Only low-level violations will be subject to non-disclosure. Low-level violations are those that are relatively common among new college students and receive less severe sanctions. Those violations include alcohol incidents, noise complaints in the residence halls, or academic integrity incidents. The student must also participate in the administrative resolution process for the alleged incident.

Violations that were sanctioned with long-term probation (beyond one year), suspension, expulsion, removal from University Housing, or revocation of admission or degree will not be subject to non-disclosure. When these sanctions are issued, the violation has either been repeated or is more serious because it has impacted more than just the offending student. Additionally, any case that is adjudicated by the University Conduct Board is not eligible for non-disclosure.

Yes. A student can have no more than two (2) incidents on record. This limit was established to acknowledge that a student could be found in violation for two minor incidents and receive no than one year of probation. This often occurs when the first violation receives a warning.

The intent of non-disclosure is to provide some relief when a student can demonstrate they had one or two isolated or minor incidents. When students are sincere in their desire to learn from a mistake, they tend not to repeat them.

A request for non-disclosure may be submitted any time after graduation or in the two semesters before graduation provided that at least four (4) months have passed since the last incident for which a student was found responsible.

This time frame is intended to provide enough time for the university to determine that a mistake has not been repeated.

The Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards (SCCS), will not disclose information in your disciplinary or conduct record to third parties that inquire about your record. Instead, SCCS will issue the following statement:

The Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards (SCCS), will disclose information in your disciplinary or conduct record to third parties that inquire about your record. In most circumstances, the following information will be disclosed:

1. The violation(s) for which you were found responsible;
2. The date of the violation(s);
3. The sanctions imposed; and
4. Whether the sanctions have been completed.

Before this information is shared, you will need to provide your consent in writing to the agency or institution that is seeking the information.

Yes. Sometimes the request for disclosure includes that expunged or non-disclosed records be included in the release. When completing applications or seeking employment where the student should read the release they are signing to see whether the release of expunged or nondisclosed records will be included.

Depends on the question. Sometimes applications are interested only in serious infractions that result in suspension, expulsion or removal. Sometimes questions are framed more broadly asking about any disciplinary action taken. If the question is broadly-framed and your request for non-disclosure has been approved, you may indicate you have not been disciplined because the university will not disclose any information.

It is difficult to say and depends on other information in your application. If you are an otherwise strong and competitive candidate (you have very good grades, entrance exam scores, and co-curricular experiences, letters of recommendation) disclosing an isolated and relatively minor incident will probably not be too detrimental. Often, you will be given an opportunity to explain the incident and show how you have grown from the experience.

However, if you are not as strong or competitive the disclosure could be one way a selection committee could eliminate your candidacy when you are mostly the same as other similarly situated applicants.

No. The university is obligated to retain disciplinary or conduct records for designated periods of time by university policy and Federal law. For example, the Clery Act requires the university to keep liquor law violations for seven years after the violation is adjudicated. The Board of Regents has set a six-year records retention requirement.

Except in cases of university expulsion and suspension, conduct records are eliminated after seven years.

No, your request can be denied. Decisions regarding non-disclosure are discretionary and not a matter of right. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The decision-maker considers many factors about a student’s disciplinary record in making a decision. Some of those factors include: (1) whether your conduct victimized another; (2) the harm that was caused; (3) the existence of a pattern of violations and/or accusations; (4) timing of violations (early vs. late in enrollment; violations bunched together, etc.); (5) your attitudes regarding the process to resolve the alleged violation; and (6) how you implemented what you learned into the remainder of your collegiate experience.

The university recognizes that students make mistakes and they should be afforded some grace in navigating this transition in their life. When students make a commitment to mature and grow from a mistake, the university wants to support and encourage that growth. The non-disclosure policy exists for that reason. When a student’s conduct is inconsistent with this purpose, the request is less likely to be approved.