Policy on Good Standing and Campus Disciplinary Clearance Procedures

The Campus Disciplinary Clearance Policy is an internal process for Program Managers and Department Authorities with a legitimate educational interest or need to know to inquire about a student's disciplinary history prior to determining a student’s eligibility to participate in specific university-approved academic and co-curricular activities or the recipient of an honor. This process is not designed to be used for events or programs not affiliated with UNH, nor does it offer provisional clearance.

The Office of Community Standards oversees the Campus Disciplinary Clearance process and plays a supportive and facilitative role, not one that is determinative. Program Managers and Department Authorities have the ultimate and final discretion to approve student participation in a particular activity or program.

In some cases, UNH students may be required to undergo a background check before interacting with minors or other vulnerable populations. The Good Standing verification process may be facilitated in tandem with a background check; however, the University’s internal review does not supplant the process carried out by third-party vendors who confirm the validity of someone's criminal record, education, employment history, and other activities from their past.

Scope and Applicability: Currently enrolled students at the University of New Hampshire who have voluntarily waived their rights under FERPA and general protections of privacy.

Appropriate and relevant examples to initiate this process may include:

• Student mentorship roles and leadership opportunities that shape the student experience and inform the work of the University.
• Leadership roles where students may encounter or gain access to sensitive and confidential information with regularity, including, but not limited to, records and data protected from disclosure by law, regulation, and university policy or possession of master keys and access codes.
• Hold specific executive leadership or governance positions.
• Nominee to receive an honor or award from the University.
• Serve as an ambassador or represent the University at a special event.
• Volunteer positions that involve interacting with minor or vulnerable populations.

Good Standing Defined

The term Good Standing applies exclusively to non-academic conduct status, and denotes that a currently enrolled student has sustained compliance with all explicit obligations and responsibilities of community membership and has otherwise demonstrated responsible citizenship at the time of application or review.

The status of Good Standing is also regarded as having all matters pending before the Office of Community Standards fully and finally resolved, including but not limited to full satisfaction of any conduct sanctions imposed and the individual under review is not actively on a probationary or conditional status.

Disciplinary Clearance Review

For the purposes of this policy, it’s reasonable to assume that a completed review verifies that the student was not previously or is not currently on University Disciplinary Suspension (even if such status has been held in abeyance); is not currently on a University Disciplinary Probation status; and is not currently interim suspended, on another temporary exclusionary action, or in the process of being considered for such an action or suspension.

This policy may also be used to verify if certain student organization’s operations and activities have been suspended (e.g., cease-and-desist) either as a result of an adjudication process or pending the outcome of such a process, to confirm the effective date a probationary status will be lifted, or to confirm if an organization is officially recognized by the University. In the case of an organization with a national affiliation such as a fraternity or sorority, this policy may be used to recommend revocation of the chapter’s charter by the national organization and/or to facilitate a holistic progress review for the purpose of the accreditation process.

The good standing clearance review process is limited to non-academic prohibited conduct adjudicated under the Student Code of Conduct. It does not encompass findings related to sexual misconduct, interpersonal violence, discriminatory harassment, or other conduct governed by Title IX. Records pertaining to such matters, as well as the applicable procedures for the release of information, are maintained and administered exclusively by the Civil Rights and Equity Office.

Provision Limitations

The Campus Disciplinary Clearance Process is one of transparency and may not be subject to arbitrary use. If Program Managers expect to utilize this process, they are responsible for explicitly stating and widely publishing their intention to obtain a student or organization’s disciplinary standing in advertising and application materials and receive the interested student’s permission authorizing the Office of Community Standards to release or disclose disciplinary information retained as part of their educational record.

Good Standing does not verify if a student has met minimum or satisfactory academic progress, determine academic eligibility, (e.g., academic probation or unremediated failures in courses), character and fitness requirements for bar admission or if the student is free of pending or outstanding legal actions unless such actions have resulted in a conduct case at UNH.