The following are frequently asked questions from faculty and staff regarding disciplinary matter.

1.  I suspect one of my students is being dishonest in his/her academic work, what should I do?

The Office of Student Judicial Services handles all non-academic related instances of student misconduct.  If you suspect a student of plagiarizing or cheating you should contact the Academic Integrity Office.

2.  Why would I need to contact the Office of Student Judicial Services?

The Office of Student Judicial Services (SJS) is an on-campus resource that provides support to faculty and staff in putting forth appropriate responses to inappropriate behavior exhibited by GW students in the classroom and other areas of campus.  The Office of Student Judicial Services is responsible for upholding the "Code of Student Conduct," which is the University document that governs all non-academic student conduct and provides guidelines to the University community for appropriate student behavior.*

The goal in providing information and support to faculty and staff members is to enable them to focus on providing optimum service to all students and to protect faculty and staff from inhibitions to their daily tasks.

3.  So, SJS can help me with a student who is being disruptive in my classroom?

Absolutely!  The Office of Student Judicial Services can be the first point-of-contact for faculty members who are handling disruptive students in the classroom.  Faculty should not hesitate to contact SJS when they have a concern about a student's behavior; the sooner the behavior can be addressed, the more effective the outcome will be and fewer disruptions to the learning environment will occur.

4.  What does SJS define as inappropriate behavior?

Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to:

• Disrupting the class by entering or leaving without prior authorization.
• Yelling, fighting, or other disruptive behavior.
• Verbally or physically threatening other students or instructor(s).
• Persistently interrupting classroom discussions without being acknowledged first.
• Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Refusing to be seated.

5.  What does the "Code of Student Conduct" say about the standards of classroom behavior?

"The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the instructor to leave the class for the remainder of the class period. Longer suspensions from a class or dismissal on disciplinary grounds must be preceded by a disciplinary conference or hearing."

"The term "prohibited acts" includes behavior prohibited by the instructor... It must be emphasized that this provision is not designed to be used as a means to punish classroom dissent. The expression of disagreement with the instructor or classmates is not in itself disruptive behavior."

6.  What does that mean?

The previous section can be summarized in the following points:

1. Faculty members are responsible for managing the classroom.  In order to facilitate classroom management, faculty members should clearly articulate guidelines for appropriate behavior including, but not limited to, class attendance, cheating, use of electronic devices, and participation in classroom discussions.
2. Faculty members cannot remove a student permanently from class; however, a faculty member can ask a student to leave the classroom for the duration of a specific class period, if behavior is disruptive or inappropriate.
3. Students are free to express disagreement with their instructor or classmates in an appropriate manner.
4. Support to faculty members who experience disruptive situations in the classroom is offered by staff members in the Office of Student Judicial Services.  The expectations for appropriate student behavior are outlined in the "Code of Student Conduct," which is upheld by SJS through its campus programs and resources.

7.  What do I do if a student becomes disruptive in one of my classes?

If a student is repeatedly disruptive but not physically threatening or harmful, you can attempt to remedy the situation by taking the following steps:

• Model appropriate behavior when reacting to inappropriate remarks through professional and mature responses. 
• Take control of discussions and inviting a particularly difficult student to continue the conversation at a later time.
• Speak privately with the student regarding his/her behavior, including describing the disruptive behavior and developing a plan to avoid similar situations in the future.
• Give the student options: he/she may modify the disruptive behavior or leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period.

You may provide a written report of the student's behavior to the Office of Student Judicial Services. The report should include a detailed factual account of the behavior exhibited by the student and any actions you took to remedy the situation. The report can be sent via email to sjs@gwu.edu or faxed to (202) 994-3051. When SJS receives a report, you may be contacted to provide additional information about your interactions with the student. SJS staff will make a final determination about the appropriate administrative response.

If a student is physically or verbally threatening you or another classmate, you should contact the University Police Department immediately at (202) 994-6111.

You should consult with your department regarding expectations for responding to and reporting inappropriate student behavior.

8.  So, SJS makes the final determination about how to handle the student's behavior.  What happens next?

Depending on the situation, a student could be assigned any one of a number of sanctions for disruptive classroom behavior.  These sanctions are determined after a judicial process is put forth and the student is found responsible for a violation of the Code.  Possible sanctions include: censure (written warning), disciplinary probation, suspension (temporary separation from the University), or expulsion (a permanent separation from the University), among others.

The Office of Student Judicial Services endeavors to determine an appropriate outcome for each situation, while encouraging students to accept responsibility for their actions and conduct themselves as adult citizens of the George Washington community.

9.  What do I do if I need to speak with someone about a situation I am experiencing in my classroom?

Staff members in the Office of Student Judicial Services are available for advice and consultation regarding how to handle disruptive classroom situations.  You may contact us by calling (202) 994-6757, email us at sjs@gwu.edu, or stop by our office at the John Quincy Adams House.