This page is intended to assist the JMU community with their questions regarding univesity policy and OSARP processes. We hope to address many of the questions that are frequently asked of our staff, but we encourage you to visit the Student Handbook or contact our office if you have additional questions or can’t find the answer here.
Notification of an Alleged Policy Violation(s)
OSARP typically receives information regarding an incident(s) and/or alleged policy violation(s) from the JMU Police, Office of Residence Life, City of Harrisonburg/Rockingham County courts, Title IX Office, or JMU faculty/staff. Students and other individuals can also directly report information to OSARP.
For more information about sharing information with OSARP, see "Reporting to OSARP"
For more information on how OSARP determines an alleged policy violation(s) for individual students, recognized student organizations, or student groups, see the applicable process in the Student Handbook.
JMU reserves the right to hold students, recognized student organizations, and student groups accountable for behavior that falls within the "Jurisdiction - Students" and "Jurisdiction - Recognized Student Organizations and Student Groups" sections in the Student Handbook.
For individual students:
- An Individual Accountability Case Review is scheduled based on the student’s academic schedule and will typically be held in person in the OSARP offices, but may occur virtually as determined by OSARP. Instructions for attending the meeting and other information about the process will be included in the notification email. Directions to our office can be found on our contact page.
- See the FAQs below for the "Individual Accountability Process"
- The Organizational Representative, who responds on behalf of the Responding Organization, will have an Organizational Accountability Process Review scheduled for them based on their academic schedule, which is typically help in person in the OSARP offices but may occur virtually as determined by OSARP. Instructions for attending the meeting and other information about the process will be included in the notification email. Directions to our office can be found on our contact page.
- See the FAQs below for the "Organizaitonal Accountability Process"
JMU and OSARP are committed to providing programs that are equally inclusive and accessible to all participants. Participants may request accommodations in accordance with JMU policy 1331. If you are a student who needs accommodation of a disability to support your participation in an OSARP process, submit your accommodation request to ODS via the Accommodate portal available in MyMadison (see also https://www.jmu.edu/ods/getting-started/index.shtml). You may send an email to the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at disability-svcs@jmu.edu asking for an expedited review in light of the timelines associated with the OSARP process. ODS and OSARP may consult to identify potentially reasonable accommodations to support effective participation in the OSARP process. ODS will communicate with OSARP about the identified accommodations and copy you on the written notice of accommodations. All requests must be communicated to OSARP at least three business days prior to a process, so please contact the Office of Disability Services immediately. For others who may need accommodations, contact the appropriate unit as indicated in JMU policy 1331.
OSARP processes are entirely separate from the criminal or civil court processes and may occur before, during, or after the resolution of a court process. Our staff members are not attorneys or in any way associated with the legal system.
OSARP may initiate a process prior to, concurrently, or after the outcome of a court, university investigation or conduct process, or other external investigation or conduct process. If the OSARP process stems from a current criminal case, civil case, Honor Council case, University Policy 1324 process case, or case being investigated or reviewed by another university or external process, the case may be investigated and/or reviewed concurrently by OSARP. If the case was investigated or reviewed concurrently and the OSARP process concludes prior to the resolution of the criminal process, civil case, Honor Council process, University Policy 1324 process, or other investigation or review by another university or external process, the case(s) in OSARP will not be revisited at the conclusion of the other investigation or review process. Additionally, the Individual Accountability Process can occur concurrently for a student while a recognized student organization or student group, for which that student is a member, proceeds through the Organizational Accountability Process, or other investigation or review by another university or external process.
Other university or external investigation or conduct processes may assign outcomes listed in the Handbook for students, recognized student organizations, or student groups. In addition, university officials or external entities that provide oversight for a recognized student organization or student group may require completion of outcomes. These other university or external processes and entities may assign outcomes in conjunction with or separately from an OSARP process. Regardless of whether an OSARP process was pursued or resulted in assigned outcomes, OSARP staff may work with other university officials or external entities to facilitate and/or provide guidance on outcomes they assign through their processes or oversight (i.e., facilitating or providing guidance on Restorative Practices).
Additional information about our Off-Campus Response Strategy can be found in the Student Handbook.
