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COVID-19 2020-2021

The Office of Community Standards (OCS) was responsible for managing compliance to the university COVID-19 expectations during the 2020-2021 academic year.  As a condition of returning to campus or participate in any University program (even remotely), community members were required to follow policies and guidance issued by Northwestern.

Responses varied between addressing low-level concerns, which typically resulted in OCS issuing an advisory letter to severe disregard of expectations, which typically resulted in some form of campus restriction or separation (suspension) from the university.

The following data highlights the number of reports received each quarter, and the OCS response to individual students who violated these expectations.

Fall Quarter '20

Type of Report
Type Number
On-Campus Reports 74
Off-Campus Reports 71
Total 145

*567 students resided on-campus during Fall Quarter

Office of Community Standards Response to Report
Type of Report
Type Advisory Letter Sent Assigned to Hearing Officer Restriction from Campus Housing Removal Assigned Educational Intervention Suspension or Expulsion Total Students Engage
Number 181 149 66 1 162 2 472

Winter Quarter '21

Type of Report
Type Number
On-Campus Reports 265
Off-Campus Reports 64
Total 329

*2,297 students resided on-campus during Winter Quarter

Office of Community Standards Response to Report
Type of Report
Type Advisory Letter Sent Assigned to Hearing Officer Restriction from Campus Housing Removal Assigned Educational Intervention Suspension or Expulsion Total Students Engage
Number 331 287 27 8 308 2 792

Spring Quarter '21

Type of Report
Type Number
On-Campus Reports 74
Off-Campus Reports 27
Total 101
Office of Community Standards Response to Report
Type of Report
Type Advisory Letter Sent Assigned to Hearing Officer Restriction from Campus Housing Removal Assigned Educational Intervention Suspension or Expulsion Total Students Engage
Number 60 90 6 0 53 0 217

2020-2021 Total

Type of Report
Type Number
On-Campus Reports 413
Off-Campus Reports 162
Total 575
Office of Community Standards Response to Report
Type of Report
Type Advisory Letter Sent Assigned to Hearing Officer Restriction from Campus Housing Removal Assigned Educational Intervention Suspension or Expulsion Total Students Engage
Number 572 526 99 9 523 4 1481