Interim Suspension Procedure
For Individual Students and Registered Organization | Updated November 2023
Interim Suspension
Interim suspension is a temporary action that is protective in nature. It is designed to mitigate the risk to members of the university community by deterring future prohibited conduct, often while conduct charges are pending for reported misconduct. It is separate and distinct from the processes of investigation and adjudication undertaken pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct and other VCU policies and regulations, including Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy – Interim and Sex-Based Misconduct Policy - Interim.
If a student or student organization violates the terms of an interim suspension, that student or student organization may be subject to disciplinary action by the University, arrest, and/or criminal prosecution.
1. Standard for Interim Suspension
The university may issue an interim suspension, through the Dean of Student Advocacy or designee, as a temporary measure to remove a student or a student organization reasonably believed to pose a threat to the University community. Such a threat may involve a significant risk to the health or safety of any member of the University community, including the student, to University property, or to University operations, including the educational process. An interim suspension is authorized upon information that a student or student organization has been or is likely to be charged with a violation of VCU policy or state or federal law involving acts of violence or other serious conduct that would reasonably support a finding that the student or student organization is not fit to remain a member of or be recognized by the University community pending the outcome of university or legal proceedings.
For interim suspension of an individual student who is a respondent under the jurisdiction of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy – Interim or Sex-Based Misconduct Policy, the standard is described in the applicable policy (Section 8 governing Emergency Removal).
2. Definition of Interim Suspension
An interim suspension is the immediate removal of a student or student organization from the University and may include, but is not limited to, exclusion from University property (including facilities and premises owned or leased by the University), exclusion from University activities (including classes and programs), and revocation of University privileges. In certain cases, an interim suspension of an individual student may warrant administrative withdrawal from classes.
3. Notice of Interim Suspension and Required Response
The suspending official shall provide to the student or student organization an electronic Notice of Interim Suspension (“Notice”) sent via email to the student or student organization President, which includes the following terms:
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The basis for the interim suspension;
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The scope of the interim suspension, whether comprehensive or prohibiting the student or student organization only from selected University property, activities, and/or privileges;
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The process for interim suspension review;
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The university official as a contact for questions about the terms of the interim suspension and for permission to enter University property for certain limited purposes, such as attending a student conduct proceeding;
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Additional university directives, such as no contact directives, if any.
An individual student who receives a Notice must act immediately as follows:
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Exit the portions of University property identified in the notice and shall not reenter any such property unless in compliance with a written authorization. In certain cases, a student placed on interim suspension will be escorted off University property by VCU Police.
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Reply to the Notice with details of any university employment or other activities that require their attendance other than courses in which they are enrolled.
4. Interim Suspension Review
The Associate Vice President/Dean of Student Advocacy or designee will review an interim suspension within 2 working days of the Notice or as soon as reasonably practical thereafter. The student or student organization will have an opportunity to meet with a reviewing official in person or virtually, to be determined by the reviewing official in consultation with the individual student or student organization President. A student or student organization is encouraged to bring a support person or advisor to this meeting. The Reviewer will consider all information available, including information from the student or student organization, to determine if the interim suspension should stay in place or should be amended.
The Reviewer may require the interimly suspended student or student organization to provide additional information relevant to the determination of health and safety risks posed by the student or student organization, and the timeframe for decisions outlined herein may be extended in order to enable the development and review of such information. The Reviewer shall notify the student in writing of their decision to uphold, modify, or terminate the interim suspension within three (3) working days of the review meeting or as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter.
5. Release of an Interim Suspension
An interim suspension may be released as a result of the review process. If the interim suspension remains in place after the review (either fully or amended), the interim suspension will be reviewed when new information is learned, at the conclusion of a conduct process through Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, or every thirty (30) days, whichever is sooner.
Following each review, the reviewer will send the student or student organization an update regarding the interim suspension status.
This section below applies only to student organizations.
6. Conditions for student organizations
VCU’s interim suspension process is separate and independent from any process by an International/National Headquarters/National Office Oversight.
Interim suspension of a student organization requires the immediate ceasing of all student organization operations and activities unless otherwise authorized in writing by the suspending official.
A student organization must notify all members, including new members if applicable, and advisors of the interim suspension by forwarding the Notice and cease all operations and activities unless otherwise authorized in the Notice in writing by the suspending official.