Fostering Growth and Responsibility.
We work with students to reflect on decisions, build accountability, and foster skills that help them thrive in a respectful and supportive environment. We aim to foster a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and empowered to learn from their experiences.
Step-by-Step Process
The following is a brief overview of the student conduct process for violations of the Standards for Student Conduct. This does not cover allegations of harassment and/or discrimination based on a legally protected status, and/or related retaliation; sexual misconduct, dating or domestic violence, or stalking.
STEP 1: Referral -A student conduct administrator receives a report documenting an alleged violation of the Standards for Student Conduct and begins an investigation.
STEP 2: Notice -A student conduct administrator notifies the student in writing through their @corporatefilmfest.com email of the report.
STEP 3: Meeting - The student has an opportunity to meet with a student conduct administrator to respond to the allegation(s):
- A student conduct administrator may dismiss the report.
- The student may deny the allegation(s) and request a hearing, or request a hearing on the sanctions only.
The student may agree to not dispute the allegation(s) and waive the right to a student conduct hearing and accept the sanctions. A resolution agreement is put in writing and signed by the student and a student conduct administrator.
3.1 A student conduct administrator sends the student a Notice of Hearing, including the time and date of the hearing, along with recommended sanctions.
- The student may accept the recommended sanction(s). If a resolution is reached, the agreement is put in writing and signed by the student and a student conduct administrator; or
The student may not accept the recommended sanction(s) and go forward with the hearing.
Hearing - A student conduct administrator and the student will present evidence or information to a Hearing Officer. The officer submits a finding and recommended sanctions (if any) to the President's Designee, the Vice President for Student Life.
Finding - The Vice President reviews the Hearing Officer's recommendation and makes a final decision regarding responsibility and disciplinary action, which the student cannot appeal.
The following sanctions may be imposed for violation of the Standards for Student Conduct. More than one sanction may be imposed for a single violation. These sanctions are outlined in more detail in CSU Executive Order 1098.
Possible Sanctions
- Restitution: Payment for the loss of an item, damages to personal or University property, or costs related to an injury. This may include appropriate service and/or monetary material replacement.
- Loss of Financial Aid: Scholarships, loans, grants, fellowships, and any other types of state financial aid given or guaranteed for the purposes of academic assistance can be conditioned, limited, canceled, or denied.
- Educational and Remedial Sanctions: Volunteer work, research, a reflection essay, service to the University or the community, training on a particular topic, or attendance at an event or workshop, or other assignments. This can include the removal of recognized student clubs and organizations (e.g., fraternities and sororities), and/or University events, or other remedies.
- Denial of Access to Campus or Persons: A designated period of time during which the student is not permitted: on University property or specified areas of campus; or to have contact of any sort (physical or otherwise) with the person who reported the behavior, victim(s) and witnesses of the behavior, or other specified persons.
- Disciplinary Probation: A designated period of time during which the privileges of continuing as a student are conditioned upon future behavior. Conditions may include the potential loss of specified privileges to which a current student would otherwise be entitled, or the probability of
more severe disciplinary sanctions if the student is found to violate the Standards for Student Conduct or any University policy during the probationary period. - Suspension: Temporary separation of the student from active student status from all 23 campuses of the California State University.
- A student who is suspended for less than one academic year remains eligible to re-enroll at the
University (subject to individual Campus enrollment policies) once the suspension has been
served. There may be conditions for re-enrollment. - A student who is suspended for one academic year or more must reapply to the University
(subject to individual Campus application polices) once the suspension has been served. There
may be conditions for re-enrollment. - Suspension of one academic year or more will be noted on the student’s transcript permanently
without exception.
- A student who is suspended for less than one academic year remains eligible to re-enroll at the
- Expulsion: Permanent separation of the student from the California State University system. Expulsion will be noted on the student’s transcript permanently, without exception.
Why did I get an email from the Office of the Dean of Students?
The email informs you that someone filed a report alleging that you violated the Standards for Student Conduct.
What happens after I’m contacted by the Office of the Dean of Students?
You need to set up a meeting as directed in the letter by the deadline stated in the letter.
What if I am accused of academic dishonesty?
