The rules governing student behavior—known as the “Student Code of Conduct”—exist to create an atmosphere in which all members of the college community—students, faculty, administrators, staff and other citizens—may feel secure in the constitutional and civil rights granted to them in the society at large, and that the conditions necessary for freedom of inquiry and expression, which are at the core of any academic community are protected. The college’s discipline process seeks to facilitate student ethical development through education, behavioral consequences, developmental exercises, and when necessary, separation from the college.

The Office of Community Standards maintains the Student Code of Conduct and the discipline process with the goal of building student understanding of their rights and responsibilities as members of the Purchase College community. The Student Code of Conduct is necessary to meet the fundamental requirements of an academic and professional learning environment.

The College’s discipline process is administrative in nature, rather than a legal process. In making determinations of responsibility, the standard of proof that is used in campus disciplinary proceedings is “… what is “more probable than not” (aka preponderance of evidence). This standard of proof closely aligns with the one used in ‘civil’ proceedings rather than what is used in ‘criminal’ proceedings.” Established procedures are implements with consideration of due process, respectful of student rights, and applied equally and consistently.

Official Correspondence

The Office of Community Standards follows the campus email policy which states that a student’s Purchase email is the college’s primary means of communication between students, faculty, and staff. Disciplinary notices and information will be sent to the student’s official Purchase College email account. Students are responsible for the consequences of not reading communications sent to their account in a timely manner.