The University of Tennessee believes in a collaborative and transparent conduct process with student organization leadership and, when applicable, any respective inter/national organizations. Successful student organization returns involve consistent and timely communication, adherence to agreed-upon terms of the separation, and a commitment to the mission, vision, and values of both the university and the organization.
Registered student organizations (RSOs) report to one of the following: Center for Student Engagement (CSE), RecSports, or the Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life (OSFL). Departmental and college-sponsored organizations fall under the CSE umbrella and should follow their respective return policies, along with any additional requirements from their department or college. Detailed questions regarding individual offices’ return policies should be directed to the office the student organization reports to. SCCS does not oversee the return policies for CSE, RecSports, or OSFL.
Student organizations will not be eligible to return to active status as an RSO until after the period of suspension has ended. All steps to return to active status should be completed in advance, but the earliest return date shall be the date listed in SCCS’s sanctions for the student organization. Student organizations suspended from the University as a result of the SCCS process should follow the steps outlined below:
- Student organizations returning from a suspension should reach out to the respective office they report to six (6) months before their scheduled return date to ensure all steps in the process are followed.
- Leadership for the student organization should complete the full registration process with the respective office the student organization reports to (CSE, RecSports, or OSFL).
- All sanctions and agreements with SCCS must be completed before the scheduled return date. SCCS will verify completion of all sanctions when the organization submits its return application to the appropriate office.
- Students affiliated with the student organization at the time of suspension are not eligible to be part of the returning student organization. Rosters submitted should not include any prior members and will be reviewed by the respective office the organization reports to.
- Once the student organization returns to active status, the organization is required to have a president, advisor, and governing documents, including a constitution and/or bylaws.
- RSOs are required to have their primary contact information updated in VOLink at all times.
Return to Campus Agreements
The University of Tennessee believes in an active partnership with key stakeholders to best address issues of misconduct. Inter/national organizations and/or regional representatives are an integral part of addressing and investigating misconduct. In instances where a student organization is being suspended as a result of an investigation, SCCS prioritizes partnering with stakeholders through communication and collaboration.
Typically, SCCS works with inter/national organizations and/or regional representatives to create a pathway for a successful return to UTK through a Return to Campus Agreement. Return to Campus Agreements are separate from the sanctioned outcomes, including the period of suspension, and are focused solely on the timeline and steps needed for the student organization to successfully return to UTK. For questions regarding an organization’s specific return agreement, please reach out directly to SCCS.
Continued Operation
Individuals who were part of a suspended organization are not permitted to represent the organization in any official manner during the suspension period. Any continuation of operation or “rogue activities” that occur while the organization is under suspension will be considered when the organization attempts to return. Continued and repeated rogue activity could impact the suspended organization’s ability to return and/or the return date. Rogue activities could also result in individuals being charged for their involvement.
Whether conduct is fairly attributable to the student organization will be determined by SCCS based on a totality of the following criteria from Section 2.4 in the Student Code of Conduct:
(1) Whether the misconduct was endorsed by one (1) or more officers of the student organization (“endorsed by” means having prior knowledge that the misconduct was reasonably likely to occur and failing to take reasonable preventative or corrective action; failing to attempt to stop known misconduct while it is occurring; and/or helping to plan, promote, or carry out the misconduct);
(2) Whether the misconduct occurred in connection with an activity:
(a) Financed by the student organization and/or one (1) or more members or alumni of the student organization who contributed personal funds in lieu of organizational funds;
(b) Related to initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in the student organization; and/or
(c) Advertised, promoted, or publicized in such a way that a reasonable student viewing or hearing the advertisement, promotion, or publication would believe that the activity was affiliated with the student organization.
(3) Whether the misconduct occurred on property owned, controlled, rented, leased, and/or used by the student organization and/or any of its members/alumni acting on the student organization’s behalf; and/or
(4) Whether a member of the student organization attempted to conceal the activity connected with the misconduct or conceal the misconduct of another member of the student organization. SCCS will determine whether an incident constitutes a group violation or an individual violation.