Students

The Office of Community Standards sends summons letters and request to appear letters to students either involved in or witness to a policy violation. Their letter will provide your student with a date and time for a meeting with a staff member. That meeting is your student’s opportunity to provide their perspective on the incident in question, so a staff member may investigate the information provided in the referral, to determine whether a student is responsible for a policy violation, and, if so, what sanction is appropriate.

The Office of Community Standards receives referrals and incident reports from faculty, staff, and students regarding a variety of policy violations. Anyone can submit a referral to our office on our File an Incident page

A hold may be placed on your enrollment either for failure to attend your meeting with a staff member, or if you failed to complete a disciplinary sanction by the assigned deadline. The hold will be removed once you meet with the staff member or complete the sanction.

All University students are expected to adhere to: the civil and penal statutes of the State of Texas and the United States, the Regents' Rules and Regulations of the University of Texas System, the rules and regulations of the University of Texas at Arlington, the orders or instructions issued by an administrative official of the University or UT System in the course of his/her duties, and the standards of conduct that are compatible with the University's function as an educational institution.

The hold will only be removed after you have either met with a staff member or you have completed all sanctions that are due.

Yes. Like other colleges and universities across the country, the University is subject to a federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also called "FERPA" or the "Buckley Amendment"). FERPA sets privacy standards for student educational records and requires institutions to publish a compliance statement, including a statement of related institutional policies. Read more about FERPA and their regulations.

FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also called "FERPA" or the "Buckley Amendment"). It is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education, and it sets privacy standards for student educational records and requires institutions to publish a compliance statement, including a statement of related institutional policies. Read more about FERPA and their regulations.

A meeting with a staff member is your opportunity to speak with an Office of Community Standards staff member to discuss the allegations made against you in a referral. At this meeting, the referral will be discussed and you will be given the opportunity to give your perspective on the incident, present any relevant information, and to ask any questions you may have regarding the allegations. During the meeting, a staff member will inform you whether you are being found responsible for a policy violation and, if so, what the sanctions will be. In certain circumstances (if a suspension of rights and privileges, suspension, expulsion, or grade penalty are recommended), you may choose to either accept the outcome of the meeting or elect to have your case heard by a Hearing Officer at a hearing. If you have received a summons letter from the Office of Community Standards, and fail to attend the appointment or do not reschedule the appointment, a decision may be made in your absence, your case may be sent to a hearing, and/or a "hold" may be placed on your enrollment.

Meetings are held with just the student. However, a parent(s) can attend once their student has filled out a consent form allowing the release of confidential information to the specified parent(s). A parent will not be permitted in the meeting without this consent form. During this meeting, the parent will serve in an advisor role. This means that while your parent can attend the meeting with you, the conversation in the meeting will be between you and the staff member. Advisors are not allowed to participate in meetings unless they are an advisor for a hearing under UTA’s Sexual Misconduct Policy.

A hearing is the formal decision-making option you may choose if you dispute the facts alleged in the discipline meeting and the Office of Community Standards staff member has recommended a suspension of rights and privileges, suspension, expulsion, or grade penalty. A fair and impartial Hearing Officer will listen to evidence presented by both a representative from the Office of Community Standards and the student to make a decision on the alleged violations.

Students are encouraged to be aware of the policies in the Student Conduct and Discipline Policy. If you are accused of scholastic dishonesty, you may meet with your professor and either accept or deny responsibility. You may be able to resolve your concerns with your professor prior to meeting with a staff member from the Office of Community Standards. If you choose to dispute the allegation, do not meet with your faculty member, or a staff member feels it would be beneficial to discuss the incident with you, then a staff member from Community Standards may send you a summons letter setting a date and time for a meeting.

The Office of Community Standards does not review or pursue academic performance issues. All students are encouraged to talk directly with their professor about any grade concerns. If the issue is not resolved, you should discuss the matter with the dean or department chair. If you wish to dispute a grade penalty you received as a result of being found responsible for scholastic dishonesty, contact your academic department to file a grade grievance.