What Every Student Needs to Know About Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is the legal term for what most people refer to as rape.

Summary of Vermont Law*

According to Vermont law, sexual assault has occurred when a person engages in a sexual act with another person and

1. Compels the other person to participate in a sexual act:

A. Without the consent of the other person; or

B. By threatening the other person: or

C. By placing the other person in fear that any person will suffer imminent bodily injury; or

2. Has impaired substantially the ability of the other person to appraise or control conduct by administering or employing drugs or intoxicants without the knowledge or against the will of the other person; or

3. The other person is under the age of 16…*

According to Vermont Law a "sexual act" is defined as meaning conduct between persons consisting of contact between the penis and the vulva, the penis and the anus, the mouth and the penis, the mouth and the vulva, or any intrusion however slight, by any part of a person's body or any object into the genital or anal opening of another.

The publication, WHEN "NO!" IS NOT ENOUGH, produced by the Burlington, Vermont Police Department and the Vermont Department of Health, also states that an individual commits sexual assault if that person engages in a sexual act knowing that the other person is:

mentally incapable of understanding, or for any reason is unaware of the sexual act; or

physically incapable of resisting or of communicating an unwillingness to participate.

Sexual assault violates state and federal laws. In order to reduce the risk of sexual assault and to know what to do if you or some one you know is assaulted you are urged to read this publication.

* A copy of the Vermont Sexual Assault Statute is available from the Department of Public Safety and the Dean of Student Affairs Office.

INFORMATION GUIDE

Middlebury College's Sexual Assault Policy Statement

A Resource Guide For Survivors of Sexual Assault

College Judicial Procedures in Student to Student Sexual Assault Cases

Middlebury College Policy

As an educational institution, Middlebury College is committed to promoting, through educational and awareness-raising activities, a campus environment where sexual assault and exploitation are recognized as wholly unacceptable, and where victims of sexual assault are provided with support and avenues of redress as appropriate. The director of health education at the College provides prevention workshops and educational information for student groups.

Sexual assault and attempted sexual assault violate Middlebury College policy, and are prohibited. Students found to have violated this policy are subject to disciplinary sanctions up to and including expulsion from the College. Conduct which violates Middlebury College policy may also violate Vermont law.

A student who believes he or she may have experienced sexual assault is encouraged to seek medical care and supportive counseling as soon as possible. Evidence of such an assault may be collected during a medical examination at Porter Hospital after an assault has occurred.

A student who believes he or she has experienced sexual assault may file a formal complaint at the College and/or pursue criminal charges or legal remedies. The College will hear complaints pertaining to conduct of Middlebury College students occurring on Middlebury College property (including the Bread Loaf Campus, the Main Campus, or Middlebury College campuses abroad), or in Middlebury or its environs. It will also consider cases arising out of conduct on Middlebury College-sponsored trips or events. The College will not adjudicate cases of alleged sexual assault between Middlebury College students if the conduct occurs during recess beyond the campus and its environs, unless the incident occurs while the students are participating in an official College event, program, or are on official College business. In the case of intra-student assault occurring outside of Middlebury or its environs, during recess, and while students are not formally involved in College business, the only avenue open for the survivor to seek redress will be civil and/or criminal legal action. A case will be considered during the time that the student charged is a Middlebury College matriculant, and before the student graduates: that is, a student may be charged for a violation that occurs after the student arrives for orientation up until the time the student receives a diploma, or earlier withdraws from the College.

Whether or not to file a complaint with the College is up to the student who is the victim of an assault. A student may speak with the deans about the incident and seek their support without pursuing formal action.

The College, through the Commons Deans, may offer several options to a victim of sexual assault, including, as appropriate to the circumstances:

i. a discussion about options regarding different levels of addressing the assault.

ii. assistance with filing charges through the College judicial system;

iii. facilitation of a mediated discussion with the alleged perpetrator;

iv. issuance of a trespass or no-contact letter;

v. a referral to counseling and other support services;

vi. academic allowances or changes in living arrangements; and

vii. assistance in notifying proper law enforcement authorities, if the student so chooses.

Students are encouraged to report incidents of sexual assault to the Department of Public Safety, the Dean of Student Affairs, and/or the Middlebury Police Department, and to seek medical care and supportive counseling. Campus and community resources for survivors of sexual assault are listed in the Appendices, Section D. of the College handbook.

