The Code of Student Conduct

When the Office of Community Standards & Student Development receives a report of student or organizational misconduct, a Conduct Officer conducts an intake meeting. An investigation may be initiated and may include meetings with the accused student, the complaint party, witnesses, and any other involved individuals. The assigned Conduct Officer will determine what meetings are necessary. All involved students are expected to fully cooperate with the investigative process. A complete explanation of the conduct process as well as student rights in the process can be found in the University Code of Student Conduct. 

To report a violation of student misconduct, complete our online reporting form here.   

Crime prevention and problem solving are everyone's responsibility. Please contact the Rutgers Police Department to report suspicious activity at (973) 353-5111. For emergencies, call 911.

At Rutgers, standards of due process dictate that:  

• A student accused of violating the Code is entitled to a hearing. 

• Students are entitled to see/hear and respond to any evidence or testimony used against him or her. 

• The student has the right to remain silent and is not obligated to provide information during the disciplinary process. 

• The student is entitled to the assistance of a Campus Adviser and the presence of a support person. 

1. An accused student has the right to appeal any finding and/or sanction. The student must submit an appeal form and any supporting documentation to the Campus Appeals Committee (CAC) within ten (10) working days of the decision. The complainant, the investigator, and the Presiding Officer (if any) have the right to respond to the student’s appeal. 

2. A student may appeal based on: 

• Unsupported conclusion: The decision made by the conduct officer, faculty member, AIF, or University Hearing Board is not supported by the facts of the case.  

• Procedural error: The adjudication process did not conform with prescribed procedures. The error must have substantially impacted the outcome. 

• Disproportionate sanction: The sanction imposed on the student is grossly disproportionate to the severity of the violation. 

• New information: There is new information previously unavailable or unknown at the time of the initial decision. The new information must be sufficient to alter the outcome. 

3. Appeals are considered only on the basis of the written record. The CAC does not meet with any of the parties. 

4. The CAC meets to consider the student’s appeal, the case file, and any statements submitted by the other parties. 

5. The CAC may: 

• Uphold the original finding and sanction 

• Overturn the original finding and sanction, in full or in part 

• Uphold the finding and modify the sanction 

• Remand the case to be re-heard (only in the case of substantial procedural error or significant new information) 

6. The student is notified in writing of the committee’s decision. 

7. If the original sanction does not include suspension, expulsion, or an XF grade, the committee’s decision is final. 

8. If the sanction affirmed by the CAC includes suspension, expulsion, or an XF grade, the final sanction is determined by the Senior Student Affairs Officer (SSAO) for conduct or the Chief Academic Integrity Officer (CAIO) for academic integrity. 

9. The student is notified in writing of the SSAO or CAIO’s decision (if applicable). 

10. The appeal process is concluded and the student’s final sanction is implemented. Sanctions are not implemented until all appeal options are exhausted. For academic integrity, if a final course grade must be issued before the appeal process is complete, the student should receive a TZ grade. 

If you are a student going through a student conduct or academic integrity process you can contact the Office of Community Standards & Student Development at communitystandards@newark.rutgers.edu to request a campus advisor. 

The role of the Campus Advisor is to:

• Help the advisee understand the disciplinary process. 
• Provide objective advice.
• Support and guide the advisee.
• Guide the advisee in formulating and supporting their case (without doing the work for the advisee).
• Help the advisee prepare for a disciplinary proceeding or an appeal.
• Accompany the advisee to meetings and other disciplinary proceedings.
• The main role of the Campus Advisor is to support students through the disciplinary process. The Campus Advisor may not represent any students, therefore may not speak during any investigative meetings and/or other disciplinary proceedings.

