Outcome guidelines are not prescriptive.

• Meeting facilitators are empowered and expected to utilize their professional judgment when determining the most appropriate outcome(s) for the development of the individual student and the common good of the University community, as long as the rationale for imposition of the outcome(s) is clearly articulated in the decision letter and supported by a preponderance of evidence.
• Meeting facilitators are expected to craft and assign outcomes with the explicit goal of educating, supporting, and creating accountability for the student.
  • The timely completion of the assigned sanction content and the reflection needed to do so encourages students to think critically about their actions and decisions and the impact those actions and decisions have.
• Meeting facilitators may consider information relevant to the incident in the determination of outcomes.
  • The information considered may serve to increase or decrease the severity of the sanction. Meeting facilitators are expected to articulate any information they consider, their rationale for including that information, and its impact on sanctioning in the decision letter.
  • A non-exhaustive list of possible considerations can be found in the Code of Student Conduct. If there is something that should impact the decision about potential outcomes, students should discuss it with their meeting facilitator.
• The Center for Student Conduct values student voice and perspective. Students are encouraged to play an active role in all aspects of the conversation with their meeting facilitator, including the assignment of outcomes.
• Conduct history will be considered as one of many factors in decisions regarding potential outcomes.
  • If conduct history is considered in a decision, meeting facilitators are expected to articulate its relevance in the decision letter.
• Being found responsible for any violation of policy constitutes the creation of a conduct record. At UVM a conduct record is separate from academic transcripts.
• If a student is under 21 years of age and  found responsible for a violation of the Alcohol, Cannabis, Tobacco, and Other Drug Policy UVM requires that the meeting facilitator send a notification of the finding to parents/guardians.

Possible Outcomes

Meeting facilitators may select any combination of the following outcomes if students are found responsible for violations of UVM policy.

• Written Assignment
  • If a meeting facilitator feels that a student needs to do more reflection in a specific area, they will assign the student a writing assignment designed to focus on that area. We invite students to read through our list of frequently used prompts to get an idea of what these assignments might entail.
• BASICS (Balancing Alcohol and Substances to Improve College Success)
  • If students are found responsible for a violation of the Alcohol, Cannabis, Tobacco, and Other Drug Policy, BASICS is a standard response that will be included with any additional Outcomes as appropriate.
  • BASICS is designed to help you explore your relationship with alcohol, cannabis, nicotine or other drug in an open and non-shaming environment. BASICS is an individual meeting with a trained facilitator.  
• Consultation
  • If a meeting facilitator finds that the student(s) would benefit from working with a specific member of the campus community, they may ask them to complete an individual or group meeting with that person as their assigned outcome.
• Official Notice of Violation (ON I)
  • If a meeting facilitator determines that a student violated policy, but there is no need for them to complete any additional work, they will assign this notice.
• Financial Restitution
  • If a student is found responsible for damaging University property, their student account will be billed for the damages by the department to which the property belonged.

Agreement-based Outcomes

If a meeting facilitator and the student(s) are able to work collaboratively to identify specific areas of concern and areas for improvement, and the student identifies an interest in a specific area where they would like to work, the meeting facilitator may offer one of the outcomes below in addition to other outcomes. Students must be willing, self-motivated, and provide written agreement to these outcomes before they take effect. If a student does not honor that agreement it may result in other outcomes as determined by the meeting facilitator.

• Community Restitution
  • In cases where student(s) identify a desire to repair harm that may have been done in the community and express a clear interest in a particular area or site they may be assigned community restitution. Hours, sites, and the term will all be discussed during the meeting.
• Restorative Process
  • In cases where student(s) express an interest in coming together with other student(s) involved in an incident to address impact and/or harm, repair relationships, and work together to find a path forward, Center for Student Conduct staff will provide an opportunity for student(s) to engage with one another using restorative approaches. It is important to note that all parties involved must express an interest in engaging with a restorative process.

Possible Elevated Outcomes

Based on the circumstances of an incident the meeting facilitator may determine that more significant outcomes are needed. Below are some examples of what that might look like. These may be assigned individually or in combination with any other available outcomes.

• Written assignment
  • If a meeting facilitator feels that there is a need for continued reflective thinking, they may assign a longer more in-depth assignment to address a particular issue. We invite students to read through our list of frequently used prompts to get an idea of what these assignments might contain.
• Continued Consultation
  • If the student‘s actions caused significant impact or there are issues raised during the conduct meeting that were not resolved, a meeting facilitator may ask student(s) meet with another staff member. This may be done individually or as a group. Student(s) may be asked to meet once or several times depending on the context of the decision.
• Official Notice of Concern (ON II)
  • If a meeting facilitator is concerned about the frequency or acuity of a student’s actions and wants to officially give notice that further behavior may result in separation from the University, they will assign this notice.

Egregious Violations

There are instances where alleged behavior is so concerning the meeting facilitator will need to consider separation from the University. In these instances, the behavior may be one that causes significant harm to others, or the behavior may indicate that a student has demonstrated that they cannot be a healthy, engaged, and successful part of the campus community at this time.

• Deferred Suspension
  • If a meeting facilitator determines that there needs to be a significant intervention coupled with a long-term educational component, they may assign a deferred suspension. Deferred suspension allows a student to remain enrolled while completing an 8-12 week educational program rather than being separated from the University. Students must apply for and be accepted into this program. This program also requires students to pay a $350 administrative fee.
• Suspension
  • If a meeting facilitator determines that there is a need for a student to take time away from the University to reflect on their behavior or decision making, they will suspend them for at least one semester.
• Dismissal
  • Dismissal is used when a student's actions are so egregious, or the impact of those actions is so severe that there is significant negative impact to the health and safety of others and the UVM community. In other instances, dismissal is appropriate when repeated interactions with the conduct process have exhausted all other methods of intervention.