- My student has a conduct case. Can you talk to me about it?
- Can I be present while my student is meeting with Community Accountability or their Resident Director for their conduct case?
- How does a disciplinary record affect my student’s chances for graduate school or professional school?
- My student had prior violations that I did not know about. Why was I not contacted previously?
Community Accountability can share information regarding our policies and procedures as outlined in the Bruin Guide. If a parent wants specific information related to their student’s case, they will need the student to sign a FERPA release. This release must be made voluntarily. We encourage students to be open and honest with their parents about student conduct matters. Only under certain circumstances can Community Accountability reach out without student permission.
No. We do not allow for parents and/or attorneys to participate in our adjudication process regardless of their community membership. Parents can assist their student in preparing for their meeting and assist in processing after their meeting. This is a student led adjudication process and student can present their own account of their conduct situation. Students are allowed to have an “Advisor” that is considered their support person for their hearing. The Advisor must be part of the Belmont community (faculty, staff, or student).
If your student is found responsible for a violation, it will become part of your conduct record. Except in certain circumstances, Federal law requires the student to first complete a waiver before your conduct record may be shared externally. Graduate school and job applications will sometimes require the student to complete a waiver to be considered. Note, though, their conduct record will not be the sole criteria for determining their suitability as a candidate. Suspensions and expulsions are noted on transcripts; however, unless certain exceptions apply, incident details are not shared without a waiver. Their conduct record may be shared within the university in certain situations (e.g., they have applied for a leadership position, applied to study abroad, applied for a campus representative job, etc.). The advisor or supervisor for a particular organization, program, or job position will ultimately make the decision about their participation or selection; a conduct record does not automatically bar them. If they are already a member of an organization, program, or job position, it is their responsibility to inform their advisor or supervisor if they are placed on probation, suspended, or expelled.
Fair question. Belmont must abide by FERPA, a federal law the requires Belmont to protect the privacy of student’s educational records. The student is the “legal entity” once they begin to attend Belmont. The student educational records (which include student conduct records) belong to the student, not the parent or guardian. The student must give you permission to view their educational records.