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STUDENT CONDUCT POLICY

Upon matriculation into Logan University, a student has crossed the threshold into their professional career. Academic and behavioral conduct expectations and outcomes help shape professionalism. As professionals, we accept that we are all held to standards that exist in all that we are and do. To assist students as they transition to the standards of professionalism they will be held to throughout their careers, the university has policies in place that govern expectations for academic and behavioral conduct.

Logan University expects community members to conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates mutual respect for the rights and personal and academic well-being of others; to preserve the integrity of the social and academic environment; and to support the mission, vision, and values of the University and their College.

This policy outlines the process to address complaints regarding potential violations of the Code of Academic Conduct or the Code of Behavioral Conduct. The purpose of these conduct processes is to help reduce violations through education and to ensure both the complainant and respondent receive fair process. This policy also addresses sanctions for students who are found responsible for a violation of the Code of Academic Conduct or the Code of Behavioral Conduct. Depending on the severity of the conduct at issue, students found responsible for violations face a spectrum of potential sanctions, ranging from educational requirements to expulsion from Logan University.

In general, conduct sanctions become effective immediately when given. In certain circumstances, the university may delay the effective date of sanctions. Students will be informed of any decision to delay the effective date of sanctions.  However, each matter will be considered on a case-by-case basis, considering, among other things, the health and safety of individual community members and/or the community as a whole.

This policy addresses conduct complaints against students, including student organizations. Conduct concerns regarding staff behaviors should be referred to the staff member’s supervisor and the Human Resources department.

All official communication related to Conduct Policy matters will be sent to the individual’s official University e-mail address. Both the complainant and the respondent should communicate only with the Dean of Students or their designee unless otherwise directed by the Dean of Students or their designee.

Logan University’s conduct process is educational in nature, and is meant to allow students to see the impact of their decisions. The conduct process is also meant to foster positive community values and responsibility. To meet these goals, students are expected to represent themselves in the conduct process. Conduct meetings are closed meetings.

Respondents may be accompanied to any meeting or hearing that is part of the conduct process by a support person of the respondent’s choosing. The support person may observe the meeting or hearing, but may not speak during the meeting or hearing.

Logan University reserves the right to take immediate action on a complaint in extreme situations, which is determined in the sole discretion of the university. In such rare circumstances, the university may impose restrictions (such as the sanctions outlined herein) without following the specific processes outlined in this policy.

INTERIM SUSPENSION

The Dean of Students, the Chief Academic Officer, or the senior clinic administrator may impose an immediate interim suspension, pursuant to the standard and procedures set forth under either this Conduct Policy or the Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence policy.

For purposes of these procedures, the suspending authority must take the appropriate steps to initiate the investigation provided for in these policies within five (5) business days of the date of the interim suspension.

The suspension shall end when rescinded by the suspending authority, or upon failure of the suspending authority to initiate an investigation within the noted timeframe or, if not rescinded and if the investigation is initiated, when the decision by the hearing group and any decision on appeal, if applicable, is final.


CONDUCT COMMITTEE

The Conduct Committee makes recommendations on how to communicate and educate students, staff, and faculty about positive conduct in support of the mission and values of Logan and health care professionals. In addition, the committee acts as a judicial council on violations of the Conduct Policy.

The Conduct Committee and the Honor Council are different entities. The Conduct Committee does not hear matters related to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or other matters related to Title IX violations. The Honor Council, as outlined in the related policies, hears those matters.

CONDUCT COMMITTEE APPEALS PANEL MAKEUP
The Conduct Committee Appeals Panel shall consist of the Vice President of the College of Chiropractic, Vice President of the College of Health Sciences, and the Chief of Compliance and Engagement.


CONDUCT COMMITTEE MAKEUP

  1. When the matter is classified as an academic integrity issue by policy, the committee makeup will be the faculty members, Library members, and at least one student member. Decisions are appealed to the Appeals Panel and further appeals to the Chief Academic Officer.

  2. When the matter is classified as a clinical practice integrity issue by policy, the committee makeup will be at least one student member, at least one faculty member, and a Logan Health Centers representative. Decisions are appealed to the Appeals Panel and further appeals to the Chief Academic Officer.

  3. When the matter is classified as a student behavior issue by policy, the committee makeup will be at least one Student Affairs member, at least one staff council member, at least one faculty member, and student members. Decisions are appealed to the Appeals Panel and further appeals to the Chief Academic Officer.

