Student Conduct

• Identify the behavior they engaged in and why it is a violation of University policy.
  • Implicit in this outcome, why is the institution concerned about student behavior?
• Examine the impact and consequences of their behavior on self and the community.
  • Implicit in this outcome, does the student understand how future incidents will impact their standing as a student?
• Recognize their personal responsibility in their actions and behavior, and articulate alternative strategies to prevent negative consequences in the future.
  • Implicit in this outcome, how do these actions reflect the students personal beliefs and values?

The Conduct philosophy and subsequent processes are modeled after the spirit of Restorative Justice. Restorative justice seeks to examine the harmful impacts of a decision and then determines the opportunities to repair the harm while holding the person who caused it accountable. At Bentley, we believe that students are responsible for their actions and the harm they cause to themselves, others, and the community, regardless of intent. Our Conduct processes are created to provide an educational opportunity to students who violate campus policies. Students will be able to reflect on their behavior, learn from their experiences, understand the impact of any harm they caused, and be provided opportunities to restore the harm while being held accountable for their actions.

 Restorative Justice 

There are two conduct processes within the conduct system: Administrative Hearing Process and the Student Conduct Board Process. 

Additional information about the conduct process:

Conduct Process Overview

When the Office of Student Conduct receives a report of an alleged violation, a case is created and referred to one of three conduct levels. The level at which the case will be heard is determined by the seriousness of the alleged violation(s) and the conduct history of the student. Once the case is assigned to a level, the Office of Student Conduct will determine whether the case will be referred to the Administrative Hearing process or Student Conduct Board process.

Under the University’s Medical Assistance Policy, any student who requests help from a university official for themselves or another student, will not be charged through our conduct system for alcohol and/or other drug-related policy violations.

Read the full Medical Assistance Policy below:

Medical Assistance Policy

Student organizations are defined as but not limited to: Recognized student organizations, registered with Student Programs & Engagement Organizations

If the conduct of members of a student organization violates a campus policy (on or off-campus) or results in an off-campus citation, the student organization is subject to referral to the Student Conduct System. The incident will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for review, and if necessary, for resolution. During that period of review and/ or resolution, the Office of Student Conduct, in consultation with Student Programs & Engagement, reserves the right to implement an Interim Suspension or other form of interim measure to an organization. The student organization retains the same rights and responsibilities as an individual student in the university conduct process. The Office of Student Conduct will determine if a student organization participates in the Administrative Hearing process or Student Conduct Board Hearing process. A student organization is responsible for supervising all organization sponsored events on or off campus, even though other security measures may be taken. If a student organization is found to be responsible for violating university policies, rules, regulations and/or federal state or local laws, sanctions such as loss of privileges and/or recognition may be imposed. State and federal privacy laws do not apply to student organizations.

If a student organization demonstrates one or more of the behaviors below, the Office of Student Conduct may refer the student organization to the Student Conduct System:

• The conduct is endorsed by the student organization or any of its officers including, but not limited to, active or passive consent or support, having prior knowledge that the conduct was likely to occur and not taking any substantive action to prevent it (e.g., canceling the event, notifying the Office of Student Conduct, Student Programs & Engagement, University Police or local police, etc.), or helping to plan, advertise, or promote the conduct.
• The conduct is committed during an activity paid for by the organization, or paid for as a result of one or more members of the organization contributing personal funds in lieu of or in addition to organizational funds to support the activity or conduct in question.
• The conduct occurred on property currently owned, controlled, rented, leased, or used by the organization or any of its members for an organizational event. To determine organizational affiliation, historical property information may be used in the investigation process.
• The purpose of the activity was related to recruitment, initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in the organization.
• Non-members of the organization learned of the activity through members, advertisements, or communications associated with the organization, or otherwise formed a reasonable belief that the conduct or activity was affiliated with or endorsed by the organization.
• Members of the organization attempted to conceal the activity of other members who were involved.
• One or more officer(s) of the organization had prior knowledge or reasonably should have known that the conduct would take place.
• Whether the alleged incident occurred at or in connection with an organization-sponsored event or activity or at an event or activity that would reasonably be associated with the student organization.
• A significant percentage, as determined by the Office of Student Conduct, of the student organization was present during the time of the violation.
• Violate University policies, rules and regulations, federal and state or local laws, on or off campus.

It is important to note that when a student is a member of a recognized student organization, a student organization and the student(s) who contributed to the violation may be held collectively and individually responsible for violations of the Bentley Student Handbook. Therefore, a student may go through a student conduct process as an individual and as a member of a student organization, simultaneously. Student organizations may be held accountable for violations without regard to whether members of such organizations are individually held accountable for the same misconduct.

Interim Measures

The Office of Student Conduct, in collaboration with Student Programs and Engagement, may issue interim measures pending consideration of the conduct case. Interim measures may include but are not limited to: an order for the organization to suspend all activities and operations, no contact orders, and loss of privileges. The need for appropriate interim measures will vary between cases and will be communicated to the officers of the student organization. Failure to abide by interim measures is an additional violation of campus policy.

Conduct Process

A student organization will be represented by all officers during the conduct process. Officers will be required to attend mandatory conduct hearings. The Office of Student Conduct will inform the officers of a student organization if they will participate in the Administrative Hearing process or Student Conduct Board process. The conduct process for a student organization may include an investigation involving Bentley University Police or other Police departments depending on the location and nature of the incident.

Additional Information:

• The Office of Student Conduct will determine appropriate charges/violations and level of the conduct case.
• Student organizations have the same rights as individual students during an administrative hearing or student conduct board process. State and federal privacy laws do not apply to student organizations.
• If a student organization is affiliated with a national or international organization, the Office of Student Conduct and/or Student Programs and Engagement may notify the national/international office at any time. The Office of Student Conduct and/or notifying office may attempt to work in partnership with the national/international office.
• The full range of sanctions may be imposed on a student organization.
• The appeals process will be determined by the level of the conduct case.