Response to Conduct Off-Campus

Off-Campus Misconduct

As Reported by Non-University Law Enforcement

In keeping with Ohio University's commitment to educate our students in becoming responsible community citizens, the university routinely addresses off-campus student misconduct. This includes any arrests or citations made by non-university law enforcement agencies. The following represents the university's general response to alleged off-campus misconduct. The university may elect to respond differently dependent upon the circumstances and the gravity of the alleged reported misconduct.

Process

The Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility routinely receives from the Athens City Police and the Ohio Department of Public Safety: Ohio Investigative Unit, and other local law enforcement agencies, the names and offenses of Ohio University students arrested or cited. The director of the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility reviews each case and determines if a student conduct referral will be issued. In most cases students are also charged through the University's Student Conduct process. An e-mail or letter is sent from the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility to the student(s) informing them of the date and time of the procedural interview to resolve the matter of the Code of Conduct violation.

Note: This process can apply to any non-university law enforcement agency that notifies the Office of Community Standards of Ohio University students that were arrested or cited (i.e. Columbus Police Department, Ohio State University police department, etc.).

Response

  • Students arrested or cited for an alcohol or drug violation off-campus will be referred to the Office of Community Standardsand Student Responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, underage possession, underage consumption, intoxication, and possession/use of illegal drugs or paraphernalia.
  • Students arrested or cited for acts of off-campus misconduct are routinely charged with an offense under the university's code of conduct. Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to, public urination, violence, drugs, sexual assault, and civil disturbance. In such cases, the university student conduct referral can be issued prior to the resolution of the criminal case.