Student Conduct

UC Irvine Student Housing is committed to the intentional education of the whole person. This includes the development of community, open dialogue, intellectual honesty, fairness, and an appreciation of diversity. We strive to foster an atmosphere of positive engagement and mutual respect.

Our policies and practices are designed to ensure a safe, comfortable environment conducive to education and a positive university experience. Responsibility for one’s behavior is an integral part of the university and residential experience. Anyone who chooses to live in or visit our residential communities must abide by community policies. Student Housing is committed to an educationally based style of conduct aimed at encouraging behavior which is consistent with state and federal law. This commitment ensures a residential community conducive to accomplishing the University mission of teaching, research, and community service.

Our communities respect the following honor code:

It is assumed that students of the University community at Irvine will conduct themselves in an honorable manner. Incidents of dishonorable conduct should be handled at the personal level whenever possible by simple personal confrontation, without intercession by an official organization. If personal efforts fail to have a positive effect, the matter should be referred to the established process.

Student Rights

As a resident of UCI Housing, you possess specific and individual rights, which should be respected by your roommate(s), by those living around you, and by the Housing Office. These rights describe a reciprocal responsibility, which everyone must uphold to maintain the residential community. As a resident, you have the right to:

  • Sleep and study in your room free from undue interference.
  • Have control over your personal belongings.
  • Have free access to and from your place of residence.
  • Enjoy a clean, safe environment in which to live.
  • Entertain guests when it does not infringe upon roommate or community rights, or conflict with housing policy.
  • Address another’s behavior when it infringes upon your rights.
  • Be free from all forms of intimidation including verbal, physical and/or emotional harm.
  • Bring forward issues and grievances.
  • Seek the aid of staff in resolving conflicts.
  • Be afforded due process.

You can help ensure that these rights are honored by keeping open lines of communication. The UCI Housing staff is available to help you with this goal for we believe that respecting each other’s rights is the foundation of a positive living environment.

Student Responsibilities

Living in a large community is not always easy. Each of us comes from different backgrounds and has a different set of expectations for living in a group environment. Thus, Housing’s established policies and regulations are intended to give you and your neighbors a general set of standards by which you can ensure that your rights and responsibilities are clearly defined and protected. We expect you to adhere to the Housing policies.

Above all, the purpose of campus housing is to provide a positive environment for residents to live together, pursue their education, engage in leadership roles, and interact harmoniously with other students living on campus. These policies ensure that standards conducive to academic, social, and personal growth are maintained.

Housing policies do not attempt to define every acceptable/unacceptable form of behavior. In situations not covered by specific policies, residents are expected to use common sense and to conduct themselves in a mature and responsible manner at all times.

Residents are expected to become familiar with all of the policies, rules and regulations for on-campus living contained within this handbook as well as with information from other sources including:

  1. University of California Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students. This publication is available at the Student Life and Leadership Office.
  2. The UCI Housing Contract which residents sign prior to the start of the contract period.
  3. All applicable state and federal laws.
  4. Students are also responsible for checking their mail and UCI email regularly. Failure to respond to correspondence related to the judicial process due to unread email does not constitute a valid reason for appeals.

Right of Entry

The University respects the right to privacy of individuals; however, authorized University personnel may enter residence halls, houses, apartments, and student rooms as follows:

  1. For the purposes of health, safety, sanitation, maintenance and inspection or to show vacancies without prior notification.
  2. To stop noises from a stereo, alarm clock, or other appliance that is disrupting the environment for others in the community when the occupants are not available to take action themselves.
  3. To make alterations, improvements or repairs when a work order was completed by the resident.
  4. In case of an emergency (e.g.: situations that would cause destruction to property or injury to persons or self).
  5. Pursuant to a court order.
  6. When the room is believed to be abandoned.
  7. For closing periods when a building lock down is required.

In all cases occupants will be notified in advance whenever possible. If an unscheduled entry is made there will be two staff members in the room except in case of an emergency, and entrants will leave a notation of when and why they entered the room.

Student rooms may be searched either with permission of the resident, or by legal agencies with a legal search warrant, or in an emergency.

Student Conduct Process

The procedures outlined in this section are designed to ensure due process but should not be confused with a court of law. All Housing conduct decisions shall be based on a preponderance of evidence. Formal rules of evidence shall not be applicable, nor shall deviations from prescribed procedures necessarily invalidate a decision or proceeding, unless significant prejudice to a student or the University may result. Housing reserves the right to temporarily relocate a resident during investigation of an alleged violation if such action appears to be in the best interest of the community.

