UNC Board of Governors Taking Another Look at Student Conduct Code

Protesters at Silent Sam rally in November 2017. Photo via Blake Hodge.

The UNC System Board of Governors have asked for a review of school policy that governs conduct by students and staff impacting public safely.

The review, directed by the board at last week’s meeting, could bring changes to the expectations and consequences for UNC students and faculty participating in campus protests.

At the Friday meeting, board member Marty Kotis asked the Committee on University Governance to review policy and propose changes that “set clear expectations for conduct provide for disciplinary review and prescribe minimum sanctions,” including expulsion, for unlawful activity. Specifically mentioned in the motion were assaulting a law enforcement officer, disobeying lawful orders from an officer, inciting riots, resisting arrest or participating in a riotous act.

Following the meeting, board chair Harry Smith was asked what these possible conduct policy changes could mean for the strike by teacher assistants and graduate students. Those participating in the strike were withholding grades in protest to of the Board of Trustee’s proposed plan, which was rejected Friday, to bring Silent Sam back to campus.

“I think what the Board of Governors is trying to do in a very measured manner, is have an appropriate conversation about what happened, how it happened, and actions that need to be looked at from a policy standpoint that might require more punitive disciplinary actions for people participating in that,” he said in response.

What specific actions the board will look to take on policy, if any, remain unclear.

“And it’s a conversation. I don’t think the BOG wants to do more or less, just to get that right.”

Protests have been common at UNC – Chapel Hill and at UNC System Board of Governors meetings in recent months as groups protest the Confederate monument on the campus.

The Committee on University Governance is made up of seven board members with David Powers serving as the chair and Alex Mitchell as vice chair. The committee will meet up again leading up to the next board meeting in January.

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UNC Board of Governors Taking Another Look at Student Conduct Code

The UNC System Board of Governors have asked for a review of school policy that governs conduct by students and staff impacting public safely. The review, directed by the board at last week’s meeting, could bring changes to the expectations and consequences for UNC students and faculty participating in campus protests. At the Friday meeting, […]

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