There are no set formulas or automatic sanctions for most violations. Students who violate university policy subject themselves to the full range of disciplinary sanctions including but not limited to expulsion. In reviewing each violation, the following variables will be considered: attitude, previous history, impact of the violation on the community, and specific circumstances. The university may respond to behavioral violations with one or more of the following options:
12.10.1 Restitution/Reconciliation: The student is required to initiate action to mend a relationship with an individual, a specific group, or the university community at large. That action may be through an apology, financial reimbursement, and/or completion of community service.
12.10.2 Fines or Sanctions: Penalties deemed appropriate by corresponding departments.
12.10.3 Disciplinary Warning: A warning is an effort of communication to a student that his or her choice(s) should change or cease. A student may receive a warning when they are in jeopardy of further disciplinary action.
12.10.4 Disciplinary Accountability: Accountability is an expectation, initiated by the university or student, to spend a period of time actively addressing matters of concern through accountability.
12.10.5 Disciplinary Probation: Probation is an opportunity for the student to actively address areas of concern through accountability when choices that have been made violate community guidelines. Continued violation of community guidelines will result in disciplinary suspension from the university.
The purpose of disciplinary probation is to provide additional external discipline and counseling for a student struggling to abide by Northwestern’s standards and policies. Conditions of probation may include, but are not limited to: a contract stating behavior changes and expectations, weekly meetings with an assigned faculty/staff member, pledge of adherence to the Declaration of Christian Community, and completion of a topical assignment, seminar, or series addressing personal development. Students involved in co-curricular or extracurricular activities (i.e., athletics, music, drama, leadership roles) are subject to certain restrictions that would adjust levels of involvement for a determined period of time. Specific information on these restrictions is available from the Student Life office or from the appropriate coach/advisor.
12.10.6 Disciplinary Suspension: A suspension is when a student loses his/her privilege of continuing at Northwestern for a designated period of time. Suspension may be implemented at any time (immediately or at the completion of a semester), based upon flagrant or repeated violations of Northwestern’s standards.
The university intends that suspension allows the student to re-evaluate his or her personal spirituality, values, and attitude toward Northwestern’s standards. A student placed on Disciplinary Suspension is restricted from the university premises for the duration of the suspension. Requests for permission to be on campus must be processed in advance through the Director of Public Safety and/or the Dean of Student Life.
Applications for re-enrollment must include a written account of this evaluation and a pledge to abide by University policies. Re-enrollment requests are submitted to and approved by the admissions committee through the Dean of Student Life. All students who are readmitted return under disciplinary accountability or probation. In the rare case that a student is subject to disciplinary suspension for a second time after being re-enrolled, the student is not permitted to re-enroll at Northwestern (see Disciplinary Expulsion below).
12.10.7 Disciplinary Expulsion: An expulsion is when a student permanently loses his or her privilege of attending Northwestern. Expulsion may be implemented at any time (immediately or at the completion of a semester), based upon flagrant or repeated violations of Northwestern’s standards.