Code of Student Conduct
Learn how our code of conduct and community standards help ensure a safe environment for learning and making.
Read the Code of Student Conduct
Applicable to all RISD students, the Code of Student Conduct outlines behaviors that RISD prohibits, the details of student conduct processes and the potential outcomes of conduct hearings. We strongly encourage all students and other community members get familiar with the code to help ensure a positive environment for students.
Understand the student conduct process
The administrative process of a student conduct review often depends on the type and scope of a potential code violation. These processes include:
Conduct Board meeting
In a Conduct Board meeting (CB), complaints are heard and adjudicated by a voting board that consists of at least four members, likely including: one faculty member, one staff member and two students, with one student serving as the board chair. In a CB hearing you can expect a more formal meeting in a conference room with scripted procedures. Your hearing administrator (HA)—usually the director of Student Conduct and Community Standards—will be present for the hearing, along with the board and the complainant or the RISD representative presenting the allegations.
The investigator will appear at the hearing to answer questions, and other witnesses may be called. You will be allowed to give an opening and closing statement, answer questions from the hearing body, and provide your narrative of events. You may be accompanied by your advisor during the hearing.
Administrative conference
In an administrative conference you can expect a one-on-one meeting with an HA, who is either a Residence Life community coordinator, the director of Student Conduct and Community Standards or another RISD administrator.
During this meeting you will be asked to provide your account of the incident and any supporting evidence to the HA, who will likely engage you in a discussion about decision-making, responsible behavior, community values and other topics related to your growth and development.
Your HA will determine if you are responsible for a code violation using the preponderance of the evidence (it is more likely than not that a violation has occurred) as a standard of proof and will decide on all community status outcomes and accompanying terms.
Mediation
A mediation is an informal process that can resolve interpersonal conflict between students or student groups. If both parties are willing to cooperate with one another, a neutral mediator will help the two have a conversation with one another to reach a resolution. Please note that mediations are only able to address conflicts that do not violate the Code of Student Conduct. In situation where a mediation is not successful, the issue may be addressed through other formal student conduct processes.
Student rights
In student conduct proceedings, students and student groups have the right to:
- be informed in writing of the alleged policy violation(s) and alleged prohibited behavior.
- not be presumed responsible of any alleged violations unless so found through the appropriate student conduct proceeding.
- have an advisor, if you wish, during a hearing before the Student Conduct Board, an administrative hearing, or a restorative conversation/community conversation.
- request reasonable accommodations through Disability Support Services to participate in these proceedings.
- have a reasonable length of time to prepare a response to any charges.
- be informed of the evidence upon which a charge is based and given an opportunity to offer a relevant response.
- be given an opportunity to articulate relevant concerns and issues, express opinions, and offer evidence.
- be afforded privacy, in accordance with college practices and legal requirements.
- appeal a decision based on certain grounds.
- refrain from providing information that is self-incriminating.
Appeals process
If you have participated in the student conduct process and believe one of the conditions listed below affected the outcome of your hearing, you have the right to appeal.
- There was an error in the conduct process that negatively impacted the outcome or decision of the situation.
- There is new evidence relating to the situation that was not available during the conduct process that could have changed the outcome or decision.
- The consequences of the conduct process are disproportionate to the violation of the code.
Please note that disagreement with or dissatisfaction with the final determination are not valid reasons for an appeal.
If you believe that you have grounds for an appeal, you must submit a statement in writing. Appeals need to be submitted via the appeals form within three business days of the date of the notification letter. The form must include the reason for the appeal and all relevant details and information. In the absence of a timely appeal, the original outcome or determination will be final and conclusive.
Code and process FAQs for students
Is my involvement in a conduct hearing confidential?
Information about your hearing or meeting and its result is only shared with other RISD personnel who need to know. This may include representatives from Residence Life, the Associate Dean of Students, or other parties that may be involved in or impacted by the outcome. We do not share any information with other students (except complainants under certain circumstances).
Is this a legal process?
Our process is designed to be as educational as possible and is completely separate from any legal proceedings that may take place off campus.The only way our process is similar to a criminal process is that it affords students due process.
A student who is found responsible through our conduct process may be placed on community status (warning, probation, etc.) with the institution and will likely be assigned one or more educational accompanying outcomes. The outcome of any hearing will be part of your educational record.
A court proceeding and the RISD conduct process may happen around the same time, but the two processes are completely separate from each other.
Can I be held accountable for violating the Code of Student Conduct if I am involved in an incident off campus?
