The Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics has several resources available to Faculty and Staff members to aid them with student disciplinary issues. Personal or departmental consultations are available by phone or appointment. In addition to consultations, we have several brochures available that provide information regarding how to deal with academic dishonesty, disruptive or inappropriate behavior, and other student behavior issues. Here are some of the more frequently asked questions that we receive from faculty or staff. Please feel free to contact our staff at any time for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have information that a student has violated University policy, how do I file a complaint?
Any faculty or staff member who has reason to believe that a student has violated University policy may file a complaint with the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics by phone or in writing. Our office has a complaint form available which we can send via e-mail to any department, or faculty/staff member.
After a complaint has been filed, we will send correspondence to the student and initiate the disciplinary process.
How do I handle a case of Academic Dishonesty?
Please review the Guide to Academic Honesty. This guide provides comprehensive answers to questions regarding the judicial process concerning cases of academic dishonesty.
Academic Process Quick Steps
1. Send an informational report to the Office for Community Standards and Student Ethics. OCSSE must receive the report within 5 (five) business days of a potential violation being discovered.
2. Meet with the student. The purpose of this meeting is informational. A faculty member should explain the allegations and potential sanctions during this meeting.
3. Advise the student to continue attending class.
4. Advise the student that the matter has been referred and that they should look for a letter from OCSSE.
5. A grade sanction should not be assessed until the student has either accepted responsibility or exhausted all appeal procedures. Faculty members should assess a grade of "I" once they are notified that a student is appealing the action.
How should I handle a student who is being disruptive?
If you believe that a student is dangerous or that a situation has the potential to escalate into a physical threat to you or other members of the University community, call the University of Arkansas Police Department at 911 to report the behavior. If you are confronted with a situation where you cannot contact the police department, please utilize the following guidelines:
- Maintain a safe distance. Do not turn your back on the student.
- Unless you are being physically assaulted, do not touch the student or his/her belongings. This may be interpreted as a threat.
- Use a calm, non-confrontational approach and manner to defuse the situation
- If a threat of harm is present, immediately dismiss the class. Do not mention disciplinary action or police intervention. If you have already mentioned these, direct the student’s attention away from the consequences of his/her behavior. Once the student has calmed down and/or left the area, the University of Arkansas Police Department and the Office of the Dean of Students should be contacted immediately.
- The office for Community Standards in collaboration with the University Ombuds Office has developed an informational guide to Handling Disruptive Behavior.
NOTE: The Dean of Students or his/her designee can remove a student from your class on an interim basis, if the behavior exhibited is continuously disruptive or represents a danger to the instructor, the student, or others.
What is the Code of Student Life and where can I find a copy?
The Code of Student Life is printed annually in the Catalog of Studies, and may be found in Appendix C of the current Catalog. The Code of Student Life outlines University policies, provides students with guidelines for appropriate behavior on campus, and describes requirements for student organizations.