 Should a student choose to file charges through the college judicial system, the judicial hearing process will follow the procedures out lined in the Judicial Boards and Procedures section of the Middlebury College Handbook, and on page 9 of this handout. Special note should be given to the following procedures:

i. Jurisdiction

Charges of sexual assault will be heard by the Community Judicial Board. The letter transmitting the charges will be given to the party charged.

ii. Support Person

The party charged and the party originating the charge may each bring an adviser who is a member of the College community. The advisers may be consulted by their advisees during the hearing, but, unless specifically invited, may not otherwise participate in the proceedings. In addition, either party may bring a member of the college community as a character witness. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, each student shall provide the chair with the names of persons serving as adviser and/or character witnesses.

iii. Privacy

Students should know that reports made to Campus Security will be shared with the student's Commons Dean. Reports to the Health Center and the Counseling Center are confidential medical records, and will not be shared with other College offices. Reports or records maintained by the College (including medical records) may, however, be subject to subpoena if a civil or criminal charge is filed in court.

Campus judicial hearings on sexual assault charges are confidential, but a hearing may, at the advance request of either party and with the consent of the other party, be open to the College community, subject to space limitations consonant with conducting a judicial hearing. If the judicial process is disrupted during any open meeting, the chair may close the meeting to the general community. In this event, the party charged and the party bringing the charge may each select two members of the College community as observers. Either party, with the consent of the other party, may permit continuation of coverage by the College press.

iv. Notification

As required by law, both the accuser and the accused will be informed of the outcome of campus disciplinary proceedings alleging a sexual assault, or attempted sexual assault. Both the outcome of guilt or innocence, and the sanction, if applicable, will be disclosed to the accuser and the accused. The accused will receive notification in writing, the accuser will be verbally informed.

A Resource Guide For Survivors of Sexual Assault

This guide for survivors of sexual assault was prepared by the Office of Health Education to assist you in recovering from sexual assault. This publication addresses the questions most frequently asked by survivors. It is important that you understand what resources are available to you and what your options are. This publication also offers specific suggestions for responding to your medical and emotional needs. The phone numbers for all the resources described in this publication are located on the last page of this publication. You are urged to read this publication in its entirety.

 If you have been sexually assaulted you are encouraged to do the following:

Get to a safe place

It is important that you seek a safe place regardless of the time of day or night.

Get emotional support

You deserve support, you've been traumatized. Much of the damage resulting from rape is emotional. You can begin the healing process by attending to your emotional needs. You are encouraged to contact a counselor from the Center for Counseling and Human Relations here on campus. These services are confidential and free of charge and a counselor is available 24 hours a day. The College Chaplain is another confidential campus resource you may utilize. If you don't want to call the College Counseling Service, or College Chaplain, or if you want additional support, contact the local rape crisis center, WomenSafe in Middlebury. They can provide counseling and support. They have a crisis counselor on call 24 hours per day. Rape crisis centers offer confidentiality and as much or as little assistance as you choose.

In addition to the professional support services listed, talk to someone you trust, a friend, family member or your JC, RA or CRA.

It is important that you get the support you need and deserve. What just happened to you is serious and is not your fault. Ask for help.

Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Your body has just been violated. You may have internal injuries that you may not be aware of. You need to be checked for the possibility of pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. The College Health Center and Porter Hospital provide confidential medical services and are available 24 hours per day.

At the College Health Center, trained nurses, physicians and nurse practitioners are available to provide medical care, support, information and referrals. Parton Health Center can provide you medical care, emotional support and referral. The Health Center can also provide an inpatient bed for you in order to provide a safe and supportive environment. If you are concerned that you may be pregnant as a result of the sexual assault, and if you desire, an emergency contraception option commonly known as "the morning after pill" is available. The Parton Health Center is not equipped with a Sexual Assault Kit and therefore cannot collect physical evidence. In most instances, a nurse from the Health Center can accompany you to Porter Medical Center Emergency Room for support if you choose to utilize the Emergency Room services. You can choose to utilize services provided by the Emergency Room without utilizing the services of the Health Center.

You are encouraged to consider seeking treatment at the Porter Medical Center Emergency Room. The Emergency Service at Porter Hospital, in addition to providing medical treatment, is equipped to collect evidence. Seeking medical treatment at the emergency room does not commit you to the process of evidence collection.