If Student Conduct and Community Standards is notified about a potential code violation that occurs off campus, we will typically address it. The Code of Student Conduct applies to all students, no matter where they are. RISD expects students to represent our values whether they are on or off campus.
How does RISD make decisions about policy violations?
All decisions in both academic and Code of Student Conduct procedures are made on the basis of a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard (it is more likely than not that a violation of the Student/Academic Code of Conduct took place or didn't take place).
Can I bring someone with me to my hearing/meeting?
As stated in the Code of Student Conduct, both the complainant and the respondent are entitled to have an advisor of their choosing attend the hearing to guide and accompany them throughout the process.
A student may bring one advisor of their choice from the RISD community. Advisors have a passive role while attending a hearing. They may not speak on behalf of the complainant, the respondent or any witnesses, and they may not directly address the board or the hearing administrator. The role of the advisor is to support and accompany the student throughout the investigation, adjudication, and appeal process. Advisors who fail to abide by the expectations listed above or in the code are subject to their removal from the process.
Will I get expelled from RISD?
Not necessarily. Suspension, dismissal or expulsion are usually not the first actions taken in any conduct matter. Conduct is adjudicated on a case-by-case basis and takes into consideration what a student learned, whether or not someone takes responsibility for their actions, and their ability to demonstrate an understanding and acknowledgement that the alleged behavior is not acceptable in our community.
Additionally, the student conduct process is designed to assign effective and restorative sanctions that support personal growth and development when students are found responsible. Outcomes may range from educational assignments to expulsion from RISD. More serious sanctions may be imposed for multiple or repeated violations.
You can find a list of possible sanctions in the code.
Do I need a lawyer?
The decision to retain an attorney is a personal one that should be decided by a student and their family.
RISD does not provide attorneys to students. Legal counsel is only permitted to serve as an advisor to a student for cases involving a concurrent criminal charge or a Title IX process.
If you are accompanied by an attorney, know that they will not be allowed to participate in the hearing or speak on your behalf. Our office will not interact directly with your attorney and will advise all communication from your attorney to go through General Counsel.
See the ADVISOR section of the Code of Student Conduct for full details.
Do I need to appear at my hearing/conference?
You do not need to appear at the hearing/conference.
If you do not appear (you have three business days from the date of your notification letter to respond), a decision about your responsibility and an appropriate community status/outcome will be determined in your absence. The hearing administrator/conduct board will make this decision based on the evidence available to them. You will be responsible for completing any and all assignments as a result.
What happens if I don’t complete an assignment as a result of the hearing process?
Failure to complete any sort of assignment by the date assigned will typically result in a registrar's hold being placed on your record preventing you from registering for class. This hold will remain in place until you have satisfactorily resolved the matter and completed the assigned sanction.
Additionally, you may be also held responsible for violating the “Failure to Comply/Non Compliance” section of the Code of Student Conduct where additional outcomes may be assigned.
Will you tell my family about my participation in a conduct process?
In general, no.
However, there may be extenuating circumstances such as in the event of a health or safety emergency wherein the Associate Dean of Students or the director of Student Conduct and Community Standards may think it is necessary or beneficial to contact your family. When able, we will include you in these decisions as we understand the decision may have impacts in which we are not yet aware. Additionally, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows for certain exceptions and disclosures.
Will my instructors know about my participation in this process?
Our office does not typically communicate with faculty about your participation in this process unless you request it.
I’m transferring to another school. Will you share my conduct record with my new school?
If asked by your new school, our office will report the violation if you are found responsible.
For external constituents, we only report incidents that result in a community status outcome of suspension or above. We will not report:
- charges for which you were found not responsible
- warnings
- probation
- no contact directives
Please note that health professional schools, law schools, military schools, bar associations and other agencies sometimes require information about institutional action related to a student's academic record and the academic code, in addition to violations of the Code of Student Conduct. In those cases both the student and the school may be required to disclose the information related to Academic or Student Conduct.
Does my record go on my transcript?
No. Conduct records are separate from your transcript and the registrar does not make any notation on transcripts regarding your student conduct status. If you are suspended or expelled from RISD, the semesters from which you are absent/no longer enrolled will not be included in your transcript.
How long do you keep my records?
Typically seven years from the date of graduation. For full details see our record retention policy.
Contact Student Conduct and Community Standards
Hours
Mon–Fri: 8:30 am–4:30 pm
Contact
Carr House, 3rd Floor
210 Benefit Street
Providence, RI