Visit the “Guidelines for Assigning Case Outcomes” section of the Student Handbook for a list of major, minor, and flexible policy violations.
Individual Accountability Process (IAP)
JMU's Standards of Conduct & Policies are outlined in the Student Handbook. It is the responsibility of every student to read and understand the expectations and responsibilities of being a JMU student and a member of the JMU community.
Students who are notified of an alleged policy violation(s) in the Individual Accountability Process should review the Individual Accountability Process: Roles, Rights, and Restrictions.
- For cases alleging a violation of Sexual Misconduct, review the Sexual Misconduct Accountability Process: Rights, Roles, and Restrictions.
- For cases alleged a violation of Title IX Sexual Harassment, review the Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Process: Rights, Roles, and Restrictions.
Yes; giving every student the opportunity to share their perspective is the purpose of the Individual Accountability Case Review. Students are given the opportunity to meet with an OSARP Case Administrator (staff member in OSARP) to discuss the alleged policy violation(s) and their perspective on the alleged incident(s). There are separate processes for cases alleging a violation of Sexual Misconduct or Title IX Sexual Harassment, which can be found in the Sexual Misconduct Accountability Process and Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Process sections of the Student Handbook.
Additional information is available in the JMU Student Handbook for students who choose to attend or fail to attend their Individual Accountability Case Review.
Notification of an alleged policy violation(s) is sent to student's official JMU email. The notification email informs the student of either the date, time, and location of their Individual Accountability Case Review, or the instructions for scheduling their Individual Accountability Case Review. The notification email will also include links to information about the Individual Accountability Process, including information about their Responsibilities and Rights in the Individual Accountability Process and what occurs if they fail to attend the Individual Accountability Case Review.
If a student fails to attend their Individual Accountability Case Review, they waive their right to participate in the decision-making process. The OSARP Case Administrator will make a decision in their absence based solely on the information in OSARP’s possession, including any follow-up with witnesses, and the student will be emailed the decision and any required outcomes. Failure to complete, schedule, attend, or be on time for programs/meetings, failing to complete related assignments, or failing to follow program expectations may result in a $50 fine per program/meeting not completed by the deadline and a student account hold, which prevents class registration and is typically only removed once outstanding outcome(s) are verified as completed by OSARP. Repeated failure may result in an alleged policy violation of Failure to Comply with an Outcome.
In necessary or extreme circumstances, as determined by the Director of OSARP or designee, the student may request the Individual Accountability Case Review be rescheduled; this request must be communicated to OSARP as soon as practicable.
If a student is found responsible for any violation(s) of university policy, they are considered to have a student disciplinary record. For more information, see the FAQ below: "How does a university disciplinary record affect applications to graduate school, study abroad, government employment, etc.?"
If a student is found responsible for an alcohol or drug policy violation, regardless of age, they will receive a strike. More information on the Three Strikes strategy can be found in the Student Handbook.
If a student is found responsible for an alcohol or drug policy violation, and they are under the age of 21 at the conclusion of the Individual Accountability Process, parents/guardians will be notified. More information on the Parent/Guardian Notification strategy can be found in the Student Handbook.
Individual Accountability Case Reviews are one-on-one meetings with an OSARP Case Administrator; third parties, including parents/guardians and attorneys, are not permitted to be a part of these meetings except in cases where potential outcomes include suspension, expulsion, or notice of trespass from JMU and/or removal from all university housing. If a student is notified of those potential outcomes, they are afforded additional rights in the Individual Accountability Process and can have a Support Person of their choice at the Individual Accountability Case Review.
Further guidelines apply to Support Persons and witnesses in the Individual Interim Suspension Process, Sexual Misconduct Accountability Process, and Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Prcess.
Outcomes assigned depend on the policy violation(s), the severity of the offense(s), the impact of the violation(s) on the Reporting Party and/or the university community (if applicable), whether the student has any prior disciplinary record(s), and/or the circumstances of the particular case. A list of case outcomes is available in the Student Handbook.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevents OSARP from disclosing information regarding alleged policy violation(s) to parents/guardians, unless a student is found responsible for an alleged violation of alcohol or drugs in the Individual Accountability Process, Individual Interim Suspension Process, Sexual Misconduct Accountability Process, or Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Process and the student is under the age of 21 at the time of a final decision in the case.