FACULTY AUTHORITY FOR STUDENT CONDUCT ISSUES
The conduct process related to the Code of Behavioral Conduct is not intended to replace the normal and customary respectful relationship that must exist between faculty and students in the classroom. Students are expected to conform to a standard of decorum and behavior that does not disturb the teaching and learning environment, including the clinic. Behavior by a student that disrupts clinic operations, impedes the teaching of the profession by the professor or the learning of the content by other students, is outside of the expected behavior of Logan University students. This standard exists in campus-based, remote, and online learning experiences.

If such behavior deviations occur, faculty are empowered and expected to handle minor classroom management issues without needing to invoke the conduct process. Any faculty member may respectfully require a student to conform to expected standards; require that the student immediately leave the classroom, clinic, Logan sanctioned event, or online forum/classroom; or the faculty may request other discrete and appropriate action aimed at immediately stopping the behavior.

Faculty may address concerns about student behavior and decorum through a private educational conversation with the student. If that conversation addresses the concern, no further action is necessary, and no conduct complaint is needed or expected to be made.

If the faculty member’s concerns about student behavior or decorum persist after the faculty member has made reasonable attempts to address the behavior deviations, the faculty member should make a complaint to the conduct process. Such complaint should identify the behavior deviation at issue, and the faculty member’s attempts to address the same.

INFORMAL CONDUCT PROCESS
The informal conduct process is an opportunity for the accused student to respond to any allegation and to accept responsibility for the behavior. The informal conduct process is voluntary, meaning the student must agree to participate. The Dean of Students maintains a record of the process, as well as the resolution, which may include a sanction. The record can be considered if the student has additional conduct issues. There is no right to appeal the outcome of an informal conduct process.

An informal conduct process may be utilized by the Dean of Students or their designee where:

1.     a referral has been made to the Conduct Committee;

2.     the respondent accepts responsibility for a minor deviation from expected decorum and/or behavior; and

3.     the student accepts the sanction issued by the Dean of Students or their designee.


Sanctions for an informal conduct process may include but are not limited to:

1.     Student engaging in a learning experience/course designed to educate the student about the egregious behavior.

2.     A sincere student apology to the complaining party and/or impacted individuals, as appropriate.

3.     Student completing a writing as requested by the Dean of Students or their designee that depicts understanding of how the behavior was egregious.

4.     Student choosing to receive and report (in strictest privacy to the Dean of Students or their designee only) professional remediation intervention (such as counseling or anger management) or other services designed to assist in student’s ability to curtail the egregious behavior.

If a student completes the informal conduct requirements, this completes the conduct process.

If a student fails to complete any portion of the informal conduct process within the required timeframe, the complaint may be forwarded to the formal conduct processes.


FORMAL CONDUCT PROCESS
The formal conduct process is utilized when the student behavior is not simply a minor deviation from the expected standard of conduct or where the student has failed to complete an informal conduct process within the required timeframe. The Dean of Students or their designee has the authority to move any conduct process to a formal conduct process.

While the parties and the Conduct Committee should endeavor to follow the deadlines outlined herein, the Dean of Students or designee may extend any of the deadlines, with cause, by communicating the extension to the respondent and any other individual impacted by the extension of a deadline.


FORMAL CONDUCT COMPLAINT PROCESS
Any member of the campus community may file charges against a student for violations of the Code of Conduct and Discrimination policies.

If another party observes a behavior deviation and then makes a conduct complaint, the Dean of Students or their designee will confer with the party who was the subject of the behavior deviation regarding whether they wish to proceed with a conduct complaint.

Faculty who file charges against students in violation of the Academic Code of Conduct related to a specific graded assignment should issue a zero for the assignment while the matter is being investigated.

Formal complaints involving a student as complainant and/or respondent are investigated by the Dean of Students or appropriate designee.

In the event an individual involved in the hearing/investigation process is the complainant, respondent, or a witness, a replacement will be named by the Chief Academic Officer or President, as appropriate.

Unless otherwise stated below, a written complaint should be received by the Dean of Students or their designee immediately after the date of the alleged violation, preferably within one (1) trimester.

Following the receipt of the formal written complaint, the Dean of Students or their designee will, within 10 business days (unless otherwise stated below) begin an investigation of the complaint and:

  1. Notify the respondent of the complaint within 10 business days of the receipt of the complaint and provide a copy of the complaint.

  2. The respondent should provide a written response to the Dean of Students or their designee (if not already completed). Failure to provide a written response within three (3) business days of notification will be considered a waiver to respond and considered agreement that the event as described in the original written complaint is accurate. The complainant may receive a copy of the respondent’s written response if, in the Dean of Students or their designee’s sole discretion, providing a copy to the complainant is appropriate given the nature of the allegations.

