Residential Life Judicial Procedures
All residents of UMKC Residential Life are expected to abide by the terms and conditions of the housing Contract, including the behavior standards listed below.
The Conduct Standards for Residential Life are enforced with the procedures described in this section and fall under the University of Missouri's Standard of Conduct. The focus of these rules is to create a comfortable, quiet community living environment that supports your pursuit of academic and personal goals rather than to restrict your freedom. A secondary focus of the Residential Life Conduct Standards is to assist you to be a fully functioning, responsible member of the community.
It is important to realize that formal rules attempt to set standards to ensure that community members can live together in a cooperative fashion. These rules, however, constitute only a small portion of what is necessary to ensure that residents respect each other and are considerate of each other's feelings, needs and concerns. Successful housing operations require the residents of each floor/wing to regularly take the time to discuss the positive and negative effects of happenings on their floor/wing and come to a consensus of actions needed to solve problems.
The UMKC Residential Life Judicial Procedures thoroughly cover:
- Appropriate Conduct
- Review and Resolution of Misconduct
Violation of any standard of conduct covered by the University of Missouri's Standard of Conduct, or any violation of the standards of conduct outlined in the Guide to Group Living will subject individuals to conduct procedures as outlined in the Rules of Procedure in Student Conduct Matters. Standards of conduct (including those Residential Life standards that are written in the Guide to Group Living) apply to the behavior of residents while in the residence halls or apartments, on University property, and at all Residential Life/UMKC-sponsored on- or off-campus activities.
Residents are expected to infomr their guests of the policies governing behavior in the complexes. In addition, residents should make their guests aware that guests who fail to observe policies may be denied access to the complexes. Actions and activities considered to be in violation of the Standard of Conduct include all those listed in the University of Missouri's Standard of Conduct and the Guide to Group Living.
Rules of Procedures in Student Conduct Matters
Review and Resolution of Misconduct
The policies and procedures that are enforced in the residence halls have been established to help maintain a cooperative living environment that supports both the academic mission of UMKC as well as allow individuals enough freedom to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. All members of the residence halls will be held accountable for observing the rules and policies in the Guide to Group Living, which fall under the University of Missouri's Standard of Conduct, as well as the terms and conditions of each housing contract.
Decisions made by staff members about a student's involvement in residence hall policy violations and decisions made about what would constitute a reasonable resolution of the incident are based upon the information submitted regarding the incident, the input provided by the student and previously documented incidents involving the student and residence hall policy violations.
Residential Life takes action against a student when the evidence indicates that the student more likely than not has been involved in a violation of a residence hall policy. Resolutions of policy violations will hold those involved in conduct-policy violation reasonably accountable for their behavior. When dtermining an appropriate resolution to an incident, Residential Life staff members will take into consideration the interests of the residence hall community, the University community, the student who violated the policy and previously documented incidents involving each student and residence hall policy violations.
When a residence hall policy violation occurs, one or more of the following processes of resolution may be followed:
- Upon receiving an allegation of misconduct, an investigation is conducted by the Residential Life Coordinator, Assistant Residential Life Coordinator, or the Associate Director of Residential Life, who all act as Primary Administrative Officers/Designess under the Rules of Procedures in Student Conduct Matters. They shall have the authority to make a determination and to impose appropriate sanctions/Informal Disposition, and shall fix a reasonalbe time within which the student shall accept or reject a proposed Informal Disposition.
- A failure of the student either to accept or reject within the time fixed may be deemed by the Residential Life Coordinator, Assistant Residential Life Coordinator, or Associate Director to be an acceptence of the determination, provided the student has received written notice of the proposed determination and the result of the student's failure to formally reject and, in such event, the proposed disposition shall become final upon expiration of such time. If the student rejects Informal Disposition, it must be in writing to the Residential Life Coordinator, Assistant Residential Life Coordinator, or Associate Director of Residential Life, and shall be forwarded to a Primary Administrative Officer/Designess with student conduct jurisdiction beyond that of the Residential Life designees. If Informal Disposition is not accepted by the student, a formal hearing process will be utilized.
- Matters that involve possible criminal behavior also may be referred to the Campus Police Department for investigation. This action can result in the issuance of citations or criminal prosecution.
- The matter may be referred to another Primary Administrative Officer/Designee for a campus investigation with regard to possible violations of University policies and the recommendation that the University take action against the resident through Informal or Formal Disposition. If Informal Disposition is not accepted by the student, a formal hearing process will be utilized. Any Primary Administrative Officer/Designee may refer cases to a formal judicial hearing without first offering informal disposition.
Point Assessment for Policy Violations
The following point figures have been established for the more frequent violations. Violations set forth in the Guide to Group Living may have points assigned as recommended by the Primary Administrative Officer/Designee imposing sanctions/Information Dispoition.
- Courtesy/Quiet Hours - 0.5
- Room Disturbance - 1.0
- Visitation/Escort Policy - 1.0
- Alcohol Containers - 1.0
- Alcohol - 1.5
- Candles/Incense - 1.5
- Fireworks - 2.0
- Tampering with fire equipment/Fire extinguisher- 2.5
- Cyber Abuse - 2.5
- Fire Alarm - 2.5
- Property Damage - 2.5
- Vandalism - 2.5
- Verbal Abuse - 2.5
- Drugs - 3.0
- Physical Abuse - 3.0
- Theft - 3.0
- Weapons - 3.0
Disorderly Conduct Clause
Failure to comply with directions of University officials in performance of their duties or verbal abuse of such officials will be assigned 2.5 points. All figures may be adjusted upward or downward by 0.5 points, depending on the severity of the violation. Infractions warranting 3.0 points or greater will be referred directly to the Campus Police or a Primary Administrative Officer/Designee with student conduct jurisdiction beyond that of the immediate Residential Life designee.
Upon accumulation of the following number of points, the Residential Life Coordinator or appointed University representative has the authority to recommend the following sanctions for violation of the Residential Life regulations as writeen in the Guide to Group Living, Residential Life Contract, or Conduct Standards for Residential Life:
- Fewer than 2 points: Sanctions should fit the violation. The Residential Life Coordinator has the authority to enforce these. Possibilities are listed in Review and Resolution of Misconduct Section (above).
- 2 or more points: Disciplinary probation may be recommended. The Residential Life Coordinator may refer such violations to the Associate Director of Residential Life for Informal Disposition. Recommendations may be made to involve a Primary Administrative Officer/Designee with student conduct jurisdiction beyond that of the Residential Life designees, impose other sanctions, or to seek disciplinary probation depending on severity or frequency of violations.
- 3 or more points: Expulsion from residence hall may be recommended. Upon further recommendation by Residential Life Coordinator or Associate Director of Residential Life, a Primary Administrative Officer/Designee, with student conduct jurisdiction beyond that of the Residential Life designees, may make the final decision on disciplinary action to be taken, which may include a Formal Disposition using a Student Conduct Committee appointed by the Chancellor.