Overview
Syracuse Abroad is committed to students’ health and safety while studying abroad. Students must be in good disciplinary standing with their home university to be eligible to study abroad and must maintain this standing through their term overseas. To be eligible for Syracuse Abroad admissions, students must not be on disciplinary probation (or campus equivalent) during their time abroad and/or have any outstanding judicial sanctions.
All Syracuse Abroad participants are held accountable to the Syracuse University Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Code of Student Conduct . In addition, all Syracuse Abroad students are held accountable to the Syracuse Abroad Standards of Behavior.
Judicial Standing
As part of its admissions procedure, Syracuse Abroad reviews each applicant’s judicial standing. For Syracuse University students, this review is completed in cooperation with the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Visiting students must submit a completed Study Abroad Approval Form either confirming the absence of, or disclosing, a student’s judicial record.
To be eligible to participate, students must not be on disciplinary probation during their time abroad. Further, should a student’s standing at the University change at any time, Syracuse Abroad will reconsider the student’s admission. The Associate Provost may suspend or terminate a student’s participation in the Syracuse Abroad program in the event that the student fails to comply with Syracuse Abroad’s Conditions of Participation or other Syracuse University policies and procedures, or if Syracuse Abroad believes that the student’s participation poses a risk or danger to the student or others or threatens to impede orderly conduct of the Syracuse Abroad programs. Such suspension or termination is in addition to, and not in lieu of, disciplinary action that may be imposed by Syracuse University or the student’s home institution pursuant to applicable policies and procedures.
While Abroad
Overview
The most effective learning occurs in an environment that is safe and characterized by integrity and mutual respect among members of the community. Syracuse University Abroad fosters such an environment by expecting that program participants adhere to documented Standards of Behavior. Adherence to principles of good conduct promotes safety, a respect for cultural diversity, and the fullest access to all there is to learn during your international experience. Syracuse Abroad is committed to principles of fundamental fairness when considering administrative action for cases of alleged student misconduct. Toward this end, this information details both the Syracuse Abroad Standards of Behavior and its relationship with the SU Code of Student Conduct as well as the process by which Syracuse Abroad will review incidents of misconduct.
Syracuse Abroad Standards of Behavior
Students participating in Syracuse Abroad programs, regardless of their home institution, must abide by the following:
- Laws and cultural norms of the host country
- Syracuse University Code of Student Conduct
- Housing rules as detailed by each Syracuse Abroad center
- Policies and procedures of Syracuse Abroad and the host institution (if applicable)
Sexual Misconduct and Other Types of Harassment and Discrimination
Syracuse University prohibits harassment or discrimination related to any protected category including creed, ethnic or national origin, gender, pregnancy, disability, marital status, political or social affiliation, age, race, color, veteran status, military status, religion, sexual orientation, domestic violence status, gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender. Any complaint of discrimination or harassment related to any of these protected bases should be reported to the University’s Chief Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Resolution Services Office by the Syracuse Abroad Assistant Director, Student Services. The Chief Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Resolution Services Office is responsible for coordinating compliance efforts under the various laws including Titles VI, IX and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Contact information for Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services: 005 Steele Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-1520; email: e-eoirs@syr.edu; telephone: 315-443-4018.
Other examples of Standards of Behavior violations include but are not limited to:
- Damage to property
- Violation of housing rules with host families, apartments, or other housing arranged by Syracuse Abroad and/or conduct that jeopardizes the relationship between an Syracuse Abroad program and its established housing providers.
- Violation of hotel rules during orientation, field study seminars, or course related field trips
- Disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and/or excessive use of alcohol
- Use or distribution of illegal drugs
Students who violate the aforementioned policies are subject to both administrative action by Syracuse Abroad and/or the judicial system procedures of their home institution. Reports of misconduct will be provided to the student’s home college for consideration by the relevant judicial system as detailed below. All students are expected to be aware of the aforementioned policies and abide by them.
Accountability Process
The process outlined below describes how you will be held accountable when your behaviors do not match Syracuse Abroad’s Standards of Behavior.
1. Documentation
Documentation occurs when a student or staff member observes a situation or obtains information that may indicate individual student behavior has deviated from expectations. Details of the incident will be documented via an incident report and you may be asked for information as part of this process. Keep in mind that failure to comply with directives of staff made in the course of exercising their duties violates behavioral standards and may constitute a separate violation of the Standards of Behavior. Incident reports are filed with the director of the program and/or his/her designee.
2. Initial Review
Senior staff will determine whether the information in the incident report constitutes a violation of behavioral standards. If senior staff determines that the incident report reflects a violation of behavioral standards, the student will be issued a warning and/or called to a meeting.
3. Notice
If the incident is determined to be a behavioral standards issue, you will be sent a letter from the senior staff of your program outlining the specific behavioral standard(s) violations with which you are charged. The letter may serve as a formal warning (see Sanctions) or it will outline a date and time for a meeting with a senior staff member to discuss these issues.
4. Meeting
If your letter calls you to a meeting with a senior staff member you are required to meet at the time scheduled in the letter, unless you have an academic conflict (e.g., class or examination). The senior staff member will serve as the hearing officer for the case. In this meeting you will discuss the incident, and you will be afforded an opportunity to tell your side of the story. If you are found responsible for violating the Standards of Behavior, a sanction will be determined by the hearing officer.
5. Appeal
You may appeal the decision reached in the initial meeting for the following reasons: (1) procedural error that can be shown to have had a detrimental impact on the outcome of the meeting; (2) grossly inappropriate sanction having no reasonable relationship to the charges; or (3) new evidence not reasonably available at the time of the original meeting. Appeals may be addressed in writing to the Syracuse Abroad Associate Provost, International Education and Engagement and the assistant director of admissions and student services within five business days after the written decision has been made available.
Sanctions
Students who violate Syracuse Abroad Standards of Behavior will be subject to different sanction levels in accordance with the seriousness of the violation. The levels are:
1. Warning
In instances of less serious deviation from the Syracuse Abroad Standards of Behavior, the student will be formally warned in a letter from the onsite program director or his/her designee which details the possible consequences of continuing such behavior.
2. Disciplinary Warning
This status indicates that the student has made a serious violation of the Standards of Behavior and/or has already received a warning for prior behavior. Continued poor behavior could lead to disciplinary probation, expulsion from housing, or expulsion from the program.
The onsite program director will formally document that the student’s behavior has been deemed unacceptable. A copy of the documentation will be sent to the Syracuse Abroad Associate Provost, International Education and Engagement and the Syracuse University Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (SU students) or the student’s home institution study abroad office (visiting students).
Sanctions for a disciplinary warning may include meeting with a staff member for counseling, completing community service (restorative punishment), and/or writing a research paper.
3. Disciplinary Probation
This action constitutes a change in status between good standing and suspension or expulsion from the Syracuse Abroad program. The student is allowed to remain enrolled in the Syracuse Abroad program with restrictions. Further violations may lead to immediate suspension or expulsion from the program and perhaps the university. The decision to place a student on disciplinary probation will be made by the onsite program director in consultation with the Syracuse Abroad Associate Provost, International Education.
The onsite program director will formally document the student’s behavior as well as the conditions by which the student will remain enrolled in the program. A copy of the documentation will be sent to the Syracuse Abroad Associate Provost, International Education and Engagement and the Syracuse University Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (SU students) or the student’s home institution study abroad office (visiting students).
The student must have a series of meetings with appropriate staff, abide by the conditions outlined in the formal documentation, complete community service (restorative punishment), and/or write a research paper related to the violation.
4. Residential probation with possible removal or expulsion
This status indicates that the student has violated housing rules as outlined by the Syracuse Abroad center, host institution, or housing agent. The decision to place a student on residential probation will be made by the onsite program director in consultation with the Syracuse Abroad Associate Provost, International Education and Engagement. The onsite program director will formally document the student’s behavior as well as the conditions by which the student will remain in Syracuse Abroad sponsored housing. A copy of the documentation will be sent to the Syracuse Abroad Associate Provost, International Education and Engagement and the Syracuse University Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (SU students) or the student’s home institution study abroad office (visiting students).
The student must have a series of meetings with appropriate staff, abide by the conditions outlined in the formal documentation, complete community service (restorative punishment), and/or write a research paper related to the violation.
Further violations may result in [1] the immediate removal of the student from Syracuse Abroad sponsored housing and [2] possible expulsion from the program. In the case of immediate removal, the student will be required to find and pay for their own housing for the duration of the program and to sign a Notice Regarding Independent Housing Arrangements. There will be no refund of the housing fee in the case of removal or expulsion. The decision to remove or expel students will be made jointly by the onsite program director and the Syracuse Abroad Associate Provost, International Education and Engagement.
5. Suspension or termination from the Syracuse Abroad program
The Syracuse Abroad Associate Provost, International Education and Engagement may suspend or terminate a student’s participation in the Syracuse Abroad program in the event that student fails to comply with the program Conditions of Participation or other Syracuse University policies and procedures, or if Syracuse Abroad believes that the student’s participation poses a danger to the student or others or threatens to impede orderly conduct of the Syracuse Abroad programs. Such suspension or termination is in addition to, and not in lieu of, disciplinary action that may be imposed by Syracuse University or the student’s home institution pursuant to applicable policies and procedures.