Student Conduct Penalty Code Bylaw

Updated to align with the Stanford Student Conduct Charter of 2023. 
Approved by the Board on Conduct Affairs on March 10, 2025, and effective June 23, 2025, pursuant to Section II(A)2 of the Charter.

Overview

Stanford University’s Student Conduct Penalty Code is to be used in conjunction with the Student Conduct Charter of 2023. It is applicable when a student accepts responsibility for a violation, or when a Conduct Panel has determined that a student violated the Honor Code, the Fundamental Standard, or another rule or policy governing student conduct.

When a student has been found responsible for a violation, the Conduct Panel, the OCS Director, or the OCS Director’s designee hearing the case shall impose a penalty or penalties. The penalty or penalties assigned will be proportional to the nature and seriousness of the offense, injury caused, and precedent(s) in similar cases. 

For any student who received a sanction in abeyance either through the Early Resolution Option (ERO) or through a Panel decision under the Student Judicial Charter of 1997, the OCS Director has the authority to calibrate the sanction held in abeyance to the Student Conduct Charter of 2023 and the current Student Conduct Penalty Code.

Types and Definitions of Penalties

Only the penalties below, listed here alphabetically, may be applied as a sanction. The alphabetical order of the penalties in the list does not suggest their frequency or likelihood, nor the proper penalty in a particular case. 

A. Community Service     
B. Delayed Degree Conferral     
C. Deprivation of Rights and Privileges     
D. Disciplinary Probation     
E. Education     
F. Expulsion     
G. Formal Warning     
H. Grade Adjustment or Academic Penalties     
I. Monetary Restitution     
J. Suspension    

A. Community Service

Community Service involves work in an unpaid role for a project supporting the community. The Community Service sanction requires a specific number of hours to be completed within a specified time period. A student may have the option of researching and selecting organizations for their service project, contingent upon approval by the Office of Community Standards. The Conduct Advisor is responsible for monitoring the student’s progress in fulfilling the Community Service sanction.

B.  Delayed Degree Conferral

Delayed Degree Conferral postpones the formal conferral of a Stanford degree for a specific period of time beyond when a student becomes academically eligible to receive their degree. This sanction may be appropriate when a Responding Student has been found responsible for a violation after they have applied to graduate. Note: Degree conferral is different from participation in the Commencement (graduation) ceremony. Delaying conferral of a degree as a penalty does not prohibit a student from participating in a commencement ceremony.

C.  Deprivation of Rights and Privileges

Deprivation of Rights and Privileges is a sanction that limits a student’s access to University services, facilities, events, organizations, activities, or other opportunities for a specified period of time.  The limited activities may include, but are not limited to, the following: taking part in intercollegiate activities, including athletic events; serving in positions of trust and responsibility; parking on campus; participating in University ceremonies; and using University facilities such as libraries and gyms.

D. Disciplinary Probation

Disciplinary probation is an elevated warning status for a specific period of time. Disciplinary Probation normally includes a sanction held in abeyance through the end of the probationary period.

If a student on Disciplinary Probation is found responsible for a subsequent Honor Code or Fundamental Standard violation that occurred before the end of their probationary period, the probationary period will end. Normally, any sanction held in abeyance will go into effect. For the new finding of responsibility, the Panel or OCS Director may impose new penalties.

Disciplinary Probation through a Mid-Level Review is limited to one quarter.

E.  Education

A sanction of Education requires completion of a specified training or meeting with a campus resource within a specified period of time. Examples include: a course on ethics; a seminar on alcohol or drug education; a workshop on proper citation methods when writing papers; or a stress management workshop. The Conduct Panel, the OCS Director, or the Director’s designee must specify the type of educational program to be completed. 

The Conduct Advisor is responsible for monitoring the student’s progress. The person offering the identified educational program must provide written confirmation to the Conduct Advisor when the student satisfactorily finishes the program.

F.  Expulsion

Expulsion from the University is the permanent termination of an individual’s status as a student, with the loss of all rights and privileges appurtenant thereto. 

Expulsion is only available through High-Level Review. Any sanction of expulsion by a Hearing Panel is reviewed by the Provost. The Provost has the option to approve the expulsion or to impose a lesser sanction.

G. Formal Warning

A Formal Warning is a letter sent to the student, with a copy maintained in the files of the OCS until the student’s graduation, that memorializes an Honor Code or Fundamental Standard violation. If a student who has received a Formal Warning should be found responsible or accept responsibility for a new violation, the Formal Warning may be considered when determining sanctions for the new violation.

H. Grade Adjustment and Academic Penalties

After a Responding Student accepts responsibility or is found responsible for violating the Honor Code, the instructor may apply a grade adjustment or similar academic penalty. The grade adjustment or penalty may include: whole or partial denial of credit for a course or an examination; the revision of a grade for a course, assignment, or assessment; or the rejection of a thesis or other program requirement. 

Only the instructor of the course in which the violation occurred, or the appropriate faculty member (e.g., Department Chair, Director of Graduate Studies, etc.), may apply academic penalties; a Conduct Panel, the OCS Director, or their designee may not assign academic penalties as a sanction. 

I.  Monetary Restitution 

Monetary Restitution requires a student to reimburse the actual financial losses to the university, individuals, or student organizations attributable to and caused by their violation. The student will be provided documentation of the actual financial amount, and a date by which the Monetary Restitution must be fulfilled.

The money collected will be used only to reimburse those individuals and/or organizations incurring the loss. No monetary penalties will be assessed to defray costs associated with the investigation and adjudication of the offense by the University.

J.  Suspension

Suspension is the loss of active, enrolled student status and a temporary separation from the University for a specified period of time. During a period of suspension, all privileges of student status are revoked (except for those defined by other policies). These include but are not limited to: attending classes; using library facilities and any other facilities of the University; obtaining credit for any academic work; living in student housing; engaging in any student activities and events; serving, whether appointed or elected, on any University committee or in a student organization; and participating in intercollegiate athletics or club sports. 

A suspended student continues to be subject to University rules governing student conduct during their suspension. A suspended student can return to the University only after the period of Suspension and completion of any additional sanction(s).

Suspension from a Mid-Level Review is limited to one quarter.   

Notifications

When a student has been found responsible for a violation, the Conduct Advisor will confirm all penalties with the student via an emailed letter. The Conduct Advisor will also inform the Reporting Party of the penalties.

As appropriate, the Conduct Advisor will contact any members of the community responsible for implementing a particular penalty. 

Release of a student’s disciplinary record

The Bylaws to the Charter outlines when information contained in a student’s disciplinary record can be released with the written consent of the student.