1. Will parents be notified if their son or daughter violates University policy?

A letter of notification will be sent to the parents of students who are under the age of 21 and have violated Clemson University's Alcohol and Drug Policy.

2. What is a discipline conference?

Upon receipt of an incident report, police report, or written complaint, the  report will be reviewed and the student(s) will be contacted by a staff member via letter, telephone, or e-mail to schedule an appointment for a discipline conference, when possible, to discuss the allegations and the disciplinary process.  During the discipline conference, they will be given an opportunity to review the information describing the alleged violation and respond to the allegations.  If the facts and/or sanctions concerning the alleged violation(s) cannot be agreed upon by the staff member and the referred student(s), the staff member will provide the following options:

If the contemplated sanction does not include eviction from University housing or suspension or expulsion from the University, the student(s) may plead no contest, have the staff member impose sanctions, and waive his/her right to an administrative  hearing; or they may appeal to the student conduct code review committee. 

If the contemplated sanction includes eviction from University housing or suspension or expulsion from the University, the student(s) may plead no contest, have the staff member impose  sanctions, and waive his/her opportunity for a hearing; or they may  request a hearing before the administrative hearing board so that a  broader exploration of the facts and circumstances may occur. 

If a referred student or students fail to appear at a scheduled discipline conference, an additional charge of failure to comply with an official request will be added, and the staff member may render a decision in the  absence of the student(s).

3. What is a judicial hearing?

A judicial hearing is the opportunity for a student to respond to the charges brought against him or her.  There are generally two types of hearings:  an administrative hearing and a student judicial board hearing.  An administrative hearing results from cases where the contemplated sanction is eviction from University housing or suspension or expulsion from the University and the referred student requests an administrative hearing. 

4. What will it mean if my son or daughter is suspended or dismissed from the university?

Suspension is the denial of enrollment, attendance, and other privileges at  the University for a specified period of time.  Permission to apply for readmission upon the termination of the period may be granted with or without conditions/restrictions.  The student must receive clearance for re-enrollment from the Office of Community and Ethical Standards.  A student who has been issued a suspension sanction is deemed “not eligible  to return” to the University during the suspension period.

Expulsion is the dismissal of a student from the University without the ability to apply for re-enrollment.  A student who is expelled is deemed “not eligible to return” to the University.

5. Can parents attend the hearing?

Parents may only be present at the hearing if they are serving in the capacity of an advisor or a witness. 

6. How can parents be of support during the judicial process?

The best thing that parents can do during the judicial process is to become familiar with the policies and Student Code of Conduct so they can speak with their student about the process. The guidance and advice of parents is an invaluable resource for students.