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Student-Athlete Handbook - Section 1

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Key Policies Governing Student-Athlete Conduct

University of Illinois Student Code

The University’s Student Code (http://www.admin.illinois.edu/policy/code/) outlines the rights and responsibilities of all University students and covers a wide-array of subjects including standards of civility, academic policies, and use of campus facilities. Each year, student-athletes are expected to review the Student Code to ensure they understand their rights and responsibilities created by this document.

Student-athletes violating the Student Code are subject to discipline by the University. Any sanctions taken against a student-athlete by the DIA Director of Athletics (“director”) and/or a head coach for violations of the Student Code (as described below) shall be in addition to any actions taken or sanctions issued by the University.

Student-Athlete Code of Conduct and Discipline Process

As highly visible members of the University of Illinois (“University”) community, student-athletes are expected to conduct themselves in a way that positively reflects upon the University, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (“DIA”), their coaches, and their teammates. This document establishes a non-exclusive list of primary expectations for all varsity student-athletes and describes the process for imposing discipline or corrective action for student-athletes who fail to follow these expectations.

DIA Student-Athlete Expectations

  1. Student-athletes must take their academic responsibilities seriously. Student-athletes must attend, and be punctual to, all classes and study halls (unless their absence is required by team travel or an excused illness). Cheating and other forms of academic misconduct are prohibited.
  2. Student-athletes must conduct themselves according to the highest levels of ethical behavior in all their dealings with other individuals, both on- and off-campus. They are expected to follow: all local, state and federal laws and regulations; all University of Illinois, DIA and team rules, policies, procedures and regulations; and all NCAA or Big Ten Conference policies and regulations.
  3. Student-athletes must annually read and comply with the University’s Student Code and the University of Illinois Student-Athlete Handbook.
  4. Student-athletes must be respectful and courteous in their interactions with their professors, other University students, community members, fans, DIA administrators and staff, their coaches, their teammates, game officials and members of the opposing team.
  5. Student-athletes must engage in principles of good sportsmanship and follow both the spirit and the letter of the rules of the sport they play at all times, including practice and competitions.
  6. Student-athletes must maintain a proper level of physical conditioning and must attend all required weight and strength-training sessions, communicate all injuries to their coaches and trainers, and closely follow all treatments and exercises prescribed by their trainers. Student-athletes are also encouraged to meet with and follow the suggestions of the dietitian.
  7. Student-athletes must refrain from the use of any illegal drugs at all times. Student-athletes are only permitted to drink alcohol if they are over the age of 21. Smoking is strictly prohibited on the University of Illinois campus. Use of any tobacco product during practice or competition is prohibited by NCAA rules.
  8. Student-athletes must attend, and be punctual to, all team and administrative meetings, training sessions, practices, games, matches and meets. Student-athletes must also comply with all team curfews.
  9. Student-athletes must obtain prior approval from their head coach and the DIA Office of Compliance before participating in an outside athletic event or competition.
  10. Student-athletes must obtain prior approval from their head coach and the DIA Office of Compliance before participating in any employment activities during the academic year.
  11. Student-athletes are prohibited from selling, trading, or offering in exchange for any other benefits or services, any items, awards, memorabilia, apparel, complimentary tickets or equipment that they receive because they are members of a DIA varsity team.
  12. Student-athletes are prohibited from receiving any benefit or service that would not also be available to any other student of the University or general public.
  13. Student-athletes are prohibited from gambling on any collegiate athletic competition (or any professional athletic competition in a sport where there is a collegiate championship). Student- athletes are also prohibited from providing any information about their own or any other DIA varsity athlete’s playing or injury status to anyone who places bets on college or professional sports.
  14. Student-athletes are prohibited from hazing other members of their team or any other DIA varsity team.
  15. Student-athletes are prohibited from engaging in discriminatory or harassing behavior based on the following protected categories: race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, disability, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation (including gender identity), arrest record status, military status, unfavorable discharge from military service and any other protected class as recognized by state or federal law or the University.
  16. Student-athletes must cooperate with all NCAA, Big Ten Conference, University, and DIA investigations and must honestly and accurately answer all questions asked of them during such investigations.
  17. Student-athletes must report all known or suspected violations of state or federal law as well as all known or suspected violations of NCAA, Big Ten Conference, University or DIA rules, regulations, policies or procedures.

