A clear and cogent guide to how colleges and universities can investigate student misconduct. All colleges and universities grapple with the complexities of student misconduct. How can these institutions conduct efficient fact-finding investigations and disciplinary proceedings? What best practices should administrators and legal counsel follow when student behavior interferes with a university’s mission or poses a campus safety threat? Oren R. Griffin answers these questions and more in Investigating College Student Misconduct, an essential resource for student affairs professionals and university administrators. Misconduct investigations and disciplinary proceedings are as common in higher education as they are contested. Without the force of law, clear procedures, or even rules of evidence, these proceedings can leave both the accused and the accuser in danger of receiving unfair treatment, opening the university up to legal action. Emphasizing the importance of institutional compliance obligations and students’ rights, Griffin explores the fundamental steps that should guide the investigation process. He describes tactics that academic and student affairs administrators should consider and comments on the importance of managing privileged and confidential information—as well as communicating the results of and proposed remedies to student misconduct investigations. A law professor, scholar of higher education law, and associate dean who consults with other universities on legal compliance and litigation matters, Griffin brings a unique perspective to this topic. Touching on a range of issues, including academic dishonesty, sexual assault, freedom of speech, quasi-criminal activity, and other acts of misconduct, Investigating Student Misconduct is supported by a review of relevant judicial decisions from state and federal courts, along with a conceptual and pragmatic analysis of important statutory and constitutional provisions, including Title IX and FERPA.

Touching on a range of issues, including academic dishonesty, sexual assault, freedom of speech, quasi-criminal activity, and other acts of misconduct, Investigating Student Misconduct is supported by a review of relevant judicial decisions from state and federal courts, along with a conceptual and pragmatic analysis of important statutory and constitutional provisions, including Title IX and FERPA.

Twenty-five expert practitioners and faculty present a compendium of current best practices in the administration of student conduct, a summary of present thinking on key issues facing practitioners today, and an overview of the role and status of conduct administrators within their institutions. The editors describe the profession's continuing quest to find its "voice" and clarify its critical contribution to student affairs practice, as it seeks to steer a path between legal process and creating a safe environment where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about and wrestle with the dilemmas that challenge their lives and threaten their success in college. Part One covers the structural considerations of student conduct administration. Chapters present the history and professional philosophy of conduct administration, review the ideal qualifications and personal characteristics for successful conduct administration practice and address the environment and governance framework in which administrators function. Edward Stoner II discusses his Model Student Code of Conduct and offers suggestions on using it to assess institutional practice. This section further reviews applicable law, policies and government mandates and presents guidance on the use of the range of available resolution forums. It culminates with a closer look at ethics and the decision-making process, student development theory, and the critical dimensions of diversity with respect to issues of social justice. Part Two examines contemporary issues affecting student conduct administration. These include incivility, first amendment concerns, mental health and student well being, diversity and its challenge to traditional notions of "typical" student needs, student organizational conduct, technology and information management and academic misconduct. The book concludes with a review of the present state of student conduct administration and expert views about its future direction, including the need for more research, better assessment of outcomes, and a continued emphasis upon the practice of student conduct administration as a dedicated profession. This is an essential companion for both new and established practitioners. This book is published on the twentieth anniversary of the founding of ASJA and coincides with the tenth anniversary of the publication of the earlier handbook, The Administration of Campus Discipline. Student Conduct Practice constitutes the handbook for the next decade.

With academic dishonesty on the rise, this book explains why students cheat, how to foster integrity, and why it matters. Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, and the college years are a critical period for their development of ethical standards. Cheating in College explores how and why students cheat and what policies, practices, and participation may be useful in promoting academic integrity and reducing cheating. The authors investigate trends over time, including internet-based cheating. They consider personal and situational explanations, such as the culture of groups in which dishonesty is more common (such as business majors) and social settings that support cheating (such as fraternities and sororities). They also focus on how faculty and administrators are increasing their efforts to promote academic honesty among students. Orientation and training sessions, information on college and university websites, student handbooks that describe codes of conduct, honor codes, and course syllabi all define cheating and establish the consequences. Based on the authors’ multiyear, multisite surveys, Cheating in College quantifies and analyzes student cheating to demonstrate why academic integrity is important and to describe the cultural efforts that are effective in restoring it.

This updated and considerably expanded edition maintains the objectives of the first--to constitute a compendium of current best practices in the administration of student conduct, to summarize the latest thinking on key issues facing practitioners today, and to provide an overview of the role.

Here’s a call to colleges and universities to consider implementing restorative practices on their campuses, ensuring fair treatment of students and staff, while minimizing institutional liability, protecting the campus community, and boosting morale. From an Associate Dean of Student Affairs who has put these models to work on his campus.