(1) Definition. An emergency suspension is a temporary exclusion of a student from all or specified portions of university premises, programs, or activities pending an investigation or student conduct proceeding relating to alleged standards of conduct violations. An emergency suspension may be assigned at any time prior to the issuance of the university's final order in the matter.
(2) Circumstances warranting emergency suspension.
(a) For matters which would not constitute Title IX sexual harassment within the university's Title IX jurisdiction, as defined by university executive policy 15, emergency suspension may be assigned only in situations when the dean of students or a vice chancellor for student affairs (in consultation with CCS), or their designee, has cause to believe that the student:
(i) Has violated any provision of the standards of conduct; and
(ii) Presents an immediate danger to the health, safety, or welfare of any part of the university community or the public at large. Conduct that creates an ongoing disruption of, or interference with, the operations of the university and that prevents other students, employees, or invitees from completing their duties or accessing their education or the educational environment, is conduct harmful to the welfare of members of the university community.
(b) For matters which would constitute Title IX sexual harassment within the university's Title IX jurisdiction, as defined by university executive policy 15, emergency suspension may be assigned only in a situation where the dean of students or a vice chancellor for student affairs (in consultation with CCS), or their designee, has engaged in an individualized safety and risk analysis, and determines that removal is justified because the student:
(i) Has violated any provision of the standards of conduct; and
(ii) Is an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of any student or other individual arising from the allegations of Title IX sexual harassment.
(3) Procedure. The dean of students or a vice chancellor for student affairs, or their designee, ordering an emergency suspension must send the student a written notice of emergency suspension. The notice must contain the reasons for the decision (both the factual basis and the conclusions as to why those facts constitute a violation of the standards of conduct), the policy reasons for the emergency suspension, and the process to challenge the decision. The emergency suspension does not replace the regular hearing process, which must proceed to a conduct officer hearing or conduct board hearing, as applicable, as quickly as feasible. Once a final order is entered, any emergency suspension is lifted and the sanction, if any, set forth in the final order is assigned.
(4) Challenge of the decision. The student can challenge the emergency suspension decision within 10 calendar days of the date of notice. Challenges are reviewed by the vice president for student affairs or their designee, provided the designee is not the same person who made the original emergency suspension decision. The vice president for student affairs or designee has 10 calendar days to respond to the review and can uphold, reverse, or modify the emergency suspension. The submission of a challenge does not stay the emergency suspension decision.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
28B.30.150. WSR 22-23-142, § 504-26-409, filed 11/21/22, effective 1/1/23; WSR 21-07-057, § 504-26-409, filed 3/15/21, effective 4/15/21; WSR 18-23-083, § 504-26-409, filed 11/19/18, effective 12/20/18.]