MEDIATION

  • If appropriate, the Dean of Students or their designee will attempt to mediate the situation to resolution.

  • If mediation is appropriate and successful, the complaint is considered resolved.

  • If mediation is not appropriate or not successful, the Dean of Students or their designee will convene the Conduct Committee to hear the case.


CONVENING THE CONDUCT COMMITTEE

If the Dean of Students or their designee convenes the Conduct Committee, all documentation received by the Dean of Students or their designee, during the complaint and investigation process is submitted to the Conduct Committee chair within five (5) business days of convening.

As noted above, respondents may be accompanied to the hearing by a support person of the respondent’s choosing. The support person may observe the hearing but may not speak during the meeting or hearing. During the hearing, the respondent may request reasonable breaks (depending on the length of the hearing) to confer with their support person. The decision to grant such a request is in the sole discretion of the Conduct Committee chairperson.

In addition to hearing from the respondent and reviewing the information collected by the Dean of Students or their designee, the Conduct Committee has the authority to speak with and/or interview other individuals the committee believes might possess relevant information related to the complaint. The Conduct Committee does not have authority to compel third parties to provide information, but members of the University community are expected to cooperate with requests for information from the Conduct Committee.

If more than one meeting is required to hear and deliberate the case fully by the Conduct Committee, the committee shall make a reasonable effort to conclude deliberations within a reasonable time frame. It is understood that the hearing and deliberation process may take longer if the committee decides to speak with or interview individuals due to the varied schedules and time it takes to coordinate such interviews.

A student may only have one (1) excused absence from a Conduct Hearing in the event of a documented emergency or with pre-approval before the hearing from the Dean of Students or their designee.

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION

The Conduct Committee determines whether or not the respondent is “responsible” for the allegations in the formal complaint. The Conduct Committee uses the standard of “preponderance of the evidence” also referred to as the “more likely than not” standard when making a decision about responsibility.

After the conclusion of the hearing, the Conduct Committee will deliberate in private regarding their decision. Following the hearing and deliberation of the case, the committee’s written decision will be communicated to the respondent within five (5) business days of the conclusion of the hearing.

CONDUCT OUTCOMES
A student or student organization found responsible for violating the Code of Academic Conduct or Code of Behavioral Conduct may be subject to conduct outcomes. 

When assigning sanctions, the Dean of Students or designee or Conduct Committee, if applicable, considers current conduct standing and previous violations if any.  

Additionally, the following are considered: 

  • The nature and impact of the violation; 

  • The ​level of involvement​ and intent ​in the violation;​ 

  • Actual harm caused by the behavior or the potential risk of harm​; 

  • The ​severity and pervasiveness of the behavior;​ 

  • ​​Demonstrated understanding and sincere remorse​; and 

  • ​​Level of cooperation and compliance​   

The following are potential disciplinary actions of the conduct process. It should be noted that this list is not exhaustive and is provided as examples of possible outcomes. 

  • Assignment of conduct standing status  

  • Receive a zero on an assignment or exam 

  • Re-submit an assignment for no credit to ensure understanding of content  

  • Repeat a course 

  • Meet with a mentor  

  • Meet with Academic Success Coach on assigned topic 

  • Meet with Student Care Manager to learn resources available

  • Utilize certain resources such as tutoring 

  • Reflection essay on assigned topic  

  • Completion of ethics course assigned by Dean of Students or their designee or Conduct Committee, as appropriate  

  • Restitution for damage to property  

  • Ineligibility for awards – students found responsible for conduct violations are ineligible for any Logan University issued award.

In addition to the sanctions listed above, as provided in this policy, the Dean of Students or designee or Conduct Committee may also impose the following outcomes:

Warning
A warning is a written letter to a student and is a ​notice to students that their behavior was unacceptable​ and violated community standards. Warnings are assigned on a case-by-case basis. Generally, warnings are assigned to minor first-time violations. Warnings are ​part of the student’s​ conduct record.  

A student may be issued consecutive warnings for different minor misconduct violations. Multiple violations of expected conduct may result in a student being moved to a more advanced sanction standing.

Warnings may include other corrective action such as a requirement of restitution for damage to property, a student being banned from attendance at after class events and/or meetings and university sponsored events such as ACA Engage and ChiroGames.  A student given a warning may also receive a zero for an assignment or be denied extra credit.

Probation 
Probation is a level of warning. Further violation of university rules, policies, standards, or guidelines during the probationary period will additionally be viewed as a violation of the probation, which shall result in further action up to and including suspension or expulsion.