The University and Student Housing have designed conduct processes to address violations of policies and any inappropriate or illegal behavior or actions. It is important to note that Housing conduct procedures may take place prior to or concurrently with University, civil, or criminal processes.

Process Outline
  1. An Information/Incident Report will be written to document events involving violations of policies.
  2. Typically, within 5 business days of receipt of an Information/Incident Report, a Housing staff member will send a notification to meet with the resident(s) or representative(s) of a group via email or a hand-delivered letter. It is the resident’s responsibility to regularly check their US mail and UCI email. Failure to respond to correspondence related to the judicial process due to unread email does not constitute a valid reason for appeals.
  3. In a conduct meeting, the Housing staff member will discuss whether a violation has occurred, to what degree the student or group was involved, and will assign a sanction if appropriate.

The resident(s) will receive written notification of the staff member’s decision within 7-10 business days after the conclusion of the conduct meeting. If the situation warrants, other offices or entities may be advised of the incident and sanctions (i.e., Housing Administrative Services, other housing communities, Student Life and Leadership, etc.).

Student Conduct Meetings

All Housing conduct meetings shall be conducted in an informal manner while assuring fundamental fairness. Records will be maintained in a central location by the Associate Director of Residential Life, Student Conduct and Governance. Student(s) involved in the case may view their records upon prior arrangement. No records will be available to any member of the public, including parents or guardians, except with the expressed written consent of the student(s) involved or by subpoena.

Sanctions

Sanctions are imposed as an educative means of holding students and groups accountable for their actions. Failure to abide by imposed sanctions may result in further disciplinary action. Sanctions include, but are not limited to, the following actions:

  • Warning: Verbal or written notice describing the consequences of continued or repeated violations of policy.
  • Probation: A written notice for violations of a specific policy stating that further violation may lead to further disciplinary sanction up to and including eviction.
  • Restitution: In conjunction with any sanctions, a resident may be required to pay for all or part of any damages or cleaning costs.
  • Educational Sanction: Planning or participating in an activity, program or other creative sanction to contribute to the community which has been impacted by the person’s behavior.
  • Relocation: Relocation to another room/hall/house/apartment or community.
  • Contract Cancellation/Lease Termination: Termination of the housing contract or group living agreement. Any contract cancellation as a result of Housing policy violations may also be referred to the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct. The resident is responsible for all cancellation fees.
  • Restriction: Restriction from Housing Facilities and residential dining facilities for the current year and/or future periods.
  • Referral to the Student Life and Leadership Office: Possible sanctions at this level include University warning, censure, loss or privileges, exclusion from activities, restitution, University suspension, or dismissal.

Failure to complete imposed sanctions may result in further disciplinary action such as, but not limited to, an academic hold.

Appeals

Students and groups have the right to appeal any conduct decision via the process outlined in the sanction letter. Appeal decisions will include a review of all written materials as well as meetings with staff and residents involved in the case. Original sanctions can be upheld, modified or reversed.

Appeals will only be considered based upon one or more of the following circumstances:

  1. If evidence exists that could not be produced at the time of the original meeting.
  2. If there was procedural unfairness during the conduct meeting.
  3. If the sanction imposed was too harsh given the finding of facts.
  4. If insufficient evidence exists to support the finding(s) for which the sanction was imposed.

In order to be considered, all appeals must be received within 5 business days from the date the sanction was imposed.

Failure to Appear

A student who fails to appear for a conduct meeting or appeal is not excused from pending action and forfeits the right to appeal. The conduct meeting will take place as scheduled, evidence will be reviewed and a decision made. The student will be informed of that decision in writing. A student who voluntarily withdraws from the University or leaves a housing community prior to the completion of a proceeding is not excused from pending action.

Additional Questions

Please direct any questions or comments regarding any of these policies, processes, and procedures to the residential life staff in your housing community or the Associate Director of Student Conduct and Governance, Emily Zaman, (949) 824-6811.

Advisor and Attorney Guidelines

Students are allowed to have an advisor. An advisor can be an attorney, parent, friend, etc. during Student Housing conduct related meetings, an advisor may act as a consultant for the student; however, an advisor may not speak on behalf of the student. If a student chooses to have an attorney as the advisor, the student shall pay all fees, costs, and expenses for the retention of an attorney. If the student chooses to be accompanied by an advisor or attorney during an administrative meeting, the student must sign a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) waiver, to grant access to the information. If an attorney or advisor is to be present at a Student Housing conduct meeting, the Student Housing Conduct Officer hearing the case must be notified of this fact at least ten (10) business days prior to the conduct meeting. In the interest of expediency, as a general practice, conduct meetings shall not be delayed due to the unavailability of an advisor/attorney. Students and their advisors should refer to the University of California Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students for more information about the role of the advisor(s) in the student conduct process.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have been hired to represent a student for their upcoming Student Housing conduct meeting. What is my role in the proceeding?

