For Students

I just received a meeting notification letter referring to a documented incident. Why was this letter sent to me?

If you are receiving a meeting notification letter it likely means your name was included in a written Incident Report with regards to a possible community standards violation. The Incident Report has information about the incident and the alleged violation that has occured. Being documented for an incident does not mean that you have been found responsible for a policy violation. For example, meeting notification letters may be sent to witnesses and victims as well.

Your meeting notification letter will indicate a day and time for you to meet with a conduct official to discuss the alleged incident. This is referred to as the informal meeting and it is the first step in the student conduct process.

I am having trouble accessing my letter. What login credentials should use?

The recommended browser is Google Chrome.
Username: Your URI email (e.g., you@uri.edu)
Password: Your URI Password (e.g., Same password as Office365, Brightspace, Campus Wi-Fi, Gmail)

If you have difficulty with your login credentials, contact the URI Help Desk. (401-874-4357). In some cases, a password reset may help.

Can you tell me about the alleged incident?

Front office staff are not able to discuss alleged incidents with students. As the letter indicates, the alleged incident will be discussed during your scheduled meeting with the conduct official.

What happens in the informal meeting?

During the informal meeting, you will meet with a conduct official to discuss the alleged incident, provide your perspective on the event, and review behavior expectations. Informal meetings are typically scheduled for a half hour.

What if I have a schedule conflict and cannot attend the informal meeting?

Informal meetings are scheduled based on your academic schedule. If you have a schedule conflict, please contact OCS as soon as possible before your scheduled meeting in order to request the possibility of a rescheduled time. You should plan to attend your scheduled meeting unless you received written confirmation of the rescheduled meeting.

What happens if I do not attend the informal meeting?

Please note that all outreach is conducted with you via your URI student email address. You are required to attend the informal meeting with a conduct official. If you do not attend the informal meeting, you will forfeit your opportunity to provide information related to the incident and the conduct official may make the decision to issue charges based on the reported information. Your charge letter may also include a charge for Abuse of the Student Conduct System, or failing to respond to the informal meeting.

What happens after the informal meeting?

If the conduct official determines that a policy violation has occurred, you will receive a charge letter that contains the policies violated along with recommended sanctions. Recommended sanctions are proposed sanctions that have been issued for similar violations. This way, you know what sanctions are being recommended and can make a decision on your next steps when completing your choice of action form.

If you receive a charge letter, the next step is for you to respond to the charges by submitting your Choice of Action form within three business days. The link to your Choice of Action form will be included in the Charge Letter. When submitting the choice of action form, you have the right to:

1. accept responsibility for the violations and recommended sanctions, or
2. deny responsibility for the violations and request a hearing, or
3. accept responsibility for the violations, but not the recommended sanctions (case referred to an administrative sanction-only hearing).

Can my parent/guardian attend my conduct meeting?

No. Parents/guardians are not permitted to participate during any stage of the student conduct process. However, you are permitted to bring a conduct advisor to meetings or hearings, if you choose, according to the guidelines in the Student Handbook. Please see the Student Handbook or the Conduct Advisors page for more information about the role of conduct advisors.

Can I have an attorney attend the conduct meeting?

Anyone with a law degree or a licensed attorney is only permitted to serve as a Conduct Advisor in University Student Conduct Systems meetings or hearings where students are:

1. Involved in incidents involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking or
2. Involved in incidents when there is a concurrent criminal charge.

The Dean of Students must give prior approval in all instances where an attorney or anyone with a law degree is requested to serve as a Conduct Advisor. Parameters of allowed participation will also be outlined in that permission. The Conduct Advisor’s role, including the role of an attorney, is passive. Conduct Advisors provide guidance and support, but do not actively participate in the University Student Conduct System.

What are possible sanctions?

