When students violate our Community Standards, we view it as an educational opportunity.  By facilitating meetings and issuing sanctions, we aim to hold the responsible student accountable for their actions. Consequently, we connect students with appropriate resources and offer tools that may help promote their growth and learning in light of this accountability. By taking these steps, we hope to discourage future violations.

Understanding Sanctions

If found responsible for a violation of Community Standards, the student will be emailed an outcome letter, which will likely include the assignment of one or more sanctions to be submitted by given completion dates.

As articulated in the Student Handbook, a student or student organization found responsible for a violation of expectations may expect to receive Community Standards sanctions from Trinity College. The purpose of a sanction is to communicate to the student the seriousness of their actions and that certain behaviors are unacceptable within the Trinity community.

Responsible parties may be assigned a single sanction or multiple; this decision would be at the discretion of the Standards Educator and would be influenced by the student’s or organization’s previous behavior, as well as the seriousness of the current violation. Sanctions include, but are not limited to: fines, educational assignments, community development hours, college or residential censure, expulsion, suspension, parental notification, and referrals to other campus offices.

Please refer to the Student Handbook for a more expansive description of Community Standards sanctions starting on page 53.

Completing Sanctions

Because windows of learning can close quickly, students who receive sanctions should be mindful of required completion dates. To remain in good standing, students are strongly encouraged to:

  • Read the outcome letter carefully and note any sanction completion dates on a calendar;
  • Complete the sanction(s) as instructed;
  • Schedule required appointments (e.g. Drug and Alcohol Counselor, alcohol assessment, marijuana assessment, community development hours) in a timely manner; and,
  • Keep an open mind about sanctions. Although required, sanctions and accountability provide a rare opportunity for growth and learning about ourselves and others. A student who maintains an open mind could learn something that will improve their Trinity experience.

It is important to complete and/or submit sanctions by their completion dates. Failure to do so is considered a violation of the Student Handbook and subjects the student to additional action, which could include fines, increased disciplinary status, or loss of privileges.

If a student has additional questions or concerns about an issued sanction, they should contact the administrator who oversaw the resolution of the incident.