Student Handbook
The Bentley Judicial System
The Bentley Judicial System is designed to serve and educate the Bentley community. Maintenance of the community as a safe, pleasant, supportive and stimulating environment conducive to academic and personal development is essential if the university is to meet its obligations to each student. The philosophy of the Bentley Judicial System is based on the belief that:
- Students are responsible for their individual actions as well as for the way the community functions as a whole
- When students can learn from their experiences, receive help from the university, constructively examine their behavior and take positive steps toward changing that behavior, the proper judicial response should be educational in nature
- When students become involved in behavior that violates the spirit and/or substance of federal, state or local law, or Bentley rules, regulations, policies and procedures basic to the welfare of the university's community at large or the individual therein, the university is bound to take disciplinary action that modifies, restricts or denies the student's status as a member of the university
The Bentley Judicial System affirms and protects the right of every member of the community to:
- Be free from physical and psychological harrassment based upon gender, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, disability status, veteran status or age.
- Study and socialize in a clean, well-kept, and safe environment
- Sleep and study in reasonable quiet and privacy
Actions that interfere with or threaten these or any other basic student rights constitute a violation of university rules, regulations, policies and procedures. In addition, the university expects students to observe all federal, state and local laws and university rules, regulations, policies and procedures, including those regulating:
- Use and sale of alcohol and drugs
- Sounding of fire alarms, illegal use of extinguishers, and fire evacuation
- Possession of firearms
- Theft
- Assault
- Gambling
Students who are found to be in violation of federal, state, or local law, in these or any other matters, will not be protected by the university from full prosecution by the appropriate law enforcement agents. The university reserves the right to take disciplinary action, after a fair hearing, which may result in suspension or expulsion independent of related decisions being rendered in a court of law.
In cases where the vice president for student affairs, or his or her designee, has a reasonable belief that an individual has engaged in a serious violation of universitye rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and/or federal, state or local law, the vice president or a designee may impose any sanction on the student, which will remain in effect until the completion of the judicial hearing process and all appeals. In the event that a student violates the imposed sanctions prior to the completion of the judicial hearing process and all appeals, the vice president or a designee may impose a permanent sanction on the student.
