Citizenship Responses

Disciplinary actions are consequences of your personal choices. When you choose to violate a policy of Andrews University, you should also consider and expect the associated consequence. Sometimes good people make bad choices; forgiveness is always available. Remember that even when forgiven, we all still bear the consequences of our personal choices.

When you receive notification to see a dean, it's essential that you respond promptly. If the dean is not available at that moment, leave word so they will know that you tried. In doing so, you may be able to take care of a situation so it doesn't require the following steps. Depending on the severity of the situation, any of these steps may be bypassed at the discretion of Student Life personnel.

In general, however, it is processed in this order: Bear in mind that everything contained in a letter is applicable whether or not the recipient reads it. Read the terms of your citizenship response.

Letters of Discipline

Counsel or Letter of Counsel

Verbal or in the form of evening accountability or co-curricular attendance memo/ email, letter, etc. to inform resident of violation of University regulations and to give counsel. Parent/s or legal guardians may be but are not generally notified at this point.

Letter of Warning

Indicates that a student has been involved in a more serious disregard of University expectations. Further incident may lead to Probation, Suspension, Withdrawal or Dismissal. Parent/s or guardians are notified. 

Letter of Probation

This action indicates that Residence Hall expectations have been seriously disregarded and places the resident on Probation for a determined amount of time. The student’s status is considered tentative and further disregard may lead to Suspension, Withdrawal or Dismissal. Restrictions and requirements will vary according to the situation, and are determined by Student Life personnel. These may include (but are not necessarily limited to) removal of: the privileges of honor status, class curfew, late entrances, overnight leaves, use of TV and sound equipment, as well as requiring: counseling, restitution, community service, writing papers on assigned educational topics, etc. Parent/s or legal guardians are notified and a HOLD on registration may be placed on her name. The student is responsible for limiting her activities in accordance with her probationary guidelines or she must withdraw from the University. Future probationary actions may result in immediate suspension, withdrawal, or dismissal for those who have previously been on probation.

Letter of Suspension

This action may suspend the resident from classes and work. Specific terms of suspension are determined by the nature of the violation and are at the discretion of the Student Life personnel and may involve probationary guidelines and/or mandatory counseling. A resident on an off-campus suspension should not return to campus or to the residence hall for any reason until the suspension is over. It is the student’s responsibility to contact teachers and work supervisors. Should a Suspension be arranged on campus, any of the above probationary guidelines may apply during as well as following the suspension. Parent/s or legal guardian and a student’s academic dean and advisor are notified and a HOLD for registration may be placed on her name.

Letter of Dismissal

This action results in permanent separation from the University. Results from a serious one-time offense, failure to complete terms of a suspension, failure to comply with substance abuse or drug testing codes, refusing to release such information to university officials, or failing a drug test. Parent/s or legal guardians are notified.

Prohibited Behavior

If a student engages in any of the following activities, on or off campus, she should expect a serious disciplinary response, up to and including dismissal from the University. The list is not comprehensive, but provides examples of matters the University takes seriously. For details on the appeal process and a more detailed listing of student expectations and disciplinary responses, see the A.U. Student Handbook.

  • repeated or blatant disregard of residence hall policies (including late entrances, co-curricular absences, etc.)
  • being “unaccounted for” (missing) overnight or most of the night
  • alcohol/drug use, possession or paraphernalia
  • dishonesty in any form, including telephone fraud, stealing, lying, false sign-ins, false OV information, etc.dishonesty-footnote
  • theft of any kind (including identity theft)
  • visiting with a member of the opposite sex anywhere in residence hall except in the lobby, or being in the men’s Residence Halls anywhere but in their main lobbies
  • discriminatory language or behavior
  • pulling false fire alarms
  • tampering with security access system
  • using someone else’s ID card or code to gain access to a building or information
  • failure to respond in a timely fashion to a dean’s message
  • participation in organizations that have not been registered with and approved by the Office of Student Life
  • sexual misconduct including violations of biblical teaching of sexual morality that include pre-marital sexual activity and adultery, pornography and other internet sexual misconduct
  • verbal, written, and physical abuse, as well as other forms of disrespectful, threatening, intimidating, harassing, obscene or stalking behavior which endangers the health or safety (mental, emotional, physical or spiritual) of any person; this includes phone calls, e-mails, and all forms of social network and cyber bullying
  • no weapons of any kind are allowed on campus. The term "weapons" includes, but is not limited to, firearms, look-alike firearms, explosive devices, switchblades, knives, martial arts weapons, paint-ball guns, BB guns, "airsoft" guns, pellet guns, bows and arrows, and other dangerous weapons. These items, if found, may be confiscated and not returned. (Kitchen knives and other such culinary instruments may only be used for their designed purposes)

  • violation of the Andrews University’s Computers and Networks Usage Policy and abuse of computer network and time to (but not limited to):

    • send obscene, abusive, or disrespectful message
    • communicate in a disrespectful and slanderous manner in e-mails or on-line social communities
    • falsify the source of a message or e-mail
    • violate any code of student conduct
    • enter into a file, transfer a file, or use another’s identification and password without authorization

  • being "unaccounted for" (missing) overnight or most of the night missing-footnote

dishonesty-footnote. In the event of a student making false statements/charges, expect fees to be assessed for the time involved in the process of investigation. ↩
missing-footnote. Curfew regulations usually apply to undergraduate students age 21 and younger. ↩