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University of Illinois.
All rights reserved.

7.17 DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS*

Home > About Uni > School Policies > Student Handbook > 7.17

Disciplinary actions by the school are based on a progressive system (Consequences may include the following:  work details, activity suspension, loss of privileges, probation, suspension, dismissal, etc.) except in cases where the behaviors warrant more immediate and severe sanctions. Certain acts of misconduct warrant more stringent behaviors on the part of the administration, and in such cases the Assistant Director may skip one of the steps outlined in the progressive discipline procedure. State law and Illinois School Code require that students receive individual consideration in determining discipline actions.  As such each student’s discipline may be determined by the circumstances, the prior disciplinary record, and the conference with the student and/or parent.   A Disciplinary Review Committee may be convened in other situations when the Assistant Director deems it necessary.

    Faculty and Staff Disciplinary Actions — Procedures

Each teacher, and any other school personnel when students are under his/her charge, is authorized to impose any disciplinary measure, other than suspension, expulsion, corporal punishment or in-school suspension, which is appropriate and in accordance with the policies and rules on student discipline. Teachers and other persons providing a related service for or with respect to a student, may use reasonable force as needed to maintain safety for other students, school personnel, or other persons, or for the purpose of self-defense or defense of property.

Faculty and staff handle minor inappropriate behaviors themselves by talking with the student and issuing a warning. There may also be a need to take away personal items that are distracting to a teacher or class. If the behavior continues, the teacher or staff member will contact the parent(s)/guardian(s) and discuss the behavior. If the behavior still continues, it is then referred to the Assistant Director.

In order to maintain a proper classroom learning environment, a faculty member may remove a student from a class for the remainder of the class period. If a student is removed from a class, he or she is to report to the Assistant Director’s office (or to the Main Office when the Assistant Director is not present). The Assistant Director will then meet with the student and teacher to discuss the situation. Suspension for subsequent class periods must be approved by the Assistant Director and communicated in writing to the student. Students may be suspended from a given class for up to 10 consecutive days.

    Faculty and Staff Disciplinary Actions — Appeal

If a student feels that a disciplinary action taken by a faculty or staff member is not warranted, the student may request in writing a review by the Assistant Director. An appeal request will specify the sanction being appealed and the reasons for appeal. No formal hearing will be held; however, a meeting will be held between the administrator and student. The Assistant Director’s decision is final. A copy of the final disposition and sanction will be placed in the student’s file.

Suspension from class by the Assistant Director may be appealed to the Director/Principal.

    Administrative Disciplinary Actions — Procedures

Any faculty or staff member may initiate institutional disciplinary actions by reporting disciplinary difficulties with a student to the Assistant Director. The Assistant Director may also receive such reports from students, parent(s)/guardian(s) or other sources. 

The Assistant Director (or person designated by him or her) shall gather further information and decide if disciplinary action is warranted. If the Assistant Director decides that disciplinary action may be appropriate, he/she follows a progressive system for minor acts of misconduct. Certain acts of misconduct warrant more stringent actions on the part of the administration, and in such cases the Assistant Director may skip one or more of the steps outlined in the progressive discipline procedure.

1. Informal Warning or Other Actions Short of Probation

If the Assistant Director decides to handle the misconduct informally, he/she may carry out one or more of the following actions: (1) hold informal discussions with the concerned parties; (2) require the student to consult with a member of the counseling staff; (3) issue a written warning to the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) about the consequences of continued misbehavior; (4) take action short of disciplinary probation, such as requiring community service; (5) hold a conference with student and parent(s)/guardian(s); (6) loss of privileges such as free time or use of the student lounge; (7) restriction of privileges such as computer access; (8) restriction of extracurricular activities; and/or (9) after-school detention or Saturday-morning detention. For seniors, participation in graduation may be denied for disciplinary reasons.

2. Disciplinary Probation

Disciplinary probation is the next step in the progressive discipline process if one of the above mentioned sanctions does not correct the student’s behavior. Under disciplinary probation, the Assistant Director may impose a number of specific sanctions against the student. These may include ineligibility for athletics and extracurricular activities, requiring counseling, in-school detention in the administrative offices, mandatory cleaning up of areas of the school, restriction of privileges, and/or suspension.

The Assistant Director shall determine the duration of the probation, the sanctions to be utilized, and shall be responsible for monitoring the conditions of the probation.

The conditions of the disciplinary probation will be communicated in writing to the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s). The statement must contain a description of: (1) the misconduct involved; (2) the evidence available; (3) the consequences of the misconduct; and (4) the available appeal option and procedures. The probation will be discussed with the parent(s)/guardian(s), and with the police if that is deemed appropriate.

3. Disciplinary Review

Failure to comply with the conditions of disciplinary probation and/or acts of misconduct that warrant more stringent actions will result in a Disciplinary Review Hearing.

    Suspension

Certain acts of misconduct may warrant more stringent actions on the part of the administration. In addition to the possible actions outlined above, the Assistant Director may suspend a student from school and all school activities for up to 10 days, provided that the appropriate procedures are followed.

• Before suspension, the student shall be provided a conference during which the charges will be explained and the student will be given an opportunity to respond to the charges.

• Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s). A written notice of the suspension shall state the reasons for the suspension, including any school rule which was violated, and a notice to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of their right to a review of the suspension. A copy of the notice shall be given to the Director/Principal.

• Upon request of the parent(s)/guardian(s), the Director/Principal will conduct a review of the suspension. At the review, the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) may appear and discuss the suspension with the Director/Principal. After presentation of the evidence, the Director/Principal shall take such action as he/she finds appropriate.

    Emergency Suspension

If the Assistant Director witnesses or is made aware of any serious student misconduct and believes that immediate removal of the student(s) is necessary to restore order, protect persons on the school grounds, or protect school property, he/she may suspend the student(s) from school and all school activities for up to 10 days, provided that the appropriate procedures are followed.

• A pre-suspension conference is not required and the student can be immediately suspended when the student’s presence poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an  ongoing threat of disruption to the educational process. In such cases, the notice and conference shall follow as soon as practicable.

• When a suspension occurs because the Assistant Director believes that immediate removal of the student is necessary to restore order, protect individuals on the school grounds, or protect school property, the Assistant Director will conduct an investigation to decide if disciplinary action is warranted. Should the results of the investigation convince the Assistant Director that the recipient of the emergency suspension is not guilty of the misconduct in question, the student has the right to make up work missed and to receive credit for such work. Students who are suspended as a result of the emergency provisions and are found guilty of the misconduct in question do not have the right to make up work missed during the emergency suspension.

    Corporal Punishment — Corporal punishment shall not be used. Corporal punishment is defined as slapping, paddling, or prolonged maintenance of students in physically painful positions, or intentional infliction of bodily harm. Corporal punishment does not include, and school personnel are permitted to use, reasonable force as needed to maintain safety for other students, school personnel, or persons, or for the purpose of self-defense or the defense of property.