The attorney’s role in the process is to advise and consult the student. Because the Student Housing conduct process is not a court of law, the attorney is not acting in a legal capacity; rather, the attorney acts as a consultant.

In the meeting and hearing, the attorney is allowed to:

  • Assist the student in clarifying their response to questions
  • Consult with the student during the meetings

An attorney is not allowed to:

  • Speak on the student’s behalf
  • Object in any manner to questions asked or discussions raised during the Student Housing conduct meeting.
  • “Cross-examine” or question witnesses in a conduct meeting
  • Interrupt the conduct meeting proceedings

If a student chooses to have an attorney as an advisor, the student shall pay all fees, costs, and expenses for the retention of an attorney. Under the discretion of the Student Housing Conduct Officer, other parties, including an advisor, if any, may be excluded from participating in the Conduct Meeting and/or hearing, especially if being disruptive in the meeting.

What can the attorney do?
The attorney may be present at the Student Housing conduct meeting, by permission of the student. The attorney cannot speak on the student’s behalf. It is not the role of the attorney to “win” the case for the student. Rather, the attorney may lend support to the accused student in developing their defense, attending the conduct proceedings, and if necessary, assisting the student with an appeal.
How do I access information about my student’s case, so that I may better assist them?
Attorneys may receive information directly from the student. Because an attorney’s role in the Student Housing conduct process is purely advisory, all communication usually occurs between the student and the Student Housing Conduct Officer. However, if it is necessary for an attorney to communicate directly with the Student Housing Conduct Officer, the student must sign a waiver. In accordance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the University cannot contact or share information about the student’s record without the student’s written permission. All necessary waivers are available at the Student Housing offices as well as from the Associate Director of Student Conduct & Governance in the Housing Administrative Services office.
Who do I talk to if I have questions about the case?

Attorneys may contact the Student Housing Conduct Officer hearing the case. If an attorney’s questions relate to specifics of the incident involving the student, we require written permission from the student to discuss the incident. All necessary waivers are available from the Student Housing Conduct Officer hearing the case. Otherwise, the Student Housing Conduct Officer will only be able to address general questions regarding the process. You can also contact the Associate Director of Student Conduct & Governance for general questions regarding Student Housing’s conduct process at 949-824-6811.

What is the role of the Student Housing Conduct Officer during the disciplinary process?
The Student Housing Conduct Officer is responsible for reviewing incident reports, deciding on appropriate charges, facilitating conduct meetings with students, and determining an outcome on the case for each student. They are also responsible for guiding students through the Student Housing conduct process, providing information about the conduct meeting, possible outcomes, and the student’s rights and responsibilities.
What if the student is facing criminal charges?
The Student Housing Conduct Officer is obligated to move forward with all disciplinary matters. The Student Housing conduct process is an administrative, education-based process that is independent of the criminal justice system. The University is not required to defer to the timeline of the criminal courts and will not typically grant requests made on this basis. Please remember that the Student Housing Conduct Officer is not attempting to determine if a student committed a crime; rather, the Student Housing Conduct Officer is attempting to determine whether or not the UC Irvine Student Housing policies have been violated.
In order to protect the safety and well-being of the UC Irvine Student Housing communities and to preserve the integrity of the University, all members of the community, and their visitors, are subject to the University and Student Housing rules, regulations, and policies. When the Student Housing Conduct Officer charges a student, the student is not being charged with violating a law or committing a crime; rather, they are being accused of violating a Student Housing policy. The Student Housing conduct process is an administrative, education-based process that is independent of the criminal justice system.

Review of these common questions does not substitute for reading and understanding Student Housing Policy. This list is meant to answer questions that students, advisors, and parents often have about the Student Housing student conduct process at UC Irvine.

Nondiscrimination Statement

The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and university policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy*, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services. The university also prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in university programs and activities.

Inquiries regarding the University’s student-related nondiscrimination policies may be directed to Kirsten K. Quanbeck, Assistant Executive Vice Chancellor, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 4500 Berkeley Place, Irvine, CA 92697-1130; (949) 824-5594, oeod@uci.edu

*Pregnancy includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.