Student Conduct Parents and Family

Parents and Family

The Office of Student Conduct wants to assist University of Tampa parents and families in supporting their students. Below is a list of frequently asked questions and answers that may help you advise your student during the student conduct process. Please visit our Student Resources page, as well as the list of important resources on the main page for additional information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• General
• Student Conduct Records
• Meetings/Boards
• Student Conduct Sanctions
• Understanding Student Rights
• Hearing Board Student Rights

General

My student got in trouble; what do I do?
We encourage our students to inform their parents and families when they are referred to our office. To protect our students’ rights, we will ask and ensure that a completed and signed FERPA form is on file, prior to further conversations with a staff member from the Office of Student Conduct or an assigned incident reviewer. View the Student Code of Conduct.

What is my role in the Student Conduct process? How can I help my student?
Parents and families play an important supporting role in their student's conduct process. Parents can support their student by ensuring their student has read the Student Code of Conduct, are aware of the student due process rights and are prepared to meet with a representative of the Office of Student Conduct.

Does my student need a lawyer for the Student Conduct process at UT?
No, your student does not need an attorney for the Student Conduct process. The Student Conduct process is an educational process and not criminal in nature. Students may consult with attorneys, but they will not be permitted to participate during the student conduct process.

I am concerned about my student; what should I do?
Please complete a CARE report online or call us at (813) 258-7228. Once the CARE report is submitted, it is reviewed by the Spartan Support Program to determine the next appropriate steps.

Learn more about UT's student resources and academic success programs.

I received a Parental Notification in the mail; what does this mean?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits a college or university to let parents or guardians know when their student who is under the age of 21 has violated any law or policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance. Parental Notifications are intended to open communication between the student and their parent or guardian.

My student violated the Academic Integrity policy; is this handled the same way as other University violations?
The University of Tampa takes academic misconduct very seriously; however, our office does not directly handle Academic Integrity cases. Please contact the Office of the Associate Provost for more information.

Student Conduct Records

Is there a record of my student’s conduct status? Is this information shared?
A students’ conduct record is retained for seven (7) years within the Office of Student Conduct. The record can be accessed through an educational disciplinary records check. These educational disciplinary record checks are not criminal background checks and most prohibited conduct will not appear on a criminal background check. Conduct checks are often requested by other University of Tampa offices, potential employers and other institutions. Records such as suspensions or expulsions are retained indefinitely. View the Record Retention Policy.

Meetings/Boards

What are incident review meetings? Can I attend this meeting?
Incident review meetings are one-on-one between the student and the incident reviewer. This meeting is an opportunity for a student to review the alleged incident where the misconduct occurred and accept or deny responsibility for University violations. Parents cannot attend this meeting, but parents may wait in the Office of Student Conduct waiting room while the meeting occurs.

What are hearing board meetings? Can I attend this meeting? Hearing board meetings are meetings in which students who have denied responsibility for assigned violations or been& referred to by an incident reviewer have their University violations adjudicated. More information on the types of hearing boards can be found within the Student Code of Conduct.

Students are permitted to have a University support person with them during a hearing board meeting. The University support person must be a current University student, staff or faculty member. Alumni and parents may not serve as University support persons.

Student Conduct Sanctions

How are University sanctions determined for my student?
The University of Tampa has an educational philosophy regarding sanctioning for students found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions are determined by a number of factors including but not limited to the nature and severity of the violation and the student’s prior disciplinary history.

Is there a list of University sanctions?
All students who are determined responsible for a policy violation are assigned a standard disciplinary sanction. Students may also be assigned additional sanctions. Please refer to the Sanction Guide for more information regarding sanctions.

Understanding Student Rights

Incident Review Meeting Student Rights

Responding students have the right to:

1. Be notified in writing via their University email account regarding the alleged misconduct and student conduct procedures at least one business day prior to the incident review meeting.
2. Review any incident report(s) submitted to the Office of Student Conduct during the incident review meeting. Students may request a redacted copy of any reports at the conclusion of the incident review meeting. These requests should be in writing and emailed to the Office of Student Conduct at conduct@ut.edu.
3. Present information on their own behalf at the incident review meeting.
4. Accept responsibility at an incident review meeting. If a responding student accepts responsibility, they will waive any procedural appeal rights upon accepting responsibility at an incident review meeting.
5. Deny responsibility and request a hearing to determine responsibility for the alleged violations. The appropriate board will be determined by the director of Student Conduct or designee.
6. Be notified in writing within 10 business days via their University email account of the outcome of the incident review meeting unless the determination of sanctions has been deferred to obtain additional information.

Hearing Board Student Rights

Responding students have the right to:

1. Be notified in writing via their University email account about the alleged misconduct and hearing procedures at least one business day prior to the hearing board meeting.
2. Review any incident report(s) submitted to the Office of Student Conduct during the hearing board.
3. Have an individual hearing board.
4. Present information on their own behalf at a hearing board. This includes presenting any combination of three witnesses or written witness statements. These witnesses or witness statements must have direct knowledge of the incident that is being reviewed by the hearing board. In addition, students may choose not to provide any information on their behalf. The hearing board reserves the right to make an inference from students who choose not to answer questions or provide information.
5. Question anyone providing information to the hearing board. Questions will be directed to the hearing board advisor. The hearing board advisor will have the final determination on the appropriateness of the question.
6. Request the removal of hearing board members based on bias or other conflicts of interest. The hearing board advisor will have the final determination on the removal of the hearing board members.
7. Be assisted by one University support person as defined in the definitions section of the Student Code of Conduct. Students cannot be assisted by an attorney during the hearing board process.
8. Be notified in writing via their University email of the outcome of the hearing board within 10 business days after the hearing board has concluded its hearing.
9. Appeal the hearing board determination of responsibility of assigned violation(s) within two business days from receiving the notification of outcome containing the hearing board’s determination to their University email account.
10. Schedule a post-hearing meeting with the Office of Student Conduct to discuss the determination of the hearing board.