Discipline Procedures

Levels of Misconduct

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) has established levels of misconduct, based on the seriousness of the underlying offense(s). As described below, the level of misconduct will guide the DIA in determining appropriate actions to take in response to misconduct by a student-athlete. Information regarding potential criminal acts and alleged violations of the University's Student Code and the Sexual Misconduct Policy will be shared with appropriate officials.

Major Offenses

Major offenses are the most serious of all types of student-athlete misconduct and include allegations, which, if substantiated, would constitute any of the following:

  1. A violation of a state or federal law that is designated as a felony;

  2. A violation of a term of probation or other condition imposed upon a student-athlete by a court of law in any criminal proceeding;
  3. A serious violation of a term of probation or other condition imposed by a University official or a DIA administrator or coach;
  4. Any offense related to sexual misconduct and/or domestic violence including but not limited to criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, domestic violence, domestic battery, dating violence, stalking, aggravated stalking, cyber stalking, rape or attempted rape, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and retaliation against individuals who have made allegations of any of these types of misconduct;
  5. Any offense that involves the use or possession of a firearm in violation of federal or state law or University policies;
  6. Any offense involving the possession or manufacturing of illegal drugs or substances with intent to distribute; and/or
  7. Sports wagering activities in violation of NCAA rules, point shaving, game fixing or other similar activities.

Secondary Offenses

Secondary offenses are serious types of student-athlete misconduct that do not rise to the level of a major offense, as set forth above, and include, but are not limited to, allegations which, if substantiated, would constitute an of the following:

  1. A violation of any state or federal non-felony criminal statute or regulation, except for any non-felony sexual misconduct and domestic violence offenses as described above as major offenses;

  2. A violation of a term of probation or suspension imposed by a University official or DIA administrator or coach that does not constitute a major offense;
  3. A violation of University or DIA policies, rules and/or regulations, including violations of the University’s Student Code and serious or persistent violations of the DIA Student-Athlete Expectations or team rules of conduct;
  4. Willfully giving false or misleading information to a University or DIA official in conncection with a major or secondary offense; and/or
  5. A knowing violation of any NCAA or Big Ten Conference rule, regulation, or policy other than violations involving sports wagering, point shaving, game fixing or similar activities, which are described above as major offenses.

Infractions

Infractions are the least serious level of student-athlete misconduct that do not rise to the level of a major or secondary offense, as set forth above, and include, but are not limited to, allegations, which, if substantiated, would constitute an of the following:

  1. A violation of a minor campus regulation, such as those related to parking or visitor policies in campus residence halls;

  2. A failure to meet a student-athlete’s academic obligations (when such violations do not amount to a major or secondary offense);
  3. A violation of the DIA Student-Athlete Expectations or team rules of conduct (when such violations do not amount to a major or secondary offense);
  4. A failure to engage in respectful behavior toward other University students, University instructors, a student-athlete’s coaches, teammates, support staff, members of an opposing team or coaching staff, a contest’s officials, or spectators.

Addressing Alleged Student-Athlete Misconduct

DIA has authority to impose discipline, sanctions, or corrective action against student-athletes for misconduct only insofar as the discipline, sanctions, or corrective action relate to a student-athlete’s status and associated privileges as a member of the University of Illinois athletic program. Any discipline, sanctions, or corrective action imposed by the legal system or the University’s Office for Student Conflict Resolution are outside DIA’s purview.