Deciding to have evidence collected is your choice. If you do choose to have evidence collected, this does not commit you to reporting the rape to the police or pressing charges. One of the advantages to having evidence collected is that it allows you time to decide if you want to report the crime and press charges. The hospital is able to store evidence for a time period in order to give you time to decide what to do. If you do decide to report the crime and pursue legal options, physical evidence is very important to a successful prosecution.

If you choose to go to the Emergency Room and have evidence collected, do so as soon as possible. If possible, it is important that you refrain from bathing, douching, defecating, urinating, gargling or changing clothing before the exam so that you do not destroy evidence. The clothes you were wearing at the time of the rape will be used as evidence. If you have changed your clothes, put each item of clothing in an individual paper not plastic bag. Bring a change of clothes with you to the Emergency Room. If you are interested in having evidence collected and you have already bathed, douched, gargled, etc., you can still proceed with an exam and the collection of evidence because, in some instances, it may still be possible that physical evidence remains and can be collected.

The more time that passes after the rape before you have evidence collected, the more likely it is that some evidence will be lost. Generally, after 72 hours no evidence can be collected. None the less, you are encouraged to seek medical treatment for injuries, infections and trauma even if 72 hours have passed.

When you arrive at the Emergency Room, make sure you inform the staff as to why you are there. Informing the hospital personnel immediately will allow them to accommodate you more readily. You will be asked to sign your consent for the examination and also for collection of evidence. In order to collect evidence, the medical professional will perform a physical exam and will use a standard " Sexual Assault Kit" to collect evidence. This will mean that the medical professional will take samples of your head and pubic hair, swabs of body fluids, fingernail scraping and blood and saliva samples as evidence. Having evidence collected does not commit you to pursuing legal action.

At any time during the medical exam or collection of evidence you have the right to:

If you choose to go to the emergency room, Vermont Law 32VSA Section 1407 provides compensation for the payment of the cost of the medical examination in cases of sexual assault if you report the incident to the police. You will also not be expected to pay for the collection of evidence under these circumstances.

Remember if you choose to go to the Emergency Room for treatment you have the following options and you will be asked to sign a written consent form for whichever option you choose:

or

or

You have the right to refuse any and all of the above options and your rights are protected by law.

Consider reporting your assault to Campus authorities

If you choose to report the rape to Campus Security, they can transport you to Porter Medical Center if you choose. By reporting the rape to Campus Security, they can alert the community that a rape has occurred. The warning to the community will be general and will not specify your name or other identifying information. Reports of rape made to Campus Security will result in the notification of the rape incident to the Dean of Student Affairs, the Commons Dean, and the College Health Center. Reporting a rape to Campus security does not commit you to filing formal complaint or participating in an investigation or judicial proceeding. Even if you report the rape to Campus Security, it is your choice whether or not to file a formal complaint and pursue judicial action.

If you report the rape to your Commons Dean, he or she can provide you with academic and residential support and financial information. The Dean will notify you of options for devising a plan to complete academic assignments, evaluate living arrangements, etc. Among academic options which can be considered are; extensions on work, exam changes, incompletes and/or a reduction in course load. If requested a summary of academic accommodations will be provided. Options and assistance in changing living situations will be discussed as appropriate on a case-by-case basis. If you choose to withdraw, the College refund policy applies. For a student who doesn't already have withdrawal insurance, the Dean will make information available to the survivor concerning withdrawal insurance for the following semesters. Contacting your Dean for help does not commit you to filing a complaint or being involved in a College judicial case. If you choose to file a formal complaint of rape you would do so with the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. The Dean will investigate the charge, set a hearing and take disciplinary action where appropriate. It is your choice whether or not to file a complaint. You don't have to file a formal complaint to ask the Deans for help.

Consider legal action

If you choose to report the rape to the police, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. If you choose to report the rape to the police, you will be asked to give a detailed account of the assault. The police will usually go to the place the crime occurred to recover physical evidence.

You are not obligated to go to court if you report to the police. You may make that decision later. If you report the rape to the police, you are eligible for and may request support from the Victim Assistance Program. The Victim Assistance Program was created by the Vermont Legislature to assist victims of crime in dealing with the police and the criminal justice system. The Victim Advocacy services are available free of charge to any person who has been victimized by a crime and has reported it to a law enforcement agency. In addition, you may apply to the Victim's Compensation Program to cover the cost of replacing locks on your doors (if you live off campus) and the cost of medical follow-up exams and/or subsequent medical treatment.

