Judicial Procedures

General Principles. The University of La Verne stresses not only academic and career preparation but also values and character development. In order to preserve the quality of education, ULV expects all students to conform voluntarily to the established rules, regulations, and social orders, and to conduct themselves at all times and in all places in a manner befitting student status. ULV is not a law enforcement agency but expects all its students, whether as individuals or groups, to obey all federal, state, and local laws. Violators will not be immune from prosecution under these laws.

The primary objective of establishing disciplinary standards is to maintain an appropriate level of conduct in our academic and social community. If an institution is public, it is required to grant due process. Since ULV is a private institution, constitutional due process is not required. In all judicial proceedings regarding a student's social behavior, the student will be treated with fundamental fairness.

ULV's academic and social judicial procedures permit members of the University community to register complaints against individuals or groups with the Academic Deans, the Associate Vice President for Regional Campuses, or the Dean of Student Affairs, as appropriate.

Right to Judicial Review. A student who is charged with a social policy violation has the right to a judicial review prior to any action being taken. The only exception to being granted a full judicial review prior to any action being taken occurs when a student may present a continuing danger to persons or to the property of others. In this case, the student may be separated from the University immediately and then be provided a judicial review at a later date. Otherwise, a student under disciplinary action has the right to be present on campus and to attend classes until suspended or expelled.

Structure of the Social Judicial Process. Violations of the ULV social behavior standards or policies are normally handled through an administrative review process under Fundamentally Fairness procedures. Situations requiring such action include violations of ULV's drug, alcohol, and sexual behavior policies, as well as incidents of violence threatening the safety of an employee or other members of the campus community. The judicial process for social misconduct by traditional- age central campus students includes:

  1. An Administrative Review with a judicial officer such as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, the Director of Housing and Residential Life, the Dean of Student Affairs, or appropriate program administrator; and
  2. A hearing by the Review Board or another appropriately sanctioned board appointed through the Dean of Student Affairs Office or Housing and Residential Life Office.

The appropriate review process for traditionalage residential and commuter students will be determined by the level of misconduct and seriousness of the violation. Sanctions applied to students found in violation of behavioral standards and policies range from a warning to suspension and expulsion. In most cases, the goal is to provide an educational learning opportunity for the student. In particular situations, students may be referred to the University Counseling Center and/or recommended for an on-campus mediation referral. Offenses or threats involving employees are usually handled by a separate administrative process. Students do have a right of appeal on several specific grounds for judicial decisions. The appeals process is not a "re-hearing" of the case. In most cases appeals must be submitted in writing within five working days after the hearing.

Information regarding social behavior standards and judicial procedures for traditional-age central campus students is available from ULV's Judicial Officer, Ruby Montano-Cordova (ext. 4858 or cordovar@ ulv.edu), and in "The Disciplinary Process for Student Social Misconduct" (available online at: www.ulv.edu/sa/dp/index.shtml and in the Dean of Student Affairs Office).

Non-Traditional-Age and Graduate Programs. The College of Law, College of Business and Public Management, College of Educational and Organizational Leadership, and Regional Campus Administration (RCA) have their own judicial processes, including administrative reviews.

Appeals Procedures on Academic Matters. A student may appeal final grades, academic honesty decisions, and most policy decisions. Procedures for appealing final grades and academic honesty are contained in the Final Grades and Academic Honesty sections of this catalog.

The path of appeal for grades and course requirements starts with the instructor in the course and then goes successively to the program chair and department chair, the Dean of the college, and the Provost.* Appeals on academic honesty decisions begin with the instructor and then may be taken to the program chair and department chair, college Dean, and Provost.*

Appeals on academic policy decisions must be made to the Undergraduate or Graduate Appeals Committee. Appeals must be made in writing, on the appropriate appeals form, to the Undergraduate or Graduate Appeals Committee. Central campus students can obtain these forms from the Registrar and Graduate Office respectively; RCA

students may request them from the director or coordinator of their campus or program. Appeals of decisions by these committees can be made to the Dean of the college and to the Provost in that order. When certain appeals are granted, penalty/ administrative fees may be assessed. All appeals must be made in a timely manner, generally within four weeks of the action or decision in question.

Appeals Procedures for Social Conduct Violations. Appeals of judicial decisions must be made in writing within five working days to the appropriate designated judicial officer, including the Director of Housing and Residential Life, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, or the Dean of Student Affairs. Appeals of decisions made by RCA directors must be made in writing to the Dean of RCA within one month after the student was notified of the decision.

Appeals by Students with Disabilities. ULV has established a set of procedures that address policy implementation for students with disabilities. Should any student desire to initiate action related to a diagnosed disability or to initiate testing for a disability, he/she should contact the Director of Services for Students With Disabilities, the Dean's office of his/her college, or the Director of the ULV campus where he/she studies to get a copy of the University's policies and procedures.

*In departments without program chairs, the next appeal after the instructor is directly to the department chair. In the College of Law, the first appeal is to the Dean.