DIA-imposed discipline, sanctions or corrective actions against student-athletes for engaging in misconduct that constitutes a Major Offense, Secondary Offense, or Infraction will be determined by the level of misconduct, the student-athlete’s conduct history: and other extenuating or aggravating circumstances. DIA will make best efforts to ensure that similarly situated student-athletes (e.g., student-athletes who have similar conduct histories) will receive similar discipline, sanctions or corrective actions and be treated with impartiality while accounting for individual circumstances and relevant differences. In some cases, teams may establish more severe levels of sanctions for certain types of misconduct. Teams choosing to establish more severe levels of sanctions for certain types of misconduct must distribute this information, in writing, to that team’s student-athletes prior to the first day of participation in that team’s sport on an annual basis.

Possible discipline, sanctions or corrective actions for student-athlete misconduct include, but are not limited to, the following: warning, reprimand, probation with or without conditions, restitution, personal rehabilitation (e.g., counseling and community service), suspension from athletic activity, suspension from access to any or all DIA services, revocation of part or all of the student-athlete’s scholarship and, if the student-athlete’s conduct is severe or frequent enough, dismissal from the athletic program.

Upon receipt of credible information that a student-athlete may have engaged in misconduct, the DIA will evaluate the information to determine whether the allegations, if substantiated, would constitute a Major Offense, Secondary Offense, or Infraction. If not, the DIA will close the case. If credible information does describe a possible Major Offense, Secondary Offense, or Infraction, the DIA will proceed as outlined below and in accordance with applicable regulations and University policies and procedures. The DIA, in its discretion, may reopen a closed case and/or adjust its determination of the level of misconduct if substantial new and credible information should become available. DIA personnel will not engage in investigative activities but may engage third-party investigative assistance and will utilize any and all specific and credible information available to it in assessing whether a student-athlete should be sanctioned under this policy.

Major Offenses

1. Interim Actions - Conduct Panel Review of Decisions to Withhold Student-Athletes from Athletic Activities

Consistent with this section and applicable regulations, the DIA may take interim action to withhold a student-athlete from athletic activities pending resolution of the appropriate review process upon receipt of credible information that a student-athlete committed a Major Offense. 

The Director of Athletics (Director) (or designee) will provide written notice to the student-athlete of the interim action to withhold the student-athletes from athletic activities, pending review by the Student-Athlete Conduct Panel (the Panel). The notice shall include a description of the alleged misconduct, the alleged offense the student-athlete has been accused of committing, and the process for reviewing the decision to withhold the student-athlete from athletic activities. The student-athlete may submit a written statement and any other evidence or information that the student-athlete wants the Panel to consider when reviewing whether the student-athlete should be returned to athletic activities. Any statement to the Panel by the student-athlete should address whether the student-athlete should continue to be withheld from athletic activities and any information or evidence provided to the Panel by the student-athlete should be relevant to that issue.

The Office of the Chancellor shall identify members of the Panel, with the advice and counsel of the Office of University Counsel and upon consultation with the Director of Athletics, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and the Dean of the College of Law (or their designees). The Panel will have three active members: one Faculty Athletics Representative, one representative from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and one faculty member from the College of Law. If a pool of the preceding panelists is unavailable, the Chairperson of the Athletic Board shall serve as a panelist in order to facilitate timely participation by three independent individuals. In cases involving sexual misconduct or domestic violence, a representative from the University Title IX Office will be appointed as a subject matter expert to advise the Panel but shall not be present for, or participate in, a final vote or decision on a student-athlete’s status. The Director of Athletics and the Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Integrity Officer may provide information to the Panel but shall not be present for, or participate in, a final vote or decision on whether a student-athlete should continue to be withheld from athletic activities. The Panel may consult with a representative from the Office of University Counsel, who may be present during any stage in the process but will not vote on a student-athlete's status.

