Frequently Asked Questions

Information is sent to the Office of the Dean of Students by a variety of sources. Within Baruch’s campus, this commonly includes Public Safety reports, faculty reports related to academic integrity, reports written by Residence Life staff members, and concerns brought by individual students or staff members. Outside of Baruch’s campus, information can also be referred from other colleges or universities or by law enforcement professionals.

Once a report is received, staff members in the Office review the information presented to determine whether a policy violation may have taken place. If so, the disciplinary process is carried out.

Staff members in the Office of the Dean of Students are responsible for investigating incidents, conducting mediations, and facilitating hearings with the Faculty Student Committee on Discipline. A student accused of violating a college policy will meet with a staff person to discuss what took place and how the disciplinary process will proceed.

In addition to the accused student and the staff overseeing the process, witnesses to events, reporters of events, and other college officials such as faculty and staff members are often consulted during the process.

Article XV of the City University of New York Bylaws outlines the specific rights and responsibilities of students in the student conduct process. These include:

• the right to receive formal notification of the charges against you
• the right to have an investigation and mediation or hearing take place within a reasonable amount of time
• the right to present your side of the story
• the right to present witnesses and evidence on your behalf
• the right to remain silent without assumption of guilt
• the right to be represented by legal counsel or an advisor at the student’s expense

A decision will be made either through mediation or a formal hearing that the accused student is responsible or not responsible for the charges presented. If a student is found responsible, a specific sanction will also be outlined. The range of sanctions that are possible in the student conduct process are outlined in the City University of New York Manual of General Policy. These include:

• Warning: Notice to the offender, orally or in writing, that continuation or repetition of the wrongful conduct within a period of time stated in the warning, may be cause for more severe disciplinary action
• Disciplinary Probation: Exclusion from participation in privileges or extracurricular University activities as set forth in the notice of disciplinary probation for a specified period of time
• Suspension: Exclusion from classes and other privileges or activities, as set forth in the notice of suspension, for a definite period of time
• Expulsion: Termination of student status for an indefinite period. The conditions of readmission, if any is permitted, shall be stated in the order of expulsion

In addition, an educational sanction may be imposed on the student providing an opportunity to reflect on the incident and the student conduct process.

Students who are found responsible for violating a policy or policies are provided with documentation of their charges and sanctions. Copies of these documents are maintained within the Office of the Dean of Students and may be released to outside parties when requested. For example, some employers or graduate schools ask Baruch to disclose whether a student has a disciplinary record at the college. However, these documents are protected under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and are only released according to the guidelines set forth in that law.

Some disciplinary sanctions are also recorded on a student’s academic transcript. The details of this will be specifically outlined to you on the documentation provided during the student conduct process.

In some cases, information provided by the NYPD or other outside law enforcement professionals may be used in the student conduct process. In addition, the nature of some cases may result in the college referring a matter as a formal complaint to civil authorities. From time to time, Baruch officials may assist with an investigation of an external matter involving Baruch students and provide such information within our legal obligation and guidelines.