A Welcome From the Office of the Dean of Student Life
Dear CSUB Students,
California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) is committed to offering excellent undergraduate and graduate programs that advance the intellectual and personal development of our students. An emphasis on student learning is enhanced by a commitment to scholarship, diversity, service, global awareness and life-long learning.
Each member of the campus community must choose behaviors that positively contribute to learning both inside and outside the classroom. Student behavior that is not consistent with the CSUB Student Code of Conduct is addressed through the student conduct process. The student conduct process is an educational opportunity designed to promote personal awareness, campus safety, and responsible decision-making among students that reflects well upon their university and positively contributes to University life. The Office of the Dean of Student Life is responsible for administering the CSUB Student Code of Conduct, CSUB policies, and Student Conduct procedures.
The Student Conduct Manual provides information pertaining to CSUB policies, student rights and responsibilities, and student conduct procedures. The Student Conduct staff is available to support students' educational aspirations that will enhance their quality of life, both personally and professionally. Please contact us if we can provide additional information or support to you.
Return to topRefers to the collective University policies for which students are responsible, including Section 41301 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
Refers to the CSUB Dean of Student Life and/or Student Conduct Coordinator(s).
Refers to any day of the academic year, summer session or special session (other than a Saturday, Sunday, or academic holiday) as defined in Section 42800 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
Refers to University personnel appointed by the CSUB President to conduct a Student Conduct Hearing to determine whether a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct and, if so, recommend sanctions.
On August 3, 2009, the California State University (Office of the Chancellor) replaced Executive Order 970 with Executive Order 1043. The Executive Order 1043 governs student conduct procedures at each of the 23 campuses in the California State University system ( http://www.calstate.edu/eo/EO-1043.pdf). These procedures are established pursuant to Title 5, Section 413101, California Code of Regulations (upon which the CSUB Student Code of Conduct is based). EO 1043 is designed to afford students due process, as well as provides guidance to CSU campuses in addressing issues of student misconduct and discipline. Authority for student discipline at CSUB is delegated from the President to the Vice President for Student Affairs and, particularly, the Dean of Student Life. Working under the direction of the Dean of Student Life, the CSUB Student Conduct Coordinator has the authority to conduct disciplinary conferences and apply disciplinary sanctions after conferring with the Dean of Student Life.
Student Conduct Policies and Procedures are overseen by the Office of the Dean of Student Life. The office administers the campus disciplinary system by enforcing the CSUB Student Code of Conduct (Title 5, Section 41301, California Code of Regulations) and CSUB Student Conduct Procedures (Executive Order 1043).
These policies and procedures help ensure a safe and fair learning environment for all students. The Office of the Dean of Student Life is committed to ensuring that students receive prompt due process in cases involving alleged violation of the CSUB Student Code of Conduct.
Student behavior that is not consistent with the CSUB Student Code of Conduct is addressed through an educational process that is designed to promote safety and good citizenship and, when necessary, impose appropriate consequences. Alleged violations of the CSUB Student Code of Conduct are reported to the Office of the Dean of Student Life and can be submitted by any University representative (e.g. University faculty, staff, police and/or administrators) for adjudication.
The Office of the Dean of Student Life maintains confidential and centralized student disciplinary records and has the responsibility for ensuring students receive fair and impartial administration of student conduct processes.
The Student Code of Conduct is enforceable on applicants, enrolled students, students between academic terms, graduates awaiting degrees, and students who withdraw from school while a disciplinary matter is pending. Conduct that threatens the safety or security of the campus community, or substantially disrupts the functions or operation of the University is within the jurisdiction of this office, whether it occurs on or off campus.
Students are expected to engage in responsible behavior consistent with CSUB policies. Student groups, clubs and organizations must be cognizant of the CSUB Student Code of Conduct and University policies. Student groups, clubs and organizations in violation of University policies or regulations will be held accountable for their actions, corporately and individually.
An alleged violation of the CSUB Student Code of Conduct must be filed with the Office of the Dean of Student Life. Once a complaint has been received, the Dean of Student Life and/or Student Conduct Coordinator is responsible for determining whether disciplinary charges and sanctions should be applied. Information such as name(s) of the accused student(s), description of incident, date of the incident, copies of supporting documents, names of witnesses should be provided when reporting allegations (a reporting form is available on-line).
Upon receiving a report of an alleged violation(s), additional information and evidence are acquired and evaluated to determine whether a preponderance of evidence exists to support the allegations. If so, a notice is sent to the student(s) requesting a conference to discuss the allegations and evidence, as well as to understand the student's perspective and evaluate his/her evidence. If insufficient evidence can be presented to support the allegations, the charges against the student are dismissed.
