Disciplinary Procedures For Officially Recognized Clubs and Organizations
When a student joins, or is in the process of joining, a student club or organization, they, in addition to the obligations, benefits, and privileges of membership, accept responsibility for their actions. Where members act in concert with one another at a club-sponsored event, each member may be held jointly and separately responsible for conduct which violates any of the following, including, but not limited to: CSULB Campus Regulations, California Statutes, Federal Statutes, or Local Ordinance(s). In addition, the club or organization may be held responsible for the actions of its members and has a duty to comply with all applicable rules regarding CSULB recognized clubs and organizations.
These procedures apply to any and all violations occurring: A) on property defined in Campus Regulations; or B) any violations off-campus if that behavior: (1) occurred as part of a campus-related or recognized event; (2) adversely affects the health and safety of members of the campus community at large; (3) is sufficiently severe or pervasive; (4) harms CSU university property; or (5) is inconsistent and/or interferes with the mission of the university, campus rule or presidential order.
The associate vice president for Student Affairs is the designee of the vice president for Student Affairs, and has been delegated authority and responsibility to monitor the administration of these procedures. The associate vice president for Student Affairs may designate the Office of Student Conduct, director of Student Life and Development or other members of the dean of students’ professional staff to investigate and adjudicate complaints against student clubs and organizations. During the pendency of any investigation undertaken pursuant to this section, the associate vice president for Student Affairs may impose a cease and desist notice on a student, club or organization.
California State University, Long Beach, may impose sanctions for violation of, or an attempt to violate, CSULB Campus Regulations, the CSULB Code of Conduct for Fraternities and Sororities, California statutes, federal statutes, or local ordinance(s).
A. A member of the campus community, who believes that a club or organization has violated the regulations as set forth herein, should immediately notify the Director of Student Life and Development. The notice to the Director of Student Life and Development may be oral or in writing, but must contain sufficient detail to allow the University to investigate the allegations of misconduct or violation. Anonymous complaints of violations against an individual, club or organization are insufficient for the University or their designee to commence an investigation.
B. A group representing the student organization is defined by at least 3 members present. If an event is co-sponsored between two or more organizations, a group is defined by any combination of three individuals representing the co-sponsored organizations.
C. When possible, the individual(s), club or organization shall be notified within ten (10) working days following receipt of the allegations.
D. The associate vice president for Student Affairs or their designee (who may include but is not limited to members of the Office of Student Conduct & Ethical Development staff or the W.A.V.E. Student Conduct Board) shall meet with the president and/or officers of the officially recognized club or organization, the complainant and witnesses. The meeting is designed to determine facts, gather information and to attempt to informally resolve the matter.
E. The standard of proof to substantiate the allegations is a “preponderance of the evidence.” The preponderance of evidence is a standard of proof which requires that facts and evidence supporting the complaint are more “likely than not” to have occurred.
F. The officially recognized club or organization shall be informed of the results of the investigation and what, if any, sanction(s) will be imposed upon individual(s), the club or organization.
In the event that a club or organization has committed a violation under these procedures, the club or organization and individuals within the club or organization shall be subject to one or more of the following sanctions:
A. Official reprimand (written or oral) (with or without conditions).
B. Restriction of privileges granted to the club/organization.
C. Restitution, community service, educational sanctions, or any combination of these.
D. Social Probation: Includes the removal of all social privileges as an organization due to violations of the Student Code of Conduct. That includes but is not limited to not being able to participate as a student organization in intramural activities and/or in yard/step shows, holding events/parties under the student organization’s name, new member presentations/shows, and/or being involved in activities that are not educational, philanthropic, or providing a service to the community.
E. Disciplinary Probation: Includes social probation and the inability to be considered a registered student organization on campus and/or participate in council activities and/or participating in new member intake. Upon getting off probation will have to reregister as a student organization and will have to participate in a university organization reintegration to campus process.
F. Suspension: Includes social probation, disciplinary probation, and the inability to be considered a registered student organization on campus, participate in council activities, and/or have meetings as an organization on or off campus. The student organization upon getting off suspension will have to reregister as a student organization and will have to participate in a university organization reintegration to campus process. The university reserves the right to extend suspension and/or not to accept the organization back on campus.
G. Expulsion: The student organization is no longer a registered organization and permanently removed from campus.
H. Any sanctions that are listed under Article VI. SANCTIONS within the Chancellor’s Executive Order No. 1098 (or its successor) “Student Disciplinary Procedures for the California State University” that can be applied to individual students can also be applied, after due process, to members of a violating officially recognized club or organization.
When the investigation results in a finding of responsibility for a violation of the forgoing regulations and sanctions, the club or organization will be notified of the decision. Upon notification to the club or organization of the decision made by the designee of the associate vice president for Student Affairs, the club or organization may exercise its right to appeal the determination of the university. This appeal shall be in writing to the associate vice president of Student Affairs within five (5) working days of receipt of the written decision from the investigating designee. Within five (5) days of the receipt of the appeal, the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs may enforce the decision to impose a sanction, modify the terms of the sanction, or delete the sanction in its entirety. During the pendency of the appeal, the interim suspension or cease and desist, if imposed, will remain in full force and effect.
- The associate vice president for Student Affairs will only consider appeals from the officially recognized club or organization charged in a case. (Individuals charged with wrongdoing under Chancellor’s Executive Order for Student Discipline are subject to the process contained therein.) The appeal must be based on one or more of the following:
- There is new evidence that was not available at the time the university designee rendered a decision.
- The sanction is not supported by evidence for the determined violation.
- The university designee substantially deviated from the procedures delineated in these Disciplinary Procedures.
- The associate vice president for Student Affairs shall base their decision upon:
- The report submitted by the university designee investigating the matter;
- Any written appeal regarding the officially recognized club or organization submitted by the officially recognized club or organization;
- Sanctions imposed in similar cases, and any previous cases of misconduct by the club/organization charged on file with the university;
- Such other factors as the associate vice president for Student Affairs shall in his or her discretion deem relevant.
- The associate vice president for Student Affairs’ decision regarding the appeal is final.