Sanctions are a range of actions that may be imposed by the Student Conduct Administrator or Hearing Panel as a consequence of being found responsible for violating the University’s community standards of behavior. The Student Conduct Administrator or Conduct Board can establish new or modify existing sanctions that promote student growth and preserve the atmosphere of learning necessary to the well-being of all students and the community. In addition, situational conditions may be applied when appropriate. Situational conditions may include, but are not limited to:

1. All facets of the specific individual situation
2. The severity of the violation
3. The degree to which a student has participated or been involved in an incident
4. The student’s motivations and intent in connection with the infraction, and
5. Any record of past violations

Examples of lower-level sanctions include, but are not limited to: written reprimand, formal warning, disciplinary or residential probation, and/or various types of educational sanctions. Disciplinary and Residential probation statuses are common sanctions for low-level, mid-level or repeat violations.

Violations of the alcohol and drug policy generally result in minimum sanctions of a monetary fine, SAPS Referral, and disciplinary probation.

Higher-level violations or repeat violations may result in higher-level sanctions such as removal from housing, suspension, or dismissal from the university.

Where can I find more information about sanction completion?

Sanction information is provided to you in the outcome letter. The outcome letter is emailed to your URI email address and older letters can be found by searching your inbox. Sanction information can also be found on the Sanctions & Findings page.

What happens when I do not complete my sanctions?

Typically, students will be sent an overdue sanction notification via their URI email address. Eventually, a hold may be placed on the student’s account which limits their ability to add or drop classes. Students may also face additional conduct action if they fail to comply with sanctions.

Can I appeal my outcome?

Yes, a student can appeal the decision of responsibility to the University Appeals Board on Student Conduct. Instructions for submitting an appeal is located at the bottom of the student’s outcome letter and more detail (i.e., criteria for granting appeals) can be found in the Student Handbook. Students who do not attend their conduct hearing may forfeit their opportunity to appeal. Disagreeing with the proposed sanctions are not grounds for appeal.

Will this incident remain on my student conduct record?

Conduct incidents remain on a student’s conduct record for approximately seven years after the date of the action. In some instances, records may be retained permanently. If a student requests a conduct record release (e.g., applying to grad school or internships) to a third party, generally instances of policy violations that result in a finding of responsibility are reported.

For Families

Will I be notified if my student is documented for an alleged incident?

No. Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), you will generally be notified of an incident if:

1. Your student is under 21 and found responsible for a 2nd violation of the alcohol or drug policy or
2. If the incident was of such a serious nature that the University decides that the parent/guardian should be notified

If such a case arises, you will be contacted through letter or telephone call, most often after the conduct process has concluded and the student was issued a sanction of Parental Notification. The office encourages students to speak with their parent/guardian about all Community Standard violations.

Can I discuss my student’s involvement in the alleged incident with a conduct official?

Parents/Guardians can be connected with a conduct official who is a neutral third party. This conduct official can provide the parent/guardian with general information about the student conduct process. Details specifically related to the incident will not be discussed.

Can I attend my student’s conduct meeting?

No. Parents/Guardians are not permitted to participate during any stage of the student conduct process. However, students are permitted to bring a conduct advisor to meetings or hearings, if they choose, according to the guidelines in the Student Handbook. Please see the student handbook or the Conduct Advisors page for more information about the role of conduct advisors.

Can my student have an attorney attend the conduct meeting?

Anyone with a law degree or a licensed attorney is only permitted to serve as a Conduct Advisor in University Student Conduct Systems meetings or hearings where students are:

1. Involved in incidents involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking or
2. Involved in incidents when there is a concurrent criminal charge.

The Dean of Students must give prior approval in all instances where an attorney or anyone with a law degree is requested to serve as a Conduct Advisor. Parameters of allowed participation will also be outlined in that permission. The Conduct Advisor’s role, including the role of an attorney, is passive. Conduct Advisors provide guidance and support, but do not actively participate in the University Student Conduct System.

My student was suspended. What does this mean?

Suspension is an involuntary separation from the University for a specific period or until a stated condition is met. Suspension does not take effect until approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Dean of Students.

Can my student appeal an outcome?

Yes, a student can appeal the decision of responsibility to the University Appeals Board on Student Conduct. Instructions for submitting an appeal is located at the bottom of the student’s outcome letter and more detail (i.e., criteria for granting appeals) can be found in the Student Handbook. Students who do not attend their conduct hearing may forfeit their opportunity to appeal. Disagreeing with the proposed sanctions are not grounds for appeal.