A student may be placed on probation for a trimester or more but no longer than one calendar year. However, the university reserves the right to extend the probation if warranted. While on probation, students may not receive funding or excused absences for university sponsored events or hold student leadership positions. Probation is noted on a student’s conduct record. 

Disciplinary probation sanctions may also include requiring a student to complete a medical ethics course or a student being issued a zero for a final exam or the entire course.

Required Interruption  
Temporary separation from the university.  Terms of the required interruption are determined by the Conduct Committee and communicated in writing. During this time students may NOT attend sponsored university events/activities or use campus resources during a required interruption. A student must complete all required sanctions to be allowed back to the university at the end of the interruption period; additional stipulations may be required after a student’s return from an interruption (i.e. participate in certain activities, subject to random drug screens, restricted from certain campus areas or buildings, etc.). Required Interruption is noted on the student’s conduct record. 

Conduct Suspension 
Suspension is defined as a temporary and immediate separation from the institution including extracurricular activities for at least one academic year. Conduct suspensions are often accompanied by sanctions a student must complete during the suspension period to be eligible for readmission to the university.

Once suspended, a student is withdrawn from classes. The student will NOT receive credit for those classes. Once suspended, a student is barred from campus and may NOT attend sponsored university events or activities.

A student who completes all required sanctions will be welcome to re-apply for admission.  A student may apply for readmission after a conduct suspension to the Admission’s Re-Entry committee after one academic year unless otherwise outlined in the conduct outcome. Suspension is noted on the student’s conduct record. 

Expulsion
Expulsion is a permanent separation from the institution. Expulsions may be imposed with or without the right to apply for readmission to the institution at a later date. Expulsions may include a permanent bar from the campus. Expulsion is noted on the student’s conduct record.


CONDUCT COMMITTEE DECISION APPEALS PROCESS
Written Appeals must be submitted to the Dean of Students or their designee within five (5) business days of receipt of the Conduct Committee’s decision. If no appeal is received, the decision of the Conduct Committee is final.

The grounds for appeal may only be based upon the following grounds:

1.     Conduct policy and/or procedures were not followed and occurred in a way that would significantly impact the outcome of the case or may have resulted in a different finding;

2.     New or relevant information, not available at the time of the investigation or hearing, has arisen that would significantly impact the outcome of the case.

In their written appeal submission, the respondent must indicate, in writing, the specific rationale or reasons for his or her appeal. The appeal statement should include the following information: Student’s name, local address, phone number, reason for appeal (as indicated above) and appropriate information regarding why the appeal should be granted. The letter should be of sufficient detail to stand on its own without accompanying testimony to permit the evaluation of the merit of the grounds for appeal.

Appeals will be forwarded to the Conduct Committee Appeal Panel who has 10 business days to make a final ruling.

Outcomes decided by the Conduct Committee Appeal Panel are to the Chief Academic Officer. Decisions of the Chief Academic Officer are final.

CODE OF ACADEMIC CONDUCT

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the learned and honorable profession that they are entering. This code includes the expectation of academic honesty. While students have an obligation to assist their fellow students in meeting the common goals of their education, students have an equal obligation to maintain the highest standards of personal integrity. It is not possible to provide examples of all behavior that would be considered violations of academic integrity, academic dishonesty, and/or plagiarism. The following points include, but do not limit, examples of behavior that would constitute a violation of the Code of Academic Conduct.

In general, violations of the Code of Academic Conduct shall initially be investigated and handled by the Dean of Students or their designee. The Dean of Students or their designee has 10 days from notification of possible violation to investigate and decide whether to escalate the matter to the Conduct Committee for possible disciplinary action through conduct policies.

Violations of the institution’s Code of Academic Conduct include but are not limited to:

  1. Failure to appear before the university when called to offer testimony related to academic matters and/or failure to testify fully and truthfully during such appearances.

  2. Misrepresenting facts for the purpose of gaining admission, enrollment, or academic advancement, or aiding another person in such misrepresentation.

  3. Misuse of university technology and networking resources.

  4. Misusing confidential materials. It is an offense to knowingly or recklessly procure, distribute, or receive any confidential materials such as pending examinations, tests/quizzes, or assignments from any source without the proper, written consent of the course instructor.

  5. Violations of academic integrity, dishonesty, and/or plagiarism.

  6. Violations of the Anatomy Lab Policy.

  7. Practicing without a license.

  8. Violations of the Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy.

  9. Violations of the Copyright Infringement Policy.

  10. Failure to report any of the above violations to the appropriate instructor or administrator.

All members of the academic community are expected to demonstrate academic integrity in all phases of their work. All cases of academic dishonesty will be handled through the conduct policies and may result in sanctions or expulsion from the university.