Educational, Interventional, & Restorative Sanctions (Individual & Groups)
Sanctions of an educational, intervening, developmental, restorative, supportive, and sustaining nature will be used to ensure students learn the most from their actions and are best equipped to make better decisions in the future. Options include but are not limited to the following.
Educational requirements
Participation or completion of a project, class, or other activity to build awareness or knowledge relevant to the nature of the offense or oneself, including research papers, personal reflections, workshops, organizing events, designing community education, or preparing an action plan.
Disciplinary Service Hours
Disciplinary service hours may be assigned, and must be completed (a) at a non-profit organization, (b) under supervision of an employee or volunteer coordinator who is not a friend or relative of the student, and (c) without payment or other compensation for the work performed. Disciplinary service hours may, but need not, be completed for an office or department of Northwestern University. Disciplinary service hours may not count towards service learning hours or other community service required by another program, scholarship, or organization. Court-mandated community service may count towards disciplinary service hours. Deadlines for disciplinary service hours may vary.
Referrals to other Offices, Departments, Programs, or Agencies
Attendance at and completion of any educational programs, interventions, or assessments to which a student is referred. This includes referrals to on and off campus resources for services including, but not limited to: substance-use assessments and interventions and interventions/education programs for abusive/controlling behaviors, etc.
Mental Health/Medical Assessment and/or Treatment (individual only)
Requirement that a student seeks a mental health, medical, substance use, or threat assessment from an appropriate health care professional and follows through with the recommendations of the professional.
Restorative Actions
Requiring a student to engage in actions to restore the impact of a violation and repair the harms resulting from misconduct on other members of the community. These actions may include letters of apology, drafting and implementing a plan of resolution, engaging in restorative justice conferences, and developing plans for reintegration.
Parent or Family Notification
Contact with a student’s parents or legal guardians may occur or be required in certain circumstances in connection with a matter involving alleged student misconduct, including when (a) there has been a determination that the student’s use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance constitutes a violation of University policy or any federal, state, or local law and the student is under the age of 21 at the time of disclosure; (b) knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of a student in connection with an emergency; or (c) the disclosure is otherwise authorized by law and University policy.
Notification to National Organization Representatives, Officers, or Advisers (group only)
The organization’s national representative, officers, and/or advisers may be notified of the violation for which the student organization has been found responsible.
Other Reasonable Sanctions
Any reasonable sanction may be assigned that appropriately promotes the education and development of a student or student organization, ensures safety, or otherwise furthers the mission of the Office of Community Standards.