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As students of University of Texas at Austin, club members have an obligation to conduct themselves and their organization in a manner compatible with the University’s philosophy and function as an educational institution. Inappropriate conduct or actions while participating in Sport Club related activity, including misuse of equipment and/or facilities, will jeopardize the club’s continued status as a recognized active Sport Club.
Each club within the UTSCA is student run and under the administration and guidance of Sport Club staff and Recreational Sports. Sport Club Staff and the UTSCA