Community Standards for Parents

Pepperdine University has long recognized its special relationship with the parents and families of its students. Even after students leave home for college, parents often play a central role in their character development, so Pepperdine works in partnership with parents in helping students make the transition to responsible adulthood.

The University also recognizes that students have specific privacy rights. FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, is a Federal law that controls the confidentiality of, and access to, student education records. The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 permit educational institutions to notify parents if a student, under the age of 21 at the time of notification, commits a disciplinary violation involving alcohol or a controlled substance. See Pepperdine's Student Records Policy for additional information about FERPA and educational records. A full copy may be obtained by contacting the Registrar's Office.

The purpose of Pepperdine's parental notification policy is to promote the holistic development of students and to foster an alcohol and drug free campus community. Among several interventions that may be used to further this purpose, parents or guardians of students under the age of 21 may be notified in the case of a violation of University alcohol or other drug policies.

Pepperdine University has long recognized its special relationship with the parents and families of its students. Even after students leave home for college, parents often play a central role in their character development, so Pepperdine works in partnership with parents in helping students make the transition to responsible adulthood.

The University also recognizes that students have specific privacy rights. FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, is a Federal law that controls the confidentiality of, and access to, student education records. The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 permit educational institutions to notify parents if a student, under the age of 21 at the time of notification, commits a disciplinary violation involving alcohol or a controlled substance. See Pepperdine's Student Records Policy for additional information about FERPA and educational records. A full copy may be obtained by contacting the Registrar's Office.

The purpose of Pepperdine's parental notification policy is to promote the holistic development of students and to foster an alcohol- and drug-free campus community. Among several interventions that may be used to further this purpose, parents or guardians of students under the age of 21 may be notified in the case of a violation of University alcohol or other drug policies. Notification begins with:

1. The first time a student is charged with violating the University policy under one of the following circumstances:
• Caused serious harm to oneself or another while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs or was transported to a medical facility and treated because of alcohol or other drug use.
• Caused significant damage or disruption while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
• Operated a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
• Was arrested or taken into custody by law enforcement officers while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs or is charged with violating a federal, state, or local law related to alcohol or other drug use.
• Because of previous violations (not related to alcohol or other drugs), the current alcohol or other drug violation might result in the student being placed on suspension or a more severe sanction.
• Hosted or in any way assisted or promoted a gathering that included underage drinking or drunkenness.
2. The first time a student is charged with violating the University policy regarding the attempt to obtain or the use, possession, sale, or distribution of any narcotic or other controlled substance not lawfully prescribed by a health care provider.
3. The second time a student is charged with violating the University policy regarding:
• The consumption, possession, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages.
• Being in the presence of alcohol, alcohol containers, controlled substances, or drug-related paraphernalia on University property.

Normally, a parent or guardian will be notified in writing by the associate dean of student affairs for community standards before the disciplinary hearing. Before notifying the parents or guardians, every effort will be made to inform the student and attempt to have the student make the first contact. This is consistent with the general philosophy that supports students developing independence and personal accountability. However, in some situations consultation with the student or first contact by the student may not be possible or appropriate and in such cases the University is not required to alert the student when it has notified his/her parent or legal guardian. In other situations, after consulting with the student, the associate dean may determine that notifying the parents/guardians may be harmful to the student and in such cases the University is not obligated to make notification.

This policy does not preclude the University's contacting parents or guardians for other policy violations that may endanger the health and well being of a student or other individuals in the community. Also, the University may release information related to student educational records to parents who claim the student as a dependent for tax purposes.

Administrative Hearings

When the alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct is of a less serious nature and the misconduct would not result in suspension, expulsion, or dismissal, a student may be notified to attend an administrative hearing with a University staff member (normally the associate dean or a resident director) to discuss the incident and any steps that must be taken or sanction imposed to resolve the matter. Before the administrative hearing, the student will be sent a notification letter briefly summarizing the behavior that allegedly violates the Student Code of Conduct, along with the date and time of the hearing. The administrative hearing will be followed by an official letter summarizing the decision.

Sanctions imposed as a result of an administrative hearing cannot be appealed. Sanctions imposed by the Student Disciplinary Committee may be appealed; therefore, students who are summoned to an administrative hearing may request instead to meet with the Student Disciplinary Committee if they want an appeal option.

Student Disciplinary Committee Hearings

If, after reviewing a report of misconduct, the associate dean determines that the incident is deemed sufficiently serious, the incident will be submitted for hearing by the Student Disciplinary Committee. The Student Disciplinary Committee will include a quorum of one student, one faculty member, and one staff member. The associate dean (or designee) will chair the committee but is not a voting member unless there is a tie vote.