The Student-Athlete Conduct Panel shall convene within 48 hours of DIA providing notice to the student-athlete of the interim action. The student-athlete may waive the Panel review or request a delay in the convening of the Panel. The Panel may convene via a phone or video conference. The Panel will not act as an investigative body but will exercise good faith and reasonable judgment to draw needed conclusions based on the information available to it at the time it convenes. The Panel will undertake an individualized analysis to determine whether the available information justifies withholding the student-athlete from some or all athletic activities pending resolution of the charges or allegations.  Based on the information available to the Panel at the time the Panel is convened, the Panel may consider the broad spectrum of risks to the University of (a) immediately reinstating the student-athlete, should further investigation reveal that the student-athlete committed the alleged major offense, against (b) continuing to withhold the student-athlete from athletic activities, should further investigation reveal that the student-athlete did not commit the alleged major offense.

With the assessment of these risks as the determining factors, and by majority vote, the Panel may take any or all of the following interim actions: (a) withhold the student-athlete from practice; (b) withhold the student-athlete from competition; (c) withhold the student-athlete from accessing any or all athletic department services (including DIA facilities and academic services); and/or (d) reinstate the student-athlete to some or all athletic activities pending resolution of the charges or allegations.

If the Panel decides to withhold the student-athlete from any athletic activity or related support service, it will do so in compliance with, and consideration of, all applicable University, state and federal regulations applicable to such withholding.

As new information becomes available, the Panel may modify any conditions of participation or other actions that were previously imposed.

2. Final Actions

A final determination that a student-athlete has committed a Major Offense will be based on relevant and credible information of such an offense including, but not limited to, the following: a student-athlete’s conviction of, or guilty plea or plea of no contest to, criminal or civil charges that would constitute a Major Offense or a finding of responsibility by a University office (including the Office for Student Conflict Resolution) or other University disciplinary body.

In the absence of a conviction, guilty plea or plea of no contest to, criminal or civil charges that would constitute a Major Offense or a finding of responsibility by a University office (including the Office for Student Conflict Resolution) or other University disciplinary body, the DIA officials may still conclude that the student-athlete committed a Major Offense and disciplinary action is appropriate. In drawing such conclusions, the DIA personnel will not engage in investigative activities but will evaluate all relevant and credible information available to it. Examples of relevant and credible information include, but are not limited to, the following with respect to the allegations under consideration: arrest records, police reports, statements of law enforcement officers, University records, third-party or witness statements (including statements by coaches, DIA staff and other varsity athletes), and statements or admissions by the student-athlete.

When it has been determined that a student-athlete has committed a Major Offense and disciplinary action should be taken, the Director of Athletics (or the Director’s designee), exercising good faith, shall impose final sanctions on the student-athlete that, in the Director’s reasonable judgment, are in the best interests of the University. Such sanctions may include, but are not limited to: suspension, probation following the student-athlete’s return from suspension, requirements for restitution, conditions to encourage personal rehabilitation (e.g., counseling and community service), and conditions related to satisfactory academic performance. If the student-athlete’s actions are severe, the Director (or the Director’s designee) may dismiss the student-athlete from the athletic program and/or revoke athletically related financial aid in accordance with NCAA rules and University procedures.

B.Secondary Offenses

If it is determined that a student-athlete has committed a Secondary Offense, sanctions that the Director of Athletics (or the Director’s designee) may impose against the student-athlete include, but are not limited to: warning, reprimand, probation with or without conditions, requirements for restitution, conditions to encourage personal rehabilitation (e.g., counseling and community service), conditions related to satisfactory academic performance, suspension from practice, suspension from competition, suspension from access to DIA services, and, if the student-athlete’s conduct is severe or frequent enough, dismissal from the athletic program.

A determination that a student-athlete has committed a Secondary Offense will be based on specific and credible information of such an offense including, but not limited to, the following: a student-athlete’s conviction of, or guilty plea or plea of no contest to, criminal or civil charges that would constitute a secondary offense (as defined herein); a finding of guilt or responsibility by a University office (including the Office for Student Conflict Resolution); documents, including arrest records, police reports, statements of law enforcement officers, University records, third-party or witness statements, that provide credible information regarding the student-athlete’s actions; or statements or admissions by the student-athlete. 

