2. Does the University have jurisdiction to hold students accountable for off-campus behavior?
3. Has the Dean of Students Office changed the Student Code of Conduct to include off campus behavior?
4. What is the Dean of Students Red Tag Program?
5. What are the goals of this program?
6. Who is eligible for referral to the Dean of Students Red Tag Program?
7. What about noise and littering violations? Will these violations be reviewed by the Dean of Students Office?
8. Can I refer my neighbor to the Red Tag Program?
9. What is the process you will use to determine if you will meet with students whose property has been red tagged?
10. What kind of educational sanctions will be imposed?
11. Will you inform the neighbor about the outcome of any investigation?
12. What are the benefits of this program?
1. What is a Red Tag?
The Tucson Police Department will issue a “Red Tag” to an unruly gathering (5 or more) which causes a disturbance of the quiet enjoyment of private or public property by any person or persons. Such disturbances include but are not limited to: excessive noise or traffic, obstruction of public streets by crowds or vehicles, drinking in public, the service of alcohol to minors or consumption of alcohol by minors, fighting, disturbing the peace, and littering.
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2. Does the University have jurisdiction to hold students accountable for off-campus behavior?
Generally, state universities cannot discipline off-campus behavior merely because a person is a student. Instead, there must be a clear “nexus” between the misconduct and the health, safety or academic integrity to the campus itself. A nexus is present when there is sale or distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substances, violence, or underage service of alcohol at an off-campus party hosted by a university student. These behaviors present a clear danger to the safety to the university community.
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3. Has the Dean of Students Office changed the Student Code of Conduct to include off-campus behavior?
No. The Student Code of Conduct has always had the ability to hold students accountable for off-campus behavior limited to the sale or distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substances, gambling associated with a university event, or violence which may present a danger to the safety to the university community.
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4. What is the Dean of Students Red Tag Program?
The Dean of Students Office and the Tucson Police Department initiated a program in January 2007 to educate university students about responsible behavior within the Tucson community. The focus of this program is to respond to issues related to off-campus parties where there is a clear nexus to the university community. In keeping with the educational philosophy of the Student Code of Conduct, the program is designed to diminish extreme misconduct that potentially could place students and university community members at risk.
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5. What are the goals of this program?
Our goals are to 1) educate students about their responsibility to the greater Tucson community, 2) educate students about how their choices may impact the safety and well-being of other university students and 3) to hold students accountable for violating university policy. Our hope is that this educational program will help diminish the most extreme misbehavior involving UA students. Back to top
6. Who is eligible for referral to the Dean of Students Red Tag Program?
Student host(s) of an unruly gathering (party) where other university students are in attendance, will be referred to the Dean of Students Office. The host(s) must be a University of Arizona student(s) and must receive a red tag citation from the Tucson Police Department related to the service of alcohol to underage persons, sale or distribution of drugs or violence. Back to top
7. What about noise and littering violations? Will these violations be reviewed by the Dean of Students Office?
Off-campus noise, littering or other nuisance violations will not be reviewed by the Dean of Students Office because they do not form the nexus required for the university to take disciplinary action against a student. Back to top
8. Can I refer my neighbor to the Red Tag Program?
No, all referrals are initiated by the Tucson Police Department through the red tag process. Back to top
9. What is the process you will use to determine if you will meet with students whose property has been red tagged?
The Tucson Police Department has agreed to forward the red tag reports to the Dean of Students Office. The reports will be reviewed to determine if 1) the host (s) of the party is a University of Arizona student, 2) other University of Arizona students attended the party and 3) there is a clear nexus to the university. Once these criteria are met, students will have an opportunity to discuss the incident which could result in educational sanctions. Back to top
10. What kind of educational sanctions will be imposed?
Sanctions will be educational, promote positive neighborhood relationships, and will be consistent with established Student Code of Conduct protocols and procedures. Back to top
11. Will you inform the neighbor about the outcome of any investigation?
The Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protect the privacy of individual educational records preventing release of information regarding individual disciplinary records. So, while information about individuals will not be shared with the general public, we will have opportunities to share aggregate data.
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12. What are the benefits of this program?
As a program, we will collect data to educate us about the nature and number of incidences reported to our office which will be useful in creating future educational programs and continued dialogue and partnerships with neighborhoods, law enforcement, and student communities. As an evaluative tool, this program has the potential to serve as a national model for promoting positive community relationships. Back to top