Before meeting with the Student Disciplinary Committee, the student will be provided in writing with a summary of the behavior that allegedly violates particular provisions of the Student Code of Conduct. The notice will also include the date and time of the hearing, not less than five or more than fifteen calendar days after the student has been notified. Maximum time limits for scheduling hearings may be extended at the discretion of the associate dean.

Hearings are not required to adhere to formal rules of procedure or technical rules of evidence followed by courts of law. Hearings will be conducted according to the following guidelines:

1. All procedural questions are subject to the final decision of the associate dean or designee.
2. The hearing will normally be conducted in private. Admission of any person to the hearing will be at the discretion of the associate dean. The associate dean may accommodate concerns for the personal safety, well-being, and/or fears of confrontation of the reporting party, accused student, and/or other witness during the hearing by providing separate facilities, and/or by permitting participation by telephone, video conferencing, written statement, or other means. Such decisions are made at the sole discretion of the associate dean.
3. Accused students may be assisted at hearings by an advisor. The advisor must be a current student, faculty, or staff member of the University who was not involved in the incident. The advisor cannot speak for the accused student. The role of the advisor is to accompany the student and advise him or her privately during the hearing process.
4. Hearings will be chaired by the associate dean or designee, and will proceed in the following manner:
• Reading of the charges.
• The student's denial or admission of the alleged violation(s). If the student admits to the alleged violation(s), then the committee may dismiss the student and deliberate on the appropriate sanctions.
• Presentation of information and/or witnesses supporting the alleged violation(s).
• Presentation of information and/or witnesses by the student charged that rebuts the alleged violation(s).
• Closing statement by the accused student.
5. The chair and the accused student may call witnesses. Witnesses may only be present while giving testimony. Accused students must present a list of witnesses and purposes of their statements to the chair at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled hearing. It is the responsibility of the person who calls the witness to request and confirm the witness's participation in the hearing. The chair may, at his or her sole discretion, exclude any witness from attending the hearing if the witness's testimony is duplicative or irrelevant.
6. A list of witnesses called by the University should be presented to the accused student 24 hours before the hearing.
7. Pertinent records, exhibits and written statements may be accepted as information for consideration by the committee at the discretion of the chair. This information must be submitted to the chair at least 24 hours before the hearing. The committee may or may not consider any documents received after the 24-hour deadline subject to the discretion of the associate dean.
8. If, during the course of the hearing, additional policy violations are discovered, the accused student will be notified of the new alleged policy violation(s) and will be granted additional time, if needed, to prepare a defense of the new alleged violation(s). The accused student may waive the additional time and the hearing can proceed with the new alleged violation(s) taken under consideration by the committee. A record will be made in the hearing notes of additional alleged violation(s) and whether or not the student desires additional preparation time.
9. Information about the misconduct of other students shared at the hearing may be used as the basis for disciplinary action.
10. The committee's determination will be made on the basis of the preponderance of the evidence standard (whether it is more likely than not that the accused student violated the Student Code of Conduct).
11. After the hearing, the committee will determine by majority vote whether the student has violated each section of the Student Code of Conduct that the student was notified of allegedly violating.
12. If the student is found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct, the committee will then make a recommendation to the associate dean (or designee) on the appropriate sanctions.
13. The associate dean will notify the student in writing of the committee's decision and the sanctions issued, if any.
14. There will be a single written record of the hearing, which normally consists of the statement of alleged misconduct, a summary of the information presented in the hearing, a summary of the statement of the accused, statement of the decision, and the sanctions issued, if any. The hearing will not be transcribed or otherwise recorded.
15. If the accused student fails to appear at the hearing, the committee may make a decision based on the available information. If the associate dean determines that good cause exists for the accused student not appearing at the hearing, a new date may be set for the hearing.

Please review the Student Code of Conduct website for information on sanctions and the table of standards sanctions.

Below are examples of books and articles that are assigned to students as educational sanctions:

Defining Moments: How God Shapes Our Character Through Crisis by Rick Ezell

(Dis)Honesty - The Truth About Lies by The (Dis)Honesty Project

The Seven Levels of Lying by Christianity Today

What on Earth Am I Here For? Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Please review the Student Code of Conduct website for information on the appeals process.

Please review the Sexual Misconduct Policy. 

The Title IX website is also a resource for sexual misconduct response and prevention at Pepperdine University.