Student Organization
A. Disciplinary Process.
Each student organization’s purposes and activities shall comply with federal and state laws, Belmont University’s Community Code of Conduct, any publications and guides published by the Office of Student Activities, such as the Student Leader’s Handbook.
Incidents involving Belmont University Student Organization or Affiliates will be addressed through the procedures outline in the disciplinary process for individual students.
In such cases, the president of the organization or the student designated as the group leader shall represent the group’s interests throughout the process.
B. Sanctions. The following disciplinary sanctions may be imposed upon student organizations when they have been found responsible for violating the Community Code of Conduct. All sanctions may be imposed either individually or in combination. Sanctions are imposed for the purpose of holding student organizations and their membership accountable for their actions and the actions of their guest(s), whether on campus or at any organization sponsored function. The following is a list of sanctions, but other sanctions not listed, may be applied if necessary:I. Verbal Reprimand
II. Written Reprimand: An official written reprimand making the incident a matter of record in university files for a specified period of time. Any further violation of the Community Commitments and Community Code of Conduct could result in more severe disciplinary action.
III. Conduct Probation: A period of review and observation during which a student organization is under an official warning that their misconduct was very serious. Subsequent violations of University rules, regulations, or policies could result in a more severe sanction including suspension. During the probationary period, a student organization is deemed “not in good standing” with the University and may be subject to one or any combination of the following conditions and/or restrictions:
i. Denial of privileges, including but not limited to the following examples: receiving or retaining funding; participating in intramural; sponsoring any social event: sponsoring any speaker or guest on campus; participating in any social events: cosponsoring any social event or other activity; recruitment of membership.
IV. Work or Service Hours
V. Educational Activities
VI. Restitution/FinesVII. Suspension from Belmont University – Separation from the University for a specified period and denial of privileges of a registered student organization.
Any organization whose registration is suspended or revoked must cease all organizational activities upon receipt of the notice of suspension. Any funds or space provided to the suspended registered student organization must be relinquished to the appropriate governing body (i.e. SGA and Director of Student Activities.) In order to return to campus, the student organization must reapply to become a registered student organization and the request will be reviewed by the Dean of Students and Director of Student Activities. It is at the discretion of the Dean of Student and Director of Student Activities to grant permission to reestablish as a registered student organization.
VIII. Withdrawal from Belmont University – Permanent separation from the university without the possibility of reestablishing as a registered student organization. Any organization whose registration is withdrawal must cease all organizational activities upon receipt of the notice of withdrawal. Any funds or space provided to the withdrawal registered student organization must be relinquished to the appropriate governing body (i.e. SGA and Director of Student Activities.)
C. Emergency Action. The university may impose emergency action upon a student organization and/or activities when there is reason to believe, based upon available information, that the student organization or activity poses an immediate threat to the safety, health or welfare of persons, property or the orderly operation of the university. This action is warranted by potential or threatened danger or disruption, and indicated only when the serious nature or immediacy of the threat requires immediate action. The action is interim in nature, pending the outcome of the disciplinary process.
I. Emergency action includes the following:
i. Emergency Suspension and/or Restriction. This action may suspend or restrict a student organization for an interim period of time pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings when there is reasonable cause to believe that the continued activities of the organization and its members may pose an immediate threat to the safety, health or welfare of persons, property or the orderly operation of the University. During the time of suspension the organization may be required to cease all organizational activities and vacate any assigned University space immediately upon written notice. This action may be imposed by the Dean of Students for all student organizations and Greek organization.
ii. Notice of Emergency Action. A student organization will receive written documentation of any emergency action taken against it. The documentation shall explain the nature, reason for, and duration of the action, as well as any conditions that may apply.
iii. Following the imposition of emergency action, standard university disciplinary process shall be provided as expeditiously as possible.
