UMES STUDENT CONDUCT FAQs

Submit an Incident Report within 24-48 hours.  For serious cases, such as assault, contact the Department of Public Safety/Campus Police at 410-651-6590 to file a formal complaint and initiate charges.

Submit an Incident Report. If you live in university-managed housing, also notify your Resident Assistant (RA) or Resident Director (RD) for additional support and intervention.

You received a letter because you may have been involved in, witnessed, or have information related to a potential conduct violation. The OSCCS contacts students to provide notice, request a meeting, or share important information related to the conduct process.

Students are expected to follow all UMES policies, including the Code of Student Conduct and, if residing in University-sponsored housing, the Residence Life Housing Contract. Additionally, students must comply with applicable laws and regulations set by the State of Maryland and the Town of Princess Anne.

Not knowing a rule does not excuse misconduct. All students are responsible for understanding University policies and procedures. You are encouraged to review the Student Handbook, Code of Student Conduct, University Catalog, and the Residence Life Housing Contract if you live in University-sponsored housing.

It’s the first step in the conduct process. An incident report or complaint provides the Department of Public Safety/Campus Police and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards with information that a student allegedly violated University policy.

It’s the first step in the conduct process. An incident report or complaint provides the Department of Public Safety/Campus Police and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards with information that a student allegedly violated University policy.

The University may act when off-campus conduct negatively impacts the UMES community or mission. Anyone can report an incident to the local police and submit the UMES online Incident Report. These cases are investigated the same way as on-campus incidents.
See Appendix I – Off-Campus Violations

Yes. The University may pursue its own conduct process even if the matter is also being addressed through the civil or criminal justice systems. This is not considered double jeopardy, as University conduct proceedings are administrative in nature and separate from legal proceedings.

Students are encouraged to inform them personally as soon as an incident occurs. The University only notifies them if the student is found responsible and sanctioned with Suspension or Expulsion.

Some graduate schools and employers may ask about your disciplinary history. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the University can only share this information with your written consent, except when required by law.

Yes. If a student’s behavior disrupts the learning environment, a professor can remove them from class and report the incident. The matter may then go through the student conduct process. If the complaint is upheld after a Conduct Hearing, the student may be removed from the course. The student has the right to appeal the decision.

It’s an initial meeting to explain the conduct process, review reports, gather information, and answer questions. Students can share their perspective, identify witnesses, and learn about their options. The purpose is to allow the accused student to: 
1. Share information about what occurred during the incident from their perspective.
2. View reports and documents related to the incident and respond to them.
3. Offer names of witnesses who may be interviewed about the incident.  
4. Learn about the conduct review process and options available.  
5. Ask any questions they have about the process.

If you do not attend, you forfeit the opportunity to share your perspective. A decision regarding your responsibility will be made in your absence based on the information available. In some cases, the Student Conduct Administrator may freeze your HawkCard, limiting access to campus services such as the dining hall.

Email studentconduct@umes.edu immediately to ask if another meeting can be scheduled.

Generally, no. Parents/guardians are notified only in serious cases (Suspension, Expulsion, No Contact Orders) or if the student is under 21 and found responsible for alcohol/drug violations. However, we encourage students to communicate with parents/guardians about any incidents and/or Hearings. 

No. Only the accused student/Respondent, Complainant, and victim may receive associated case details from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

Parents play a supportive role in the conduct process—guiding their student, encouraging accountability, and helping identify and connect them with resources like counseling or alcohol or drug evaluations. However, it’s important for the student to take ownership of the process rather than having the parent step in to handle it.

Parents play a supportive role in the conduct process—guiding their student, encouraging accountability, and helping identify and connect them with resources like counseling or alcohol or drug evaluations. However, it’s important for the student to take ownership of the process rather than having the parent step in to handle it.

A Conduct Hearing is a formal procedure to evaluate if a student violated the Code of Student Conduct when the possible sanction could result in Suspension, Expulsion, or removal from on-campus housing. For more details, see the Code of Student Conduct.

A Conduct Hearing is a formal procedure to evaluate if a student violated the Code of Student Conduct when the possible sanction could result in Suspension, Expulsion, or removal from on-campus housing. For more details, see the Code of Student Conduct.

Students are entitled to bring an advisor for support to any meeting or proceeding in their conduct process.  The advisor must be a student, staff or faculty member at UMES.

No. Only witnesses who saw or heard the incident are allowed. Character witnesses aren’t permitted because their input usually isn’t relevant to the specific charges.

UMES uses the preponderance of the evidence standard. This means that the evidence must demonstrate that it is more likely than not that the conduct occurred in order to say that the student is responsible for violating policy(s).