C.Infractions

Allegations of Infractions will be reviewed by a team’s head coach, with any corresponding discipline, sanctions or corrective actions imposed by the head coach. Discipline, sanctions or corrective actions that the head coach may impose against a student-athlete who has committed an infraction include, but are not limited to: warning, reprimand, probation with or without conditions, requirements for restitution, conditions to encourage personal rehabilitation (e.g., counseling and community service), or conditions related to satisfactory academic performance. If the student-athlete’s conduct is severe enough or if the student- athlete has engaged in additional misconduct, the head coach may suspend the student-athlete from practice, competition, access to certain DIA services, or dismiss the student-athlete from the athletic program. A head coach’s decision to suspend or dismiss a student-athlete can be made only after consultation with the respective sport administrator.

D.Notice and Appeal

In cases involving Major or Secondary Offenses that result in a final determination that a student-athlete will be removed from any athletic activity or dismissed from the program, the Director (or the Director’s designee) shall notify the student-athlete, in writing, of the specific Major or Secondary Offense or infraction and the corresponding actions.

The student-athlete will have five University business days of the date of the notice of the final determination to submit written notice of appeal and all supporting documentation to the Office of the Chancellor. The Office of the Chancellor will have the authority to amend or overturn a suspension or dismissal but will do so only (1) if the student-athlete presents evidence that the previous decision was clearly contrary to the information presented; (2) the student-athlete presents new evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of final determination and that affects the outcome of the matter; or (3) there was a clear procedural error and, but for the error, the student-athlete would not have been suspended or dismissed.

Within five University business days of receipt of the student-athlete’s appeal, the Office of the Chancellor will provide the student-athlete with a written decision, which shall be final.

E.Miscellaneous Provisions

1.Request for Review of DIA Actions Based on Substantial Change in Circumstances

If there is a substantial change in circumstances affecting a student-athlete who has been dismissed from a program or remains withheld from athletic activities including participation in practice, competition, and/or any other DIA services, the student-athlete may petition the Panel for review. Such petitions may include a written statement in support of the request. If the Panel finds that circumstances warrant a change in the student-athlete’s status regarding participation in athletic activities, the student-athlete may be reinstated to resume athletic activities.

2.Disclosure of Criminal Charges

If a student-athlete is arrested, cited, or otherwise charged with a criminal offense by any law enforcement agency, the student-athlete must report this information to his or her head coach and/or sport administrator within twenty-four hours. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the student-athlete being withheld from athletic activities.

3.Reporting Allegations of Misconduct or Other Violations

Student-athletes are expected to report any actual or potential violations of NCAA or Big Ten rules violations by other student-athletes, coaches or DIA administrators. Student-athletes are encouraged to report any other potential misconduct or wrongdoing on the part of others. Retaliation against any student-athlete reporting, in good faith, a real, perceived or potential violation is strictly prohibited by University policy and state law.

Although student-athletes are encouraged to raise any such concerns internally to the DIA, student-athletes also have the option of reporting such allegations externally as described below.

Where to report perceived violations or concerns of NCAA or Big Ten Conference rules internally:

Where to report perceived violations or concerns of any laws, University or DIA rules or regulations (other than NCAA or Big Ten Conference rules) internally:

  • A student-athlete’s sport administrator
  • Director of Athletics Josh Whitman
  • Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Admin/Deputy Title IX Coordinator Sara Burton
  • Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Integrity Officer Ryan Squire // 217-333-573
  • Anonymously to RealResponse platform (all student-athletes have anonymous reporting link)

Where to report sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or sexual abuse externally:

  • Title IX Coordinator Danielle Fleenor // 844-616-7978

 Where to report perceived violations or concerns of any type externally:

  • Dean of Students HELPdean@illinois.edu 217-333-0050
  • Faculty Athletic Representatives
  • EthicsLine (reports may be made anonymously) 866-758-2146