A notice is sent by the Office of the Dean of Student Life via certified mail to the student's most recent address on record. The letter will specify the alleged violations(s) of the CSUB Student Code of Conduct and a description of the incident upon which the allegations are based (such as date and place the alleged incident occurred). An opportunity for a meeting with the Dean of Student Life and/or Student Conduct Coordinator is provided to the student.
The University may place an administrative hold on registration transactions and release of records and transcripts of a student who has been sent a Notice of Hearing and may withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the completion of the process set forth in the Student Conduct Code, including the completion of all sanctions imposed.
An opportunity for a conference with the Dean of Student Life and/or Student Conduct Coordinator is provided to the student. Students have the right to be accompanied by an advisor of their choice who may provide support. However, the student's advisor may not be an attorney, nor may not speak on behalf of the student. At the meeting with the student charged, the Student Conduct Administrator will:
After conducting a further investigation, the Student Conduct Administrator may apply any of the actions listed below:
The following sanctions may be applied for violations of the Student Code of Conduct. More than one sanction may be imposed for a single violation.
If deemed appropriate for the case, the Student Conduct Administrator may offer a settlement agreement to the student. The settlement agreement will contain a description of the charges and applied sanctions. If the student agrees to the sanctions and/or charges the settlement agreement is signed by the student charged and the Dean of Student Life. Upon signature, the student will be required to fulfill the sanctions applied, if any. If the student does not agree with the proposed sanctions in the settlement agreement, the student may request a student conduct hearing to have a Hearing Officer review the sanctions. The Hearing Office will submit a recommendation to the CSUB President. Decisions applied by the President may not be appealed.
A student may request a student conduct hearing if he/she disputes the alleged charges or believes the proposed sanctions are inappropriate.
The Notice of Hearing is sent to the student at least ten (10) working days before the hearing. This notice provides the student(s) with a reasonable opportunity to prepare a defense and contact witnesses. It is the student's prerogative to choose an advisor who is available to attend the hearing if so desired.
A Notice of Hearing is sent via certified mail to the student's most recent mailing address on record. The notice is also sent electronically to the student charged at the email address assigned by the University (i.e. "xxx.@runner.csub.edu) or to the student's preferred email address on file with the University. The notice of hearing will include the following:
The Student Conduct Administrator will present evidence that demonstrates the student committed one or more violations of the CSUB Student Code of Conduct. The presentation of evidence will include relevant documents and other evidence that support the allegations. Additional evidence may include testimony from witnesses.
NOTICE to VICTIMS of CRIMES of VIOLENCE and SEX OFFENSES
In cases involving a charge of physical or sexual assault, an alleged victim who is called to testify as a witness, may be accompanied at a hearing by another person. This person is only for support, and is not permitted to participate in the hearing. Questions of the alleged victim are limited to the incident upon which the charge is based and the events surrounding that charge, and may not delve into past sexual behaviors of the alleged victim.
In cases involving a "crime of violence" the University may notify the alleged victim(s) of the final results of a hearing whether or not the charges are sustained (34 C.F.R. § 99.31 et seq.). If the alleged victim of a ‘crime of violence’ makes a written request for the results of the proceeding, the university must provide the outcome of the proceeding related to that charge. 1 Where the charge relates to a sexual assault the University must notify the alleged victim of the outcome of the proceeding (20 U.S.C. § 1092) against the student charged. The information is only given to the victim(s) and includes only the name of the accused student, any violation alleged committed, and any sanction(s) imposed on that student.
The University President may impose an interim suspension when there is reasonable cause to believe that separation of a student is necessary to protect the personal safety of persons within the University community, property of the University or to ensure the maintenance of order (Section 4.1302 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations).
A student placed on interim suspension is given prompt notice of the charges pending against him or her and the opportunity for a hearing within ten (10) working days of the imposition of the suspension. A hearing will be held to determine whether continued suspension, pending the disciplinary hearing, is required to protect personal safety, property, or to ensure the maintenance of order.
During the period of an interim suspension, the student charged may not, without prior written permission from the University President, enter any campus of the California State University other than to attend the hearing regarding the merits of his or her suspension. Violation of any condition of interim suspension shall be grounds for expulsion (Section 41302 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations).
Student discipline records are confidential and will be released as determined by federal law and University policy. The disclosure of information from such records is subject to Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Acts.
Student disciplinary files are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years from the date sanctions are imposed. Cases resulting in disciplinary probation are noted on the student's transcript indicating the beginning and end date of the probationary period. For sanctions of disciplinary suspension up to one academic year, the beginning and end date for the suspension period is noted on the student's transcript. In cases resulting in disciplinary suspension longer than one academic year or expulsion, a permanent notation is placed on the student's transcript; the disciplinary file is retained permanently.
Return to topAmendment of the CSUB Student Code of Conduct and Executive Order 1043 can be made by the CSU, Office of the Chancellor. CSUB will be notified of the changes and the revised policies and procedures will be published and made available on the Student Conduct website.
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