1. An Administrative Conference is an official meeting between an accused student and a Conduct Officer to determine whether the student has violated University policy. The Conduct Officer considers information and testimony from the accused student, the complainant, and any witnesses.
2. Any student who provides false information during an Administrative Conference is subject to additional charges under the University Code of Student Conduct.
3. Accused students and complainants are notified of the conference date in writing; this notification includes the charges, the name of the presiding Conduct Officer, the time, date, and location of the conference, the names of witnesses, and upon request, a list of University-trained Campus Advisors. Each party is instructed to bring their witnesses (or written witness statements) and any supporting evidence to the conference. Both parties are also given access to the case file upon request. The case file contains the original complaint and any additional information provided by the parties during the investigation.
4. Both the complainant and the accused student may bring a Campus Advisor and a support person to the conference.
5. At the beginning of each Administrative Conference, the Conduct Officer describes the procedures to be followed. The Conduct Officer also makes an audio recording of the Administrative Conference. This recording is the property of the Office of Community Standards and Student Development, and no other party may record the conference.
6. If the accused student fails to appear, the Conduct Officer will proceed with the conference and make a decision based on the available information.
7. The accused student and the complainant are given the opportunity to present information to the Conduct Officer, who questions both parties and any witnesses. Each party also has the opportunity to pose questions.
8. An accused student is presumed to be not responsible unless the standard of proof is met. Responsibility must be established by the "preponderance of information” standard of proof. This standard requires that the Conduct Officer be persuaded that it is more likely than not that the allegations are true.
9. If the Conduct Officer finds the student in violation of University policy, they can assign any sanction listed in the University Code of Student Conduct. If that sanction includes suspension, expulsion, or loss of University housing, the matter will be referred to a University Hearing for further review.
10. The Conduct Officer provides the accused student with written notice of the finding and sanctions, if any. This notice will summarize the rationale for the finding and sanctions and include information on how to appeal the decision.

If you are going to have an Administrative Conference or University Hearing, you prepare to present your case. Before the meeting, you should:

1. Obtain a Campus Advisor, if you wish.
2. Provide the Office of Community Standards and Student Development with the names of your Campus Advisor and support person, if any.
3. If you are the accused student, and would like someone (such as a family member or attorney) to have access to information about the case, submit a release form (available here) to the Office of Community Standards and Student Development.
4. Contact the Office of Community Standards and Student Development (communitystandards@newark.rutgers.edu) to review the case file.
5. Develop a list of evidence that helps to prove your version of events. Provide the list and copies of your evidence to the Office of Community Standards and Student Development by the submission deadline.
6. Prepare your witnesses and submit your witness list to the Office of Community Standards and Student Development by the submission deadline.
7. If you plan to make a statement in your defense, prepare a narrative. This is a full, detailed description of the incident in question and your version of events. You will introduce your evidence and witnesses when you present your narrative.
8. Anticipate what the opposing party might say and prepare questions for them that will bring out information supporting your case.
9. If your case will be heard at a University Hearing, prepare a closing statement (optional). This is a brief summary of the information you have presented and the conclusions you want the board to draw.
10. In the event that the accused student is found responsible, the Hearing Board or decision-maker will determine a sanction. Prepare a statement recommending an appropriate sanction. If you are the accused student, you may wish to obtain written statements from character witnesses.* These statements may be introduced during the sanctioning portion of the meeting. If you are the complainant, you may introduce a victim impact statement.

* A character witness provides information about the accused student's background and character.

The University strongly encourages students to call a University Official and/or Medical Professional for medical assistance for themselves or for community members who are dangerously under the influence of drugs or alcohol. No student seeking medical treatment for the effects of drug or alcohol use will be subject to university discipline for violations pertaining to drug or alcohol possession/use as outlined in the University Code of Student Conduct.

Medical Amnesty will be granted to both the intoxicated student and to the student seeking medical assistance for the intoxicated student; however, both the intoxicated student and the reporting student will be required to meet with their respective campus’ Office of Community Standards and Student Development to provide a detailed account of the events leading to the need for assistance in order to receive amnesty. Additionally, involved students may be required to participate in an educational program related to drugs or alcohol. Medical Amnesty does not apply to disciplinary action relating to any other Code violation including, but not limited to, assault, property damage, or the presence of or distribution of other substances. Medical Amnesty does not apply to student organizations.

• University Code of Student Conduct

• Student Organization Policies and Procedures

• Information Sheet for Complainants

• Information Sheet for Accused Students