A student can only submit an appeal of the decision provided during the Individual Accountability Process if they received any of the following outcomes of suspension, expulsion, or notice of trespass from JMU and/or removal from all university housing. Should this occur, the student can submit an appeal of the decision according to the instructions and deadlines for submitting an appeal as listed in the Student Handbook and the email sent to the student. See the “Appeals—Individual Accountability Process” section of the Student Handbook for the procedural details.
If the case did not result in any of the following outcomes of suspension, expulsion, or notice of trespass from JMU and/or removal from all university housing, the decision rendered will be the final decision in the case.
Organizational Accountability Process (OAP)
JMU's Standards of Conduct & Policies are outlined in the Student Handbook. It is the responsibility of every student to read and understand the expectations and responsibilities of being a JMU student and a member of the JMU community.
Recognized student organizations and student groups, as they are definied in the Student Handbook, are accountable for specific Standards of Conduct & Policies, which are noted on the individual policy.
If you have questions, please contact our office.
Throughout the Organizational Accountability Process, OSARP will consider various factors when evaluating organizational connections to alleged misconduct. See the "Evaluation of Organizational Connections to Alleged Misconduct" portion of Organizational Accountability Process in the Student Handbook for more information.
Responding Organizations who are notified of an alleged policy violation(s) should review the Organizational Accountability Process: Roles, Rights, and Restrictions.
One elected or appointed leader (e.g., president or team captain) of a recognized student organization or student group that will receive direct communication from OSARP throughout the Organizational Accountability Process and respond on behalf of the recognized student organization or student group. At the discretion of OSARP, the organization can request that another member of the organization represent the organization during the Organizational Accountability Process. Should the eligibility of the Organizational Representative change during the Organizational Accountability Process (e.g., the representative withdraws from JMU or is no longer a member of the recognized student organization or student group), or if the organization dissolves or surrenders recognition prior to or during the Organizational Accountability Process, OSARP may designate an Organizational Representative.
The purpose of an Organizational Accountability Process Review (OAPR) is to orient the Organizational Representative to the Organizational Accountability Process (OAP), including but not limited to the Responsibilities and Rights of the Responding Organization and the Resolution Option(s) for the alleged policy violation(s).
The Organizational Representative will typically have their OAPR set based on their academic schedule. The Organizational Representative will be informed of the date, time, and location via their official JMU email with at least three days' notice.
- Individuals in attendance at an OAPR may include, but not be limited to OSARP staff, appropriate university official(s) (e.g., staff from the Office of Student Life, CMSS, or UREC), law enforcement, or individual(s) from the Organizational Governing Body (e.g., headquarters).
- The Organizational Representative can bring one Support Person to the OAPR, which is typically an Adviser for the organization, if person is willing and able to attend. A Support Person must meet the criteria and follow the guidelines and expectations as listed in the Student Handbook. A Support Person for the Organizational Representative may not also serve as a witness in the OAP or other OSARP processes that derive out of the same set of facts or circumstances.
The role of an Adviser is defined in the Organizational Accountability Process (OAP), including information about oppportunities for involvement in the process.
OSARP will typically copy a known Adviser on email communication sent to the Responding Organization and/or Organizational Representative regarding the OAP.
The Organizational Representative can also bring one Support Person to any meeting in the OAP, which is typically an Adviser for the organization, if the individual is willing and able to attend. The availability of participants, other than the Organizational Representative and OSARP staff, will be reasonably considered with scheduling meetings in OSARP.
An Organizational Governing Body (e.g., international or national headquarters) is defined in the Organizational Accountability Process (OAP), including information about oppportunities for involvement in the process.
OSARP will typically copy an Organizational Governing Body on email communication sent to the Responding Organization and/or Organizational Representative regarding the OAP. When applicable, OSARP will typically consult with an Organizational Governing Body upon receipt of a report(s) of alleged organizational misconduct to determine how the Organizational Governing Body may be involved in the OAP. Examples include but are not limited to attending meetings in the process or concurrent investigation of the alleged policy violation(s).
