FPU believes that restorative discipline enhances the academic purpose and atmosphere of the campus both educationally and developmentally. The process will enhance maturity and at the same time provide students with the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. It will also provide the opportunity for reconciliation of those who have been injured or estranged. It will encourage students to take responsibility by holding them accountable for their actions including making restitution for damages. And finally, it will enable the restoration of an individual to his or her place in the community. The restorative discipline process at FPU encourages members of the University community to resolve their differences at the lowest possible level of authority (Matthew 18:15). At times it becomes necessary for the university to intervene. In the event that an individual or group of community members chooses to violate university policies, values or behavioral expectations they can expect to participate in a restorative discipline process. This process will include one of the following possibilities:
- Individual/group meeting with a Campus Life representative.
- Referral to the Center for Peacemaking for mediation also known as a Community Justice Conference (CJC).
- Hearing with the Student Judicial Board (SJB).
- Violations involving serious safety concerns or especially egregious behavior may be subject to Administrative Review (AR).
- Violations occurring in the last two weeks of the semester where standard procedures do not afford enough time to process the case before students leave for Christmas or summer break, may be subject to an Administrative Review (AR).
All options strive to be restorative in nature and will take into consideration the willingness of an individual to accept responsibility for their actions.
When a formal report of a violation reaches the Judicial Officer, he or she will attempt to contact the alleged offender(s) (AO) within 3 days to inform them of the allegation that has been made. The “Notice of Allegation” will include the specific allegation(s), make reference to the standards that have been violated, and outline the Restorative Discipline process. The JO will determine if the case is eligible for a CJC or it if will be referred to the SJB or an AR. The case review will generally occur within 3 days of when the JO receives the Violation Report or after identifying all of the involved parties. If a CJC is recommended and the AO agrees the CJC Facilitator will generally have ten (10) working days (excluding student holidays) to arrange and conduct the CJC. If the case is referred to the SJB the JO will generally have ten (10) working days (excluding student holidays) to arrange and conduct the SJB.
The standard of proof that Fresno Pacific University will use to determine the outcome for a Student Judicial Board or Administrative Review hearing is a “Preponderance of Evidence”. Preponderance of evidence means that there is just enough evidence to make it more likely than not that the allegation presented is true. In other words, is the evidence in support of the question at hand of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence in opposition to it?
Special Note: An individual may contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for review of a complaint. The bureau may be contacted at the following:
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: (916) 431-6924
Fax: ( 916) 263-1897