If you are accused of academic dishonesty, you will have an opportunity to speak to your instructor about the allegation. Under the university policy on academic honesty, the professor may assess an academic consequence such as a zero on the assignment or an F in the class. The instructor will also refer the matter to the Office of the Dean of Students and additional administrative sanctions may be imposed through the student conduct process.
What happens at the first meeting?
A student conduct administrator will go over the report and information gathered from an investigation. You will have an opportunity to explain what happened from your perspective. A student conduct administrator will explain the Student Conduct process and outline possible next steps.
Who will be at the first meeting?
The first meeting is usually attended by a student conduct administrator and the student. Both may have an advisor of their choosing present with them. Your advisor is there to support you; they may not speak on your behalf. Attorneys are generally prohibited from acting as advisors. The letter that you receive about the meeting will outline when/if attorneys may be present as advisors.
Will the person who filed the report be at the first meeting?
No.
What happens if I don't show up to the meetings?
You will receive notice that an enrollment hold will be placed, which will prevent you from adding, dropping, or registering for classes. A hold will also be placed on your transcript, which will prevent you from obtaining your transcript. For seniors who are about to graduate, we can also put a hold on awarding your degree. You may be directed to set up another meeting or you may be scheduled for a Formal Hearing. It is important for you to respond to letters from the Office of the Dean of Students Office regardless of your plans to continue enrollment at Cal State LA in the future.
What if I don't agree with the information in the report?
Tell a student conduct administrator in the initial meeting and they will take it into consideration as part of their investigation.
What happens if you think I did something wrong?
If, based on the information that a student conduct administrator has gathered, they think that it is more likely than not that you violated the Standards for Student Conduct, you may be offered a resolution agreement. The resolution agreement outlines sanctions that you agree to fulfill if you sign the agreement. If you don’t agree with the sanctions, or you don’t agree that the preponderance of evidence points to you having violated the Standards for Student Conduct, you have the right to a formal hearing.
I live on campus and I’ve already met with someone in Housing about the incident. Why do I also have to meet with a student conduct administrator?
If you live on campus and are found in violation of the policies outlined in the Housing license agreement, you may also be in violation of the CSU Standards for Student Conduct. The Housing conduct process and the University conduct process are separate, so students may have to go through both depending on the severity of the incident.
What happens at the hearing?
The hearing is an opportunity for the University and for you to present evidence and witnesses in support of your positions. The hearing is controlled by a Hearing Officer who will decide, based on what they hear and see at the hearing, whether you violated the Standards for Student Conduct. If they decide that you did, they will also recommend sanctions. The Hearing Officer will prepare a report which is sent either to the President or to the President’s designee. The President, or their designee, makes the final decision as to responsibility and to sanctions.
What happens if I don't show up to the hearing?
The Office of Student Conduct schedules the hearing with your input, based on the days and times that work best for you. If you don’t show up to the hearing and you don’t have good cause for the absence, it’s likely that the hearing will proceed, and a decision will be made, without your input.
What can you do to me? What are the possible outcomes?
Sanctions can range from restitution to expulsion and depend on the severity of the violation. See above for Possible Sanctions for more details.
Will I be expelled?
Expulsion from all 23 campuses of the CSU is a possible sanction in cases involving severe behavior. See above for Possible Sanctions for more details.
Will something be indicated on my transcript?
A suspension of a year or more and an expulsion will go on your transcript permanently. See above Possible Sanctions for more details.
Can I appeal?
The signed resolution agreement and or a decision by the President or President’s designee’s is final.
Will other people know? Will you tell my parents?
Your disciplinary proceedings are confidential and protected by University policy based on federal law. For more information, read the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
If a parent or another third party contacts our office concerning a disciplinary matter, we will refer them back to you for clarification. We will provide disciplinary information to your parents or another third party if you have signed a release to do so.
Will the person who filed the report find out the outcome?
It depends whether they have a legitimate educational interest. Otherwise, we’re bound to Confidentiality.
If the violation also involves an alleged crime, can I be prosecuted through the criminal courts as well as being referred to the Office of the Dean of Students?
Yes, the violation may result in an investigation by both the University and the legal system. The processes are separate and may occur simultaneously.
How can I have a hold lifted from my records?
If you have a hold, you have likely failed to fulfill obligations concerning a disciplinary case including not scheduling a disciplinary meeting or completing mandated sanctions. You will
need to call the Office of the Dean of Students at 323-343-3103.