Remember:

RESOURCES FOR RAPE SURVIVORS: A QUICK REFERENCE
(Click here to see this list of resources)

III. JUDICIAL BOARDS AND PROCEDURES

Due process, insofar as the procedures of the College permit, will be afforded the party charged. Since the College lacks full judicial authority, such as the power to subpoena or place witnesses under oath, a student's due process rights cannot be coextensive with or identical to the rights afforded an accused in a civil or criminal legal proceeding. The procedures outlined below are designed, however, to assure fundamental fairness and to protect students from arbitrary or capricious disciplinary action. All judicial boards and disciplinary authorities of the College shall conduct their proceedings in the spirit of those principles. If exceptional circumstances dictate variation from these procedures, the variation will not invalidate a decision unless it prevented a fair hearing.

A. The Judicial System

The judicial system at Middlebury College consists of three judicial bodies, the Community Judicial Board, the Academic Judicial Board, and the Judicial Appeals Board.

1. Community Judicial Board

a. Jurisdiction

The Community Judicial Board presides over non-academic conduct infractions. If the Community Judicial Board cannot be convened because the College is in recess for the summer, a student charged with a non-academic disciplinary offense may choose (i) to have the matter heard by the dean of student affairs, in which event those members of the Community Judicial Board who are on campus will be asked to participate in the deliberations, or (ii) to postpone hearing on the charge until the Community Judicial Board can be convened. A student who chooses to postpone hearing under the provisions of subsection (ii), and who is subsequently convicted of the offense, will not suffer a financial penalty as a consequence of the postponement.

b. Organization

i. Composition

The Community Judicial Board consists of eight members: the dean of student affairs, one staff member, two faculty members, and four students. Each member has one vote. There will be one alternate member from the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, one staff alternate, one faculty alternate, and two student alternates. Alternates will only substitute for absent members of their own constituency.

ii. Selection

The dean of student affairs serves as the co-chair of the Community Judicial Board. His or her alternate will be a dean from the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. The president of the College will appoint the staff representatives to the board, on the recommendation of the Staff Council. The Faculty Council will appoint the faculty members to the board. The student members will be appointed under the auspices of Community Council in the procedure described below. Those making the appointments are encouraged to consider gender balance in the selection process. First-year students may not serve on the Community Judicial Board. A student who is a member of the Community Council may not serve at the same time on the Community Judicial Board. The Community Council will review the continued eligibility of a student member of the Community Judicial Board who has been convicted of a serious infraction of College rules, and may require the member to resign from the Community Judicial Board. Early in the spring semester, the Community Council will advertise for applicants to the Community Judicial Board, asking interested students to submit applications. Students serving on the Community Judicial Board may submit nominations. A selection committee comprised of one faculty member and two students from the Community Council, two nonvoting advisory members from the Community Judicial Board, and the associate dean of student affairs will select a slate of members. Whenever possible, at least one student member of the Community Judicial Board will have at least one year of prior experience. A student found guilty of a serious infraction of College rules by any College judicial authority will be eligible for membership only after review by the selection committee in consultation with the dean of student affairs before the slate is presented to the Community Council. The slate of candidates will be submitted to the Community Council for ratification.

iii. Substitution of Members

If there is a need to convene the Community Judicial Board and regular student members cannot attend a hearing, alternates to the Community Judicial Board will be contacted first when regular members are unavailable. If the alternates are unavailable, student members of the Academic Judicial Board will be asked to serve. If for any reason a member of the Community Judicial Board has a conflict of interest in a particular proceeding, a replacement will be appointed from among the alternate members.

iv. Officers

After the Community Judicial Board has been selected, it will elect from among its members one student co-chair. The other co-chair will be the dean of student affairs. One of the co-chairs must be present to convene a hearing.

v. Accountability and Changes in Procedure

The Community Judicial Board is accountable to the Community Council and to the faculty, which has historically delegated its disciplinary authority. Reports consisting of an enumeration of cases heard, the nature of the charges, and the disposition, without disclosure of individual names, will be made annually by the co-chairs to the College community.

A member of the Community Judicial Board or the dean of student affairs may recommend changes in rules, procedures, penalties, or any other part of the judicial process. The Community Council or faculty may also initiate such changes. Recommendations should be made jointly to the faculty and Community Council. The Community Council will submit to the faculty for final action a proposal for any changes the Community Council recommends. Final authority for changes rests with the faculty.

