the beginning of each Spring Semester, the Dean of Students shall submit for the approval of the President nominees for the Student Discipline Committee.
The Student Discipline Committee shall be composed of twelve people: six faculty members and six students. A quorum will consist of a minimum of four students and four faculty.
Purpose of the Discipline Committee
The primary aim of the student disciplinary procedures is to redirect student behavior toward the achievement of academic goals or the adjudication of possible disciplinary sanctions.
Possible disciplinary sanctions may be necessary as defined in the later section of this document.
Disciplinary Procedure and Due Process
Procedural due process does not provide for legal representation, a public hearing, confrontation, cross-examination of witnesses, self-incrimination, or any of the remaining features of federal criminal jurisprudence. The following procedural guidelines are established for the handling of disciplinary matters:
The student shall be notified by the Dean of Students that he/she is charged with violating a regulation, that there is an initial five day fact finding process, and that he/she may be sanctioned until further action is taken to dispose the charge. This informal process will be held in the office of the Dean of Students or the Vice President for Student Affairs and will include the student, the Dean, and the Vice President. Other college personnel, with knowledge of the matter, may be requested to attend the hearing.
Upon completion of the fact finding process, an administrative decision will be made. The student will be notified in writing of the decision of the Dean of Students and/or a designate, within five (5) school days.
The student may appeal this decision to the Student Discipline Committee, in writing, within thirty (30) days of the notice of the decision. If the student does not appeal within 30 days, the administrative decision is rendered final.
If the student requests a Student Discipline Committee hearing, the student will receive, in writing, the time and place of the appeal hearing. The student will receive this information at least thirty-six hours before a Student Discipline Committee hearing.
Disciplinary hearings are of a private and confidential nature and are closed to the public. The disciplinary hearing process is as follows:
a. The presiding officer of the hearing is the chairperson of the Student Discipline Committee or his/her designee as appointed by the Dean of Students.
b. The student shall be entitled to appear in person to present his/her case before the Student Discipline Committee. The student may elect not to appear, in which case the hearing shall proceed. The failure of the student to appear should not be taken as indicative of guilt and shall be noted without prejudice.
c. Neither the student nor NPC shall be represented by legal counsel. The student may be accompanied to the Student Discipline Committee hearing by a witness such as a member of the College faculty, staff, student body or by a parent or guardian.
d. The format of the hearings will follow this sequence:
i. Presentation of the charge(s).
ii. A call for the accused student to respond to the charge(s).
iii. NPC’s supporting testimony and documentation regarding the charge(s).
iv. Presentation of the testimony, witnesses and information supporting the accused student.
v. Examination and questioning by members of the Student Discipline Committee will follow both presentation of the charges and the defense of the accused student.
vi. The student shall be permitted to question witnesses in accordance with established guidelines.
vii. The student shall be entitled to hear all testimony (not deliberations) given before the Student Discipline Committee.
The Student Discipline Committee will advise the accused student of its decision, sanction (if applicable) and of his/her right to appeal at the conclusion of the deliberations.
The finding of the Student Discipline Committee is summarized in a certified letter addressed and hand delivered or mailed to the student. In this letter, the student shall be entitled to an explanation of the reasons for the decision, an explanation of any penalty, an explanation of the right to appeal to NPC’s President within five (5) days.
The official transcripts and audio tapes of the hearing will be filed in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
To the extent that a disciplinary hearing involves disclosure of educational records or personally identifiable information derived from educational records, the Federal Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) compels the College to close the proceedings. Thus, testimony, deliberation and committee decision are covered under FERPA and are not available for public access.
Appeal to NPC’s President
If the student does not accept the decision of the Student Discipline Committee, he/she may appeal to NPC’s President. The appeal must be in writing and must be in the President’s office within ten (10) school days after the student receives the decision of the Student Discipline Committee.
After receiving the appeal request, NPC’s President will respond in writing within ten (10) school days and will schedule a time to meet with the student. The meeting will occur within thirty (30) days of the President receiving the appeal request. The President will meet separately with the student who may bring a witness such as a member of the faculty, staff, student body or parent/guardian; then meet with the Chair of the Student Discipline Committee and the Dean of Students. Written minutes of these meetings will be taken and maintained by the President’s Administrative Assistant.
The decision of the President will be summarized in a certified letter addressed and mailed to the student within ten (10) school days of the meeting with the President. The decision of the President is final on behalf of National Park College.
Possible Disciplinary Sanctions
Interim Suspension - is a suspension that may be imposed based upon fact finding that shows the student’s continued presence within the campus environment constitutes a danger to property, to himself/herself, or to others. The student will be given notice of the reason for the interim suspension and will be given the opportunity to request, in writing, a Student Discipline Committee Hearing at which time he/she shall be afforded an opportunity to show why his/her continued presence on campus will not constitute a danger to property, himself/herself or others.
Educational Sanctions - papers, counseling, alcohol/drug evaluations, tasks, or series of tasks that are educational in nature and/or serve to benefit the group or community at large.
Reprimand -
a. Oral Reprimand - an oral disapproval issued to the student by a person designated;
b. Written Reprimand - a written statement of disapproval prepared by a designated person
Restitution - Compensation for loss or damage incurred to NPC or a member/guest of the College community.
Disciplinary Probation (with or without sanctions) - Notice that further breach of conduct, as specified, may result in suspension or loss of privileges as may be consistent with the offense committed. The period of probation shall be specified in the decision.
Probated Suspension - Notice that further convictions of major offenses, as specified, may result in suspension. The period of probation shall be specified in the decision.
Suspension - Temporary severance of the student’s relationship with NPC for a specified period of time. The period of time is to be specified in the decision.
Probated Expulsion - Notice that further convictions of major offenses, as specified in the decision, may result in expulsion.
Expulsion - Permanent severance of the student’s relationship with NPC.
NPC Board Policy Number: 6.310
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