Guidelines for Student Infractions and Misalignment with Participation Expectations

The Study Abroad Office’s priority is to engage in restorative justice practices.

However, the program and the group come first. If an individual participant causes harm or is in significant misalignment with Study Abroad expectations, they may be denied access to and/or removed from a program. Expectations are outlined in the Principia College Community Standards and Grounds for Formal Discipline, the Study Abroad Selection & Eligibility Criteria, the Study Abroad Office Student Code of Conduct Agreement, and each program’s individual application and informational sheet. The Study Abroad Office reserves the right to withdraw a student based on code of conduct infractions, or failure to meet any of the outlined study abroad program eligibility requirements, at any time.

Complete restorative justice practices will not be employed if the program staff and the Study Abroad Office determines that there is not sufficient capacity and/or resources to address the infraction or harm fully, within the constraints of the program. The Study Abroad Office and the study abroad faculty/staff will mutually support each other in an efficient and collaborative assessment and decision-making process (with sufficient discussion and documentation). The final decision is determined by the Study Abroad Director, in consultation with the study abroad faculty and staff, Dean of Students, and Dean of Academics, unless the infraction is criminal or sexual in nature. 

The participant’s signature on the program application and the Student Code of Conduct Agreement acknowledge awareness and understanding of expectations for continued participation in a study abroad program. 

Criteria for Taking a Restorative Justice Approach:

  • Some harm has been done to other parties
  • The offender expresses sincere remorse for the harm done
  • The victimized parties express a willingness for restoration

Cases that are not appropriate for Restorative Justice include:

  • Cases in which the offender does not take responsibility for the harm caused
  • Cases in which the offender is seeking alternatives to a sanction they dislike (for example, if the victim wants the offender to move out of the residence hall and the offender simply isn’t willing to move)
  • Cases involving sexual or criminal offenses

Restorative Justice

Retributive Justice

vs.

Restorative Justice

Benefits

Crime is a violation of the law/standards.

 

Crime is a violation of people and relationships.

More personal, case-specific outcomes/agreements.

Violations create guilt.

 

Violations create obligations.

Encourages the offender to take responsibility and have empathy for victim(s).

Justice requires the institution to determine blame and impose punishment.

 

Justice involves victims, offenders, and community members in an effort to make things right.

Focuses on obligations, not guilt (no intent to ostracize), through involving victims, offenders and community members in an effort to make things right.

Focus: Offender getting what they deserve.

 

Focus: Victim needs, and offender responsibility to repair harm.

Focuses on victim needs, promotes addressing and healing to individual(s) and community by facilitating best way to bring offender back into the community.

Section I: Stakeholder Considerations for Student Infractions & Misalignment with Expectations

All student incident cases are considered Confidential.

  • Student: gather student statement; schedule student in-person meeting to address alleged violation; provide an opportunity for an appeal by the student, if on-campus, or if circumstances allow.
  • Study Abroad Faculty/Staff: meet with study abroad staff to gather statement/context, if appropriate.
  • Study Abroad Office: gather abroad office staff statement/context, if appropriate.
  • Study Abroad Group Participants: consider/address needs of study abroad group/context.
  • Administration: Dean of Academics, Dean of Students, College President: consider/address needs.
  • Principia Community: consider/address needs.
  • Greater Community (local, C.S., regional, host country, etc.): consider/address needs.

 In all cases, partnership and collaboration with the Dean of Students and the Dean of Academics will be prioritized. 

 If the alleged infraction is criminal or sexual in nature, the Study Abroad Director, Dean of Students, Dean of Academics, and the College President will be notified immediately, and included in the holistic process. The Dean of Academics will provide the ultimate determination in the case. 

Section II: Student Infractions Prior to a Study Abroad Program

  1. Academic Infraction
    1. Academic Warning: If a student is placed on Academic Warning during a term prior to the study abroad program, the Study Abroad Office will work with the program faculty to determine the best course of action to support the student.
    2. Academic Probation/Dismissal: If a student is placed on Academic Probation during a term prior to the study abroad program, he/she will be dismissed from the study abroad program.
    3. Study Abroad Office Director provides brief written notice to student articulating the decision (CC: study abroad program staff, study abroad program manager, Deans).
    4. Students may appeal to the Academic Dean.

  2. Social Infraction or Misalignment with Study Abroad Participation Expectations
      1. If time allows, prior to in-country portion of study abroad program, student may engage in on-campus Study Abroad and Student Life procedures for addressing the infraction.
      2. If time does not allow, prior to the in-country portion of the program, the student to engage in holistic Student Life and Study Abroad Office, on-campus, procedures to appropriately address the specific infraction, then the student will be dismissed from the study abroad program.
      3. Study Abroad Office Director provides brief written notice to student articulating the decision (CC: study abroad program staff, study abroad program manager, Deans).
      4. Students may appeal to the Academic Dean.
        1. Reprimand/warning/censure – Written warning that the student has violated policies and/or regulations and that continued or repeated violations may be cause for further disciplinary action.
        2. Disciplinary probation – Written notice of a status imposed for a specified period of time during which a student must demonstrate conduct that conforms to Principia Study Abroad standards of conduct.
        3. Dismissal – Written notice of student dismissal from the study abroad program.

Section III: Student Infractions or Misalignment During a Study Abroad Program

  1. Academic Infraction:
    1. Academic Probation/Dismissal: If a student is placed on Academic Probation during the abroad program, he/she will be dismissed from the study abroad program.
    2. Study Abroad Office Director provides brief written notice to student articulating the decision (CC: study abroad program staff, study abroad program manager, Deans).
    3. Students may appeal to the Academic Dean.
  2. Social Infraction or Misalignment with Study Abroad Participation Expectations
      1. Violation of the Principia Community Commitment, Principia Standards, Principia Study Abroad Eligibility Requirements, and/or Student Code of Conduct:
        1. Program faculty and staff, Study Abroad Director and Dean of Students assess severity of the infraction and the time and resources available to commit to addressing the infraction.

          Possible Outcomes:
        2. Disciplinary probation – Written notice of a status imposed for a specified period of time during which a student must demonstrate conduct that conforms to Principia Study Abroad standards of conduct.
        3. Restorative Justice – If a student has not been through Principia Restorative Justice previously, this process is initiated and facilitated within the context of the program, by the Study Abroad Office, program faculty & staff, and group. Reported to Student Life for coordination and noted in the student’s file.
        4. Dismissal – Written notice of student dismissal from the study abroad program.
        5. Students may appeal to the Academic Dean.
      2. Disruptive or dangerous behaviors and/or actions, in misalignment with participation expectations:
        1. Warning/censure – Written warning that the student has violated policies and/or regulations and that continued or repeated violations may be cause for further disciplinary action.
        2. Probation – Written notice of a status imposed for a specified period of time during which a student must demonstrate conduct that conforms to Principia Study Abroad standards of conduct.
        3. Dismissal – Written notice of student dismissal from the study abroad program.
        4. Students may appeal to the Academic Dean.

The Director of the Principia Abroad Office makes the final determination regarding student continuation or student dismissal from a study abroad program, unless the nature of the infraction is criminal or sexual in nature, in which case the Dean of Academics make the final determination.