HEARING PROCEDURES

The following procedures apply to hearings before the Community Judicial Board, Student Judicial Council, and the Judicial Review Board, except as otherwise specifically provided.

1. Judicial Charges

All judicial charges, with the exception of plagiarism, are transmitted to the accused student through the commons dean. Charges may be initiated against an individual, group, or organization by (any of) the commons dean(s), dean of student affairs or by any individual, organization, department, or office of the College. If charges come directly to the Judicial Council or the Community Judicial Board, the Board will inform the appropriate commons dean or dean of student affairs, so that the dean may transmit the charges to the party charged. A statement transmitting the charges shall be prepared by the commons dean or dean of student affairs. The statement shall indicate the identity of the accusing party and the names of any witnesses requested by either the dean or the accusing party to attend the proceedings.

2. Notification of Hearing

Notification in writing will be given to the party charged, the party making the charge, and any known witnesses. Notification will include the time and place of the hearing and must be given at least two working days (defined to mean days on which College offices are open, whether or not students are in session) in advance of the hearing, and not more than one week after the formal transmission of the charge, except where exigent circumstances require otherwise.

3. Attendance at Hearings

The party making the charge, the party charged, and all witnesses named in the letter of transmission are expected to be present at the time and place of the scheduled hearing. Failure to appear at a scheduled hearing after proper notice may subject a student to disciplinary penalties up to and including suspension. Judicial proceedings take precedence over academic and nonacademic activities, and students shall be excused from other obligations to participate in the proceedings. Should a student who has been properly charged and notified of a scheduled hearing fail to appear, the hearing may proceed and the penalties may be imposed as if the accused student were present.

4. Disqualification

Any member of a judicial body who has a conflict of interest in a particular proceeding is disqualified from sitting on that case. If a member of the Student Judicial Council is disqualified, normally an alternate will be selected to participate. If a member of the Community Judicial Board is disqualified, by reason of conflict of interest or otherwise, the chair of the Community Judicial Board will appoint an alternate. If the dean is disqualified, and an alternate dean from the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs is not available, the secretary of the College shall appoint a member of the administration to fulfill the duties of the representatives from Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.

5. Quorum

Student Judicial Council hearings may be conducted with fewer than eight, but no fewer than six members present. If eight or seven members are present, six votes are needed to convict. If six members are present, five votes are needed to convict. In the event of conviction, sanctions shall be determined by majority vote.

Community Judicial Board hearings may be conducted with fewer than eight, but no fewer than six members, at least three of whom are students, presently. If eight or seven members are present, six votes are needed to convict. If six members are present, five votes are needed to convict. In the event of conviction, sanctions shall be determined by majority vote.

In no event shall a Judicial Review Board comprised of fewer than four members be convened. If five members are present, four votes are needed to convict. If four members are present, three votes are needed to convict.

6. Tape recording

All judicial hearings will be taped. The tape is the property of the College. In the event of an appeal, the tape will be available for the consideration of the appeal, as well as to the student bringing the appeal.

7. Participation in Judicial Proceedings

Normally, participation in or attendance at judicial hearings shall be limited to students, faculty members, and employees of Middlebury College. When others are involved in a case or can offer testimony that is directly relevant, a judicial body may permit those individuals to participate in a hearing.

8. Expectations

Honesty is expected on the part of all members of the community who testify. Failure to be truthful in all testimony before a judicial body may itself be grounds for disciplinary action.

9. Advisers and Character Witnesses

The party charged and the party originating the charge may each bring an adviser who is a member of the College community. The advisers may be consulted by their advisees during the hearing, but, unless specifically invited, may not otherwise participate in the proceedings. In addition, either party may bring a character witness. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, each student shall provide the chair with the names of persons serving as adviser and/or witnesses, which will be shared with the person charged and the person bringing the charge.

10. Independent Expertise

If the case involves a technical matter that falls outside the expertise of the members of the body, the chair may invite an appropriate faculty and/or student adviser without vote to assist the body during the hearing.

11. Rights of the Party Charged

The party charged has the right to be present throughout the hearing and to hear adverse testimony. In no case should a judicial authority consider evidence against a student unless the source, author, and content of any statement or other evidence has been identified to the student, and the student has been given the opportunity to rebut the statement or meet the evidence.