Yes. If you were present or played a role in the violation, you can be held responsible as an accessory. Also, you are fully responsible for the actions of any guests or visitors you bring with you.

Students may file an appeal using the online Student Hearing Appeal Form; the form will also be included in the student’s Notice of Hearing Decision email.
NOTE:

• Not agreeing with the Hearing decision is not grounds for an appeal.
• Those who plead responsible to the violation or waive their right to a Hearing lose their right to appeal the decision.
• Only students who have attended and participated in their Conduct Hearing are eligible to appeal.

Educational sanctions are the consequences applied in conduct cases. When a student accepts responsibility or is found responsible for a violation, they will receive Educational Sanction(s). For more details, see the Code of Student Conduct, Educational Sanctions.

The Conduct Board looks at several things when deciding sanctions, like how the incident affected the campus community, how serious the violation was, your past disciplinary history, the details of what happened, and how the sanction can help you learn and grow.

Until each Educational Sanction is satisfied, students may be:
1. prevented from participating in student activities and organizations.
2. prevented from registering for future classes.
3. subject to more serious educational sanctions, including Suspension.
4. prevented from receiving a degree or diploma

Conduct-related fees and fines will be added to the student’s account and can be paid through TouchNet and/or Hawkville on the myUMES portal. For questions, please contact Student Accounts.

An Interim Suspension is a temporary, immediate separation from the University. It usually lasts until your Conduct Hearing is held or the investigation is finished, and it remains in place until the conduct process is resolved.

Suspensionconstitutes a student beingseparated from the University for a specified period with conditions for reinstatement.

Suspension of Group refers to the University’s withdrawal of recognition of an organization or group for a specified period due to violations of the Code of Student Conduct.

Suspension from University housing denies a student the opportunity to enter, even as a guest, or to live in University housing for a specified or indefinite period.

Expulsion constitutes the permanent separation of the student from the University, to which a student is not eligible for readmission or reinstatement and is permanently barred from university property and from all University-sponsored or sanctioned events. A student who is Expelled may not be admitted to another University System of Maryland (USM) institution for at least one year.

No. A student who is Suspended is not allowed on University and University-associated premises. Returning to campus without permission is considered trespassing and the student may be subject to arrest.

No. If you’re Suspended from UMES, you can’t attend any other school in the University System of Maryland until you’ve successfully completed all required educational sanctions.

You must make arrangements to leave campus promptly once notified of an Interim Suspension. Remaining on campus after notice is considered trespassing and may lead to additional disciplinary action, including arrest.

Your Suspension starts as soon as you are notified. Keep in mind, tuition, room, board, and other fees will not be refunded. During Suspension, you cannot take part in any University events and you are not allowed on campus or in University-related properties.

During Suspension, you may continue your education at another college or University outside of the University System of Maryland. You can contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards to request a transcript release during Suspension.

No. Students who are Suspended or Expelled will not receive a refund and are responsible for all outstanding payments.

Zero Tolerance means the University prohibits and will adjudicate all illegal and unauthorized possession, distribution (trafficking), and/or use of illicit drugs; fights; possession of dangerous weapons, firearms, explosives; and/or use of any object with the intent to cause harm when a violation has occurred. The zero-tolerance policy is effective for both on and off campus behavior.

Contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards at studentconduct@umes.edu to discuss the difficulties you are having completing the Educational Sanctions.

Depending on the circumstances, you may face Interim Suspension while the incident is investigated, a Conduct Hearing is held, or the investigation is closed.

If Campus Police aren’t present when the altercation happens, both parties involved will be charged. An investigation will determine the aggressor. In some cases, you may be placed on Interim Suspension until the investigation and Conduct Hearing are complete.

A disciplinary file includes all information related to a student’s conduct case. Records are kept for seven (7) years from the incident date if the student is found responsible. Records are kept indefinitely if the student is Suspended, Expelled, or removed from on campus housing.

Yes. Complete the form Request to Review Conduct Files and Records and you will be contacted for an appointment to review your files.

No, except for Expulsion, which is permanently noted.

A hold may be placed on your HawkCard or your enrollment activity either for failure to attend a conduct-related meeting or Hearing, or when you have been Suspended from the University. The hold will only be removed after you have met with the Student Conduct Administrator or successfully completed the Educational Sanction(s).

Conduct process-related holds are removed once the Educational Sanctions are successfully fulfilled per the Notice of Hearing Decision correspondence.

Contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards at studentconduct@umes.edu or call 410-651-7850.