Accountability and Support
A community exists on the basis of shared values, principles, and ideals. At EMU these ideals are articulated in Life Together: Commitments for a Community of Learning. EMU strives to be a community characterized by love for God and one another, wisdom, equality, sustainability, and accountability, and further, to be a place in which all belong and see themselves as members, owners, and curators of the community.
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EMU is committed to building and maintaining a campus environment that is conducive to academic inquiry, engaged campus life, and thoughtful study and discourse. The student accountability program within the student life division is committed to educational, developmental, and restorative processes that meet the needs of individual students as well as the needs of the university community.
Restorative Justice and Student Accountability at EMU
Restorative Justice is a philosophy that emphasizes healing and accountability to repair harm and wrongdoing, build community, and strengthen relationships (definition developed by Dr. Johonna Turner, Assistant Professor of Restorative Justice and Peacebuilding at CJP at EMU).
Restorative Justice (RJ) begins with the assumption that all people should be treated with dignity and respect, recognizing that each person has a unique perspective. By our presence we are all members of communities and are therefore connected to each other. Each of us needs to be responsible for our own actions and need to be held accountable for those actions.
Restorative Justice is a philosophy that focuses on meeting the needs of individuals and groups through community/relationship building as well as through the development of processes that lead to active and meaningful accountability. RJ embraces community empowerment and participation, multi-partial facilitation, active accountability, and social support. Restorative Justice is not an easy way out for those who do harm, because Restorative Justice requires taking responsibility and being accountable in ways that are not easy.
The purpose of a Restorative Justice process is to bring together all parties involved in an incident for the purposes of addressing the harms associated with the incident. The RJ process enhances the opportunity for learning amongst all involved, as well as providing a venue for discussion of various points of view.
Student accountability processes at EMU attempt to embody this Restorative Justice philosophy by creating space for inclusive decision-making, active accountability, repairing harm, and rebuilding trust. However, there may be incidences where respondents/those who have done harm refuse to take responsibility and/or need to be held responsible for harm done or for a violation of university standards of conduct. While highlighting the restorative processes (conferencing and circles) used for repairing harm, rebuilding trust, and building community, the EMU student accountability procedures also contain mechanisms for incidents in which those who have done harm/respondents are held responsible for harm/wrongdoing/violation of policy.
EMU has also developed a table of common outcomes for incidents involving alcohol and other drugs. Contact the Director of Residence Life, Student Accountability, and Restorative Justice for the common outcomes.
Scope of Community Expectations
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The following standards of conduct are believed to represent the commitments referred to in Life Together and take into account the best interests of the campus community. . The standards are applicable to cross-cultural trips and other off-campus programs. These standards apply to all students (undergraduate and graduate/seminary) and include off-campus university-sponsored activities, including cross-cultural trips. The university considers the behaviors described in the following section to be in opposition to the core values of Integrity, Justice, Respect, Community and Responsibility set forth above. In addition, the behaviors described below are harmful to self, to others and to the campus community. The university encourages any and all students, faculty, and staff to report (to a student life staff person) instances of harm that they have experienced or participated in.
Integrity: EMU students exemplify honesty, honor, and a respect for the truth in all of their dealings.
Community: EMU students build and enhance their community.
Justice: EMU students are just and equitable in their treatment of all and act to discourage and/or intervene to prevent unjust and inequitable behaviors.
Respect: EMU students show positive regard for each other, for property and for the community.
Responsibility: EMU students are given and accept a high level of responsibility to self, to others, and to the community.
1. Dishonesty
All forms of dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, forgery, furnishing false information to university officials acting in the performance of their duties, and falsification of official documents. See “Academic Integrity” in the policy section.
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Eastern Mennonite University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any legally protected status. Discrimination is defined as any act or failure to act that is based upon an individual or group’s actual or perceived status that is sufficiently severe that it limits or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s educational program or activities. Any conduct that is potentially discriminatory should be reported to campus officials via the Campus Safety Incident Report (emu.edu/safecampus/). Campus officials will act to remedy and resolve reported incidents.
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Respect for the dignity of all persons is the EMU standard. Any unwelcome conduct based on actual or perceived status including: sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, sexual orientation or other protected status. Any unwelcome conduct should be reported to campus officials via the Campus Safety Incident Report (emu.edu/safecampus/), who will act to remedy and resolve reported incidents.
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A hostile environment occurs when harassment is sufficiently severe, pervasive and/or persistent and objectively offensive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s educational or employment program or activities. Reports of alleged hostile environment that involve sexual misconduct will be investigated by the university's Title IX coordinator. See Eastern Mennonite University Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct. Hostile environments should be reported to campus officials via the Campus Safety Incident Report (emu.edu/safecampus/).
19. Retaliation
Retaliation against any student, faculty or staff member reporting an alleged policy violation, regardless of where such conduct or retaliation might occur.
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Hazing is prohibited at EMU. Hazing is defined as “actions which are initiated against someone’s will by harassing through force, banter, ridicule or criticism”. Hazing is an act that, as an explicit or implicit condition for initiation to, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in a group organization, could be seen by a reasonable person as endangering the physical health of an individual or as causing mental distress to an individual through, for example, humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning treatment; destroying or removing public or private property; involving the consumption of alcohol, other drugs, or other substances; or in violation of any of the policies of the university. Reports of alleged hazing that involves sexual misconduct will be investigated by the university's Title IX coordinator. See Eastern Mennonite University Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct. Hazing should be reported to campus officials via the Campus Safety Incident Report (emu.edu/safecampus/).
22. Language Abuse
Profanity, vulgarity, and the use of words or names that demean, intimidate, or contain threats of unwanted physical contact or damage to property.
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Relationship violenceis a broad term used by EMU to categorize types of violence other than sexual violence that occur in the context of an intimate relationship, often including emotional, psychological, physical, or fiscal abuse. Relationship violence encompasses domestic violence, dating violence, and intimate partner violence. An incident of relationship violence can consist of a single act of violence or a pattern of violent acts. Incidents of relationship violence can occur separate from or in tandem with incidents of sexual misconduct. Conduct that constitutes relationship violence is covered under the Eastern Mennonite University Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct- emu.edu/titleix/relationship-violence-policy.
The following terms are also defined in the Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct
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*To report an instance of sexual violence and/or sexual misconduct, contact the Title IX coordinator at 540-432-4302 or by email at titleixcoordinator@emu.edu OR complete a Campus Safety Incident Report at https://emu.edu/safecampus/ OR see EMU Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct “Reporting” section for full details on reporting options and process.
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*To report an instance of sexual violence and/or sexual misconduct, contact the Title IX coordinator at 540-432-4302 or by email at titleixcoordinator@emu.edu OR complete a Campus Safety Incident Report at https://emu.edu/safecampus/ OR see EMU Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct “Reporting” section for full details on reporting options and process.
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