12. Evidence Rulings

Formal rules of evidence do not apply in College judicial proceedings. The chair of the judicial body shall make rulings on evidentiary or procedural questions that arise in hearings. A decision of the chair may be modified by a majority vote.

13. Burden of Proof

The burden of proof rests with the party bringing the charge.

14. Basis of Decision

In reaching a determination of guilty or not guilty, the judicial authority shall base its decision only on evidence introduced at the hearing of that case. Findings of guilty or not guilty will be made on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence. If there is a determination of guilt, prior conduct and judicial history may be taken into account in reaching a penalty.

15. Hearings

All hearings of the deans are confidential, except that the Student Judicial Council, the Community Judicial Board, or the Judicial Review Board may, at the advance request of a student charged and with the consent of the person bringing the charge, open a hearing to all members of the College community, subject to space limitations consonant with conducting a judicial hearing. If the judicial process is disrupted during an open meeting, the Student Judicial Council, the Community Judicial Board, or the Judicial Review Board may close the meeting to the general community. In this event the party charged and the party bringing the charge may each select two members of the College community as observers. The party charged may, with the consent of the party bringing the charge, permit a continuation of coverage by the College press.

16. Deliberations Confidential

All deliberations of judicial bodies are confidential.

17. Decision

Within two working days of the close of deliberations, the judicial body will provide a written statement of its decision. The dean of students will normally give written notification of the decision to each party charged within two working days of receipt of a decision from the Community Judicial Board or the Student Judicial Council. The secretary of the College will normally give written notification of a decision of the Judicial Review Board or the outcome of any appeal to the Judicial Review Board to each party charged within two working days of receipt of a decision. Failure to meet the time limitations in this section will not invalidate a decision. Decision in cases involving alleged sexual assault will be reported as required by law.

18. Record of Proceedings

If a judicial proceeding results in a finding of innocence, all records of the proceeding will be destroyed.

C. SANCTIONS

Penalties for violations of conduct regulations are recorded in the student's file. Penalties are not reflected on the academic transcript, except that the dates of enrollment at Middlebury College are a part of the transcript record.

1. General Nonacademic Offenses

Penalties that may be imposed on a student a judicial body after conviction for a nonacademic offense include but are not limited to the following:

a. Fines or restitution: Fines or restitution are commensurate with the nature of the offense. The monetary cost of the harm done may be taken into account in assessment of a fine or an order of restitution.

b. Warnings: Warnings are an informal College discipline and are not part of the student's permanent record. Students who receive warnings can answer negatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. The letter of warning remains in a student's file until graduation, when it is removed. Warnings are taken into account in determining future judicial penalties and serve to make further violations of College regulations more serious.

c. Reprimands: Reprimands are also an informal College discipline and are not part of the student's permanent record. A copy of the reprimand letter is sent to parents or guardians of dependent students, or as otherwise allowed by law. Students who receive reprimands can answer negatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. A letter of reprimand remains in a student's file until graduation, when it is removed. Reprimands are taken into account in determining future judicial penalties and serve to make further violations of College regulations more serious.

d. Disciplinary Probation: Disciplinary probation is an official College discipline and is a permanent part of the student's record. Students who receive disciplinary probation must answer affirmatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. Disciplinary probation extends for a stated period which may be for as long as the rest of the student's College career. While on probation, further infractions of College rules, even minor infractions, may result in suspension. Parents or guardians are informed when students are placed on disciplinary probation, to the extent permitted by law.

e. Suspension: Suspension is an official College discipline and is a permanent part of the student's file. Students who receive a suspension must answer affirmatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. Suspended students must leave campus and are prohibited from participating in all College activities or using College facilities during the stated period of the suspension. In cases of suspension from the College, no refund of the comprehensive fee is made. Parents or guardians are informed when students are suspended. For international students, an outcome of suspension may affect your immigration status. Please see the international student adviser for advice.

Suspension may be:

i. Temporary, for a finite period less than a full academic term;

ii. Definite, for a stated period of at least one academic term; or

iii. Indefinite for very serious offenses (A student suspended indefinitely may be readmitted only by special action of the Administration Committee.)

f. Expulsion: For particularly serious offenses, students may be permanently dismissed from the College. In cases where the penalty is expulsion, final appeal is to the president, who may reduce the penalty, if warranted; after consultation with the body that conducted the deliberations and after a review of the proceedings. In cases of expulsion from the College, no refund of the comprehensive fee is made.