The meeting possibilities for an Organizational Representative in the Organizational Accountability Process include but are not limited to:
- Organizational Accountability Process Review
- Meeting(s) related to the selected Resolution, including Investigation Interview(s)
- Organizational Accountability Resolution Review
- Organizational Accountability Outcomes Review
- Organizational Accountability Case Review
- Organizational Accountability Appeal Review
Please refer to the Organizational Accountability Process for the procedures used by OSARP should an Organizational Representative fail to attend any of the meetings noted above (if they occur in the process).
The purpose of an investigation interview, conducted during the Organizational Accountability Investigation Process portion of the Organizational Accountability Process, is to ask questions of, and gather information from, the Investigation Participant that is relevant to the alleged policy violation(s) for the Responding Organization. While OSARP prefers in-person, synchronous interactions with Investigation Participants, OSARP may offer an Investigation Participant the opportunity to participate differently, such as requesting information through email, an online survey, or an in-person questionnaire.
OSARP confers the rights outlined in the “Investigation Participant - Responsibilities and Rights – Organizational Accountability Process” to individual(s) who provide information in the Organizational Accountability Investigation Process portion of the Organizational Accountability Process.
The Organizational Representative can bring one Support Person to any meeting in the Organizational Accountability Process, which could be a parent/guardian, provided they are willing and able to attend, and follow the role of a Support Person, as outlined in the Organizational Accountability Process.
For more information, see "Records - Recognized Student Organizations and Student Groups" in the Student Handbook.
Generally, a recognized student organization or student group is considered to have an organizatioal record after a finding of "Responsible" or "Voluntarily Completed Restorative Practices" during the Organizational Accountability Process. A finding of "Not Responsible" or "Dropped" does not result in an organizational record.
When a recognized student organization or student group receives Notification of Alleged Policy Violation(s) through the Organizational Accountability Process, the alleged policy violation(s) are pending, and the recognized student organization or student group is considered to have an organizational record until finding(s) on alleged policy violation(s) are made in the case.
When OSARP is made aware, the finding(s) and/or outcome(s) of other university or external investigation or conduct processes for recognized student organizations or student groups will be an organizational record if the finding(s) meet the criteria in the "Records - Recognized Student Organizations and Student Groups" section of the Student Handbook. These other university or external processes and entities may determine finding(s) and/or outcome(s) in conjunction with or separately from an OSARP process.
Organizational Records are publically available on OSARP's website.
Case Outcomes for Individual Students
If the final decision in a case includes an outcome(s), and the student attends their Individual Accountability Case Review, OSARP will provide instructions for completing or scheduling outcome(s) during the meeting. If a student fails to attend their Individual Accountability Case Review, OSARP will communicate through their official JMU email address, providing the final decision and any assigned outcome(s), including information for completing those outcomes(s).
If the outcome is offered virtually, the student will be sent more information to their official JMU email address, including instructions and deadlines for completion.
If the outcome is offered in-person, the student will typically be scheduled for the next available opportunity that fits their academic schedule. If an outcome is not available that fits their academic schedule, the student will be placed on a waitlist and given a deadline to contact OSARP, assuming they haven’t been enrolled by that deadline.
Failure to complete, schedule, attend, or be on time for programs/meetings, failing to complete related assignments, or failing to follow program expectations may result in a $50 fine per program/meeting not completed by the deadline and a student account hold, which prevents class registration and is typically only removed once outstanding outcome(s) are verified as completed by OSARP. Repeated failure may result in an alleged policy violation of Failure to Comply with an Outcome.
After a final decision in a case, OSARP sends information about the final decision and any assigned outcome(s) to the student’s official JMU email address. Students should always refer to their JMU email for additional instructions regarding outcome(s) completion and are encouraged to contact our office with questions. Failure to complete, schedule, attend, or be on time for programs/meetings, failing to complete related assignments, or failing to follow program expectations may result in a $50 fine per program/meeting not completed by the deadline and a student account hold, which prevents class registration and is typically only removed once outstanding outcome(s) are verified as completed by OSARP. Repeated failure may result in an alleged policy violation of Failure to Comply with a Disciplinary Outcome.
If a student fails to follow outcome(s) expectations, more information will be sent to their official JMU email on the following:
- A $50 fine will be assessed and sent to the University Business Office for every program/meeting not completed by the deadline. If a deadline is missed, there is no appeal process for fines assessed. The email a student receives will provide instructions for paying any fine(s) on their university account through the University Business Office.
- An account hold will be placed on the student’s JMU account. Account holds will prevent a student from registering for classes while the hold is in place. To have a hold removed, students should complete their assigned outcome(s) or contact OSARP to seek assistance. Holds will typically only be removed once OSARP staff verifies an outcome(s) has been completed.
In necessary or extreme circumstances, at the discretion of OSARP, students may be offered another opportunity to complete the program or have their outcome(s) rescheduled in lieu of an account hold.
If a student has an account hold on their JMU account, they will receive frequent email communication from OSARP regarding the hold and what they can do to have it removed. Students should not wait until class registration appointments to contact OSARP regarding a hold since holds are not typically removed until an outcome(s) is verified as completed by OSARP.
- Three Strikes
- Parental/Guardian Notification
- Off-Campus Response
- Enlightened Citizen Amnesty Process
A complete description of these strategies can be found in the Student Handbook.
Case Outcomes for Recognized Student Organizations and Student Groups
Outcome(s) are typically assigned in a case by reviewing various details and information, including but not limited to the current case file, information provided by those in attendance at the Organizational Accountability Outcomes Review, information gathered from appropriate university official(s) (e.g., staff from the Office of Student Life, CMSS, or UREC), law enforcement, Adviser(s), or the Organizational Governing Body(ies) prior to the Organizational Accountability Outcomes Review, and the Responding Organization’s organizational records maintained by OSARP.
For more information on the assigning of outcomes as the result of an Organizational Accountability Case Review or Organizational Accountability Appeal Review, see the applicable section of the Organizational Accountability Process.
Upon a final decision in the case, the finding(s) and outcome(s), if appliable, will be sent to the official JMU email of the Organizational Representative within 10 business days of the final decision being rendered. If applicable, the email will include any deadlines or instructions associated with assigned outcome(s) and will typically include information for the individual(s) who will partner with the Responding Organization to oversee completion. Other individuals may be copied on this final decision email, including but not limited to:
- Appropriate university official(s) (e.g., staff from the Office of Student Life, CMSS, or UREC)
- Adviser(s)
- Organizational Governing Body
In some cases, the Responding Organization will be notified of the date, time, and location of an assigned outcome via the official JMU email of the Organizational Representative. In other cases, the Organizational Representative may be asked to schedule a program or outcome themselves or in conjunction with individuals noted above.
After a final decision is rendered for a case, OSARP sends information about the final decision and any required outcome(s) to the JMU email of the Organizational Representative. The Organizational Representative should always refer to their email for additional instructions regarding outcome completion and are encouraged to contact our office with questions.
Failure to complete, schedule, attend, or be on time for programs/meetings, failing to complete related assignments, or failing to follow outcome(s) expectations may result in the loss of specific access or resources, such as the BeInvolved website, until outstanding outcome(s) are verified as completed by OSARP. Repeated failure may result in an alleged policy violation(s) of Failure to Comply with an Outcome.
When OSARP is made aware of outcome(s) completion, information related to that completion is typically recorded on the Organizational Records portion of OSARP's website.
Failure to complete, schedule, attend, or be on time for programs/meetings, failing to complete related assignments, or failing to follow outcome(s) expectations may result in the loss of specific access or resources, such as the BeInvolved website, until outstanding outcome(s) are verified as completed by OSARP. Repeated failure may result in an alleged policy violation(s) of Failure to Comply with an Outcome.
Miscellaneous
A student may hire an attorney at their own expense, but it is not required for any OSARP process. The Individual Accountability Process, Individual Interim Suspension Process, Organizational Accountability Process, Sexual Misconduct Accountability Process, and Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudiation Process do not follow the same criminal or civil procedures used in a court of law. If a student receives notification of an OSARP process that is also being adjudicated in a court of law, they may find it helpful to seek the services of an attorney.
Information about the role of a Support Person or attorney in an OSARP process can be found in the applicable section of the Student Handbook.
Support Persons not complying with the restrictions set forth in the Student Handbook may be removed from the process.
OSARP staff members are not lawyers or in any way associated with the criminal or civil legal system.
Alleged misconduct by registered student organizations and student groups are reviewed through the Organizational Accountability Process, and organizational records, as they are defined in the JMU Student Handbook, are publicly reported on OSARP's website.
You should review the organizational record for any organizations or groups you are interested in joining and, if appropriate, ask members and officers how they are striving to do better. This is important so you can make an informed decision about whether your interests and values align with the group before making a commitment to become a member.
OSARP may address behavior or misconduct for students, recognized student organizations, and student groups, as they are defined in the Student Handbook, should that behavior or misconduct allegedly violate policies listed in the Student Standards of Conduct & Policies section of the Student Handbook.
For more information, please visit our Reporting to OSARP page.
Any JMU student, faculty, or staff member believing that an organization has violated a university policy(ies) may provide relevant details of an alleged policy violation(s) to OSARP. A Responding Organization is a recognized student organization or student group that receives notification of an alleged policy violation(s) and is afforded rights and an Organizational Accountability Process by OSARP to respond to the alleged policy violation(s).
No; Federal law prohibits the possession and/or use of cannabis on college campuses which receive federal funding, such as JMU. Therefore, JMU will continue to address possession, use, or distribution of cannabis on university owned or operated property or as part of any of its programs or activities, in accordance with federal law, regardless of changing state or local laws. This also applies to individuals with a prescription for medical marijuana.
OSARP may instruct students through their official JMU email (upon initiation of an OSARP process or as an outcome from a process) to have no direct or indirect contact with specific members of the university community. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal or non-verbal contact in person, through electronic means, or through a third party.
This instruction does not prohibit contact through a third party for the purposes of conducting lawful activity during a pending criminal or civil case, or other specific extenuating circumstances as determined by OSARP.
OSARP will not pursue an alleged policy violation(s) of an OSARP No Contact Order that occur through a third party for the purposes of conducting lawful activity during a pending criminal or civil case, or other specific extenuating circumstances as determined by OSARP unless the contact may have violated the Interference or Retaliation in a University Process policy, or other policies, as listed in the Student Handbook.
Students are required to abide by the expectations of an OSARP No Contact Order while it remains in effect. Violation(s) of an OSARP No Contact Order may lead to an alleged violation(s) of university policy, the outcomes of which could include suspension, expulsion, or notice of trespass from JMU, and/or removal from all university housing.
When a student is notified of an OSARP No Contact Order through their official JMU email, they may be provided further instructions, examples, and/or frequently asked questions regarding an OSARP No Contact Order. If a student has additional questions after receiving this information, they can contact our office.
The effect that a student disciplinary record(s) may have on a student's ability to gain entrance to a graduate program, transfer to another institution, receive an offer of employment, or participate in campus activities and programs (including Study Abroad) is at the discretion of the individuals managing those processes. These positions, programs, and processes may ask for information regarding a student's disciplinary record(s), but OSARP cannot release information regarding a student's disciplinary record(s) without the permission of the student.
Student disciplinary records are maintained for a minimum of eight (8) academic years from when a final decision in the case occurred. Records for cases resulting in suspension, expulsion, or a notice of trespass from JMU and/or removal from all university housing, and any case that is considered "pending," will be maintained indefinitely. For more information, see the "Records - Students" section in the Student Handbook.
Most graduate school applications, transfer applications, and study abroad programs ask for information regarding a student’s criminal history or student disciplinary record(s). Some universities require more information, so students should carefully read what information the application is requiring. OSARP also receives requests for background checks from government agencies, state bar associations, and other entities.
Students should always be honest about their student disciplinary record(s) when it is requested. Occasionally, OSARP is contacted to verify the information a student has provided on their application or documentation. Most applications or documentation include a waiver, and by signing the application, a student is typically granting access to their university disciplinary record(s).
Disciplinary records for an individual student should not be confused with the organizational records for a recognized student organization or student group. For more information on organizational records, see the "Records - Recognized Student Organizations or Student Groups" section in the Student Handbook.
