FAQs for Student Organizations

SCCS recognizes that incidents happen when a student organization or its leadership is unaware of it until afterwards. Self-Reporting is intended to encourage student organizations to self-report incidents to demonstrate accountability and a commitment to community standards. When Self-Reporting, the organization must notify the University within 48 hours of the incident in order to qualify for Self-Reporting.

SCCS utilizes Organizational Self Reporting in order for organizations to address incidents and to resolve a potential violation of University policy at a lower level, which might include one of the following: 

• the organization doing an internal investigation.
• an investigation by a larger governing body, such as headquarters for fraternities and sororities.
• a referral to a University-wide Council, such as Multicultural Greek Council, Interfraternity Council or Panhellenic Association. 
• SCCS outcome would be mitigated or reduced.

Organizations can self-report by emailing SCCS directly or by filling out a conduct incident report form. The organization leadership should include the details of the incident and steps taken to resolve the incident should be noted while self-reporting. If SCCS has questions or needs to clarify information from the report, they will reach out to the reporting person or the organization’s leadership for additional information. 

The general rule is that organizations should self-report as soon as they become aware of an incident. Though it is recommended that self-reporting occurs within 48 hours of the incident to ensure that a report has not already been received. To qualify for lower outcomes, the organization must notify the University before the University is notified in another way. 

Self-reporting is intended to help organizations with self-governance while ensuring accountability. Since leadership changes year to year, SCCS understands that knowing how to report an incident might not be clear, so the focus is on providing the information that is available at the time with the potential for follow up if needed. 

All reports are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. However, some incidents would not be possible to categorize under the intent for self-reporting. These situations include hazing where members of the organization’s leadership could or should have intervened, or if large alcohol party occurs in an organization’s university approved housing.

SCCS oversees the Conduct process at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, including incidents involving student organizations. Organizations are held accountable for behaviors that violate university policies and can include incidents both on campus and off campus.

The University of Nebraska Student Code of Conduct defines an organization as a group that has been authorized by the University to use University facilities. Thus, any student organization that is registered with the University, including student clubs, student organizations operating online, and fraternities and sororities, or similar programs, is a recognized student organization. 

It isn’t uncommon for the leadership within a student organization to be unaware of an incident until after the fact. SCCS encourages organizations to consider self-reporting the incident as soon as they become aware of the incident. Self-reporting is intended to enable the organization to work with the University to learn and develop accountability for their members.

Any incident where the organization was involved in a potential violation of the University of Nebraska Student Code of Conduct. The most common types of incidents include but are not limited to hazing, alcohol or drug violations, harassment, failure to follow event policies, and academic misconduct.

The University of Nebraska Student Code of Conduct applies to off-campus locations if it meets certain requirements, which include: 

i. The Code states that it applies to conduct that occurs off-campus.
ii. The conduct occurs in or on the grounds of a university-approved housing unit.
iii. The conduct occurs at events or during travel authorized, funded, or sponsored by the University. 
iv. The conduct occurs at events or during travel funded or sponsored by a student organization.
v. The conduct poses a risk to the health and safety of individuals and application of the Code is reasonably necessary to educate the student about the risks of the conduct or to help the student avoid engaging in the conduct in the future.
vi. The conduct poses a serious risk to the health or safety of individuals and is of the type that the student could easily engage in on-campus.
vii. The conduct was intentional and caused, or attempted to cause, physical injury to a university employee or another student.
viii. The conduct could, or was intended to, cause harm on-campus.
ix. A conduct officer:

1. determines that the conduct in a particular matter distinctly and clearly implicates the University’s interests;
2. prepares a written explanation of the interests and how the conduct implicates them; and 
3. provides the written explanation to the student or student organization.

Yes, if the incident meets any of the following requirements: 

i. The Code states that it applies to conduct that occurs off-campus.
ii. The conduct occurs in or on the grounds of a university-approved housing unit.
iii. The conduct occurs at events or during travel authorized, funded, or sponsored by the University. 
iv. The conduct occurs at events or during travel funded or sponsored by a student organization.
v. The conduct poses a risk to the health and safety of individuals and application of the Code is reasonably necessary to educate the student about the risks of the conduct or to help the student avoid engaging in the conduct in the future.
vi. The conduct poses a serious risk to the health or safety of individuals and is of the type that the student could easily engage in on-campus.
vii. The conduct was intentional and caused, or attempted to cause, physical injury to a university employee or another student.
viii. The conduct could, or was intended to, cause harm on-campus.
ix. A conduct officer:

1. determines that the conduct in a particular matter distinctly and clearly implicates the University’s interests;
2. prepares a written explanation of the interests and how the conduct implicates them; and 
3. provides the written explanation to the student or student organization.

SCCS will review the report, gather information and determine whether an investigation is needed or if staff will meet with the president of the organization. If an investigation is needed, members of the organization will be contacted with interviews times. If speaking with the president is the next step, the president will receive communication about a meeting date and time. A meeting with the president is as a representative of the organization and not as an individual student.

SCCS focuses on education and accountability, therefore, the outcomes may include educational workshops or any other sanction depending on the severity of the incident. However, we cannot predict the outcome of a case before all the information has been considered. For a list of potential sanctions, the University of Nebraska Student Code of Conduct lists potential outcomes in Section III, Subsection A. Educational sanctions are intended to provide organization with the opportunity to reflect on what happened and gain information regarding the subject of the violation.

SCCS encourages student organizations to educate members on university policies and encourage accountability. Open communication within the organization can ensure that if something occurs it will be shared with organizational leadership as soon as possible. If something does occur, we recommend the organization self-report the situation to ensure the lowest possible outcome. 

Yes, individuals involved in misconduct within their organization may have individual cases even though the organization also has educational outcomes. This occurs on a case-by-case basis. 

However, the outcome for an individual student is protected by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and cannot be shared with the organization without the student’s consent.