Sanctions

Students who violate university policy will be subject to disciplinary sanctioning. Sanctions imposed for misconduct will be based on the severity of the incident and the student’s previous disciplinary record. The purpose of any sanction is to educate individuals and to help them develop the autonomy that is expected of adult members of our community. If a student is found responsible for a violation and would like to appeal that decision, a detailed description of the process can be found under the appeals process below.

The following list of sanctions is meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. The university reserves the right to create other sanctions based on the nature of the misconduct. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to:

Behavioral Agreement/Contract -- In certain circumstances, a behavioral agreement is developed by a member of the SNHU staff. This agreement outlines specific behaviors acceptable between all parties involved.
Community Service -- Required service to the university or community. This sanction may be imposed when, in the view of the hearing officer or board, the student’s actions have infringed on the community in some manner necessitating the student providing positive service back to the community. The amount of service and deadline for completion will be described in the written notification to the student.
Educational Sanctioning -- A non-punitive sanction usually imposed in conjunction with another sanction. The educational sanction must be completed within the manner and time stated as part of the sanction. Participation in certain programs may be withheld or restricted until educational sanctions are completed.
Expulsion from Southern New Hampshire University -- permanent dismissal from the university without opportunity for readmission. This sanction may only be imposed by the vice president for student affairs or designee after a hearing. If expelled from the university, the student will be persona non grata on all university facilities and from all university functions.
Fines-Fines are imposed on a case by case basis. Fines pertaining to the SNHU Alcohol and other Drug Policies are explained in full detail under the disciplinary responses to AOD violations section in the handbook.
Loss of Privileges -- Exclusion from specifically stated facilities, services, or activities for a designated period of time. Examples include, but are not limited to, loss of parking privileges, prohibition from entering certain residence halls, prohibition from university sponsored activities, room change restrictions.
Residence Probation -- Students are placed on residence probation for minimally one semester, and the hearing officer reserves the right to determine the length of probation based on the incident and the student’s past history. Any violation of university policy during the probationary period would result in the referral of the student for residence suspension.
Restitution -- Payment for the cost of damage(s), as determined by the university, of materials and labor for repair or replacement of damaged, destroyed, or stolen university property.
Summary Suspension
- If the student’s behavior becomes a danger or risk to the safety of the university community or to his/her own safety, the vice president for student affairs or designee may authorize the immediate temporary suspension of the student. Once required to leave campus under such an order, the student must depart immediately or face charges for trespassing and additional disciplinary action. If a student is not physically able to leave the campus safely, then appropriate means will be provided.
- If a student must return to campus for any reason -- for example, taking an exam, meeting with an administrator, pursuing rights to a hearing -- and the student is under summary suspension, he/she must have the permission of the vice president for student affairs or designee.
- A summary suspension ends when lifted by the vice president for student affairs or his designee, or when the disciplinary finding on the incident is concluded
- Students can expect a hearing to take place within 72 hours after the summary suspension has been imposed. If more time is needed for an investigation, the student will be made aware of the new timeline.
Suspension held in Abeyance -- Suspension from the university or from residence halls may be “held in abeyance.” This means that the suspension would not be enforced immediately, but is “in place.” Notice of this status will require that specific conditions be fulfilled. Any violation of those conditions will result, at a minimum, in immediate enforcement of the suspension – without a hearing. It may also result in further disciplinary action.
Suspension from a Program -- If during the review of the student’s conduct, a staff member finds that he/she has been involved in multiple violations and that his/her response to disciplinary measures indicates that the student is unable or unwilling to adapt to the university’s expectations, his/her situation may be presented to the program director for possible suspension from that program. This would occur in addition to any penalty imposed for the immediate violation. For the most part, such actions occur in residential situations and involve possible suspension from residence.
Suspension from residence life, whether for a period of time or indefinitely, automatically carries with it the status of persona non grata in residence areas. If a student is suspended from residence life, he/she is barred from the residence areas entirely and will be allowed only in the athletic complex, the library, Student Center, Robert Frost, Exeter and Stark Halls, the Hospitality Building, Webster Hall, or Belknap Hall and only between 7:30 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. The student’s vehicle may only be on campus during that time, and parking is restricted to Lot 1 or 12.
Suspension from Southern New Hampshire University for a specified period of time -- dismissal from Southern New Hampshire University for a given period, with an opportunity for readmission. This sanction may only be imposed by the vice president for student affairs or designee after a hearing. If a student is suspended from the university, he/she will be persona non grata on all university facilities and from all university functions for the period of his/her suspension.
University Probation -- A serious form of disciplinary warning, with conditions, imposed by the vice president for student affairs or designee. Violations of the conditions may result in suspension or expulsion. All reports of future violations by that student will be referred directly to the vice president of student affairs or designee for appropriate action.
Written Warning -- Warnings consists of formal notification to the student that he/she has violated the student Code of Conduct and advises the student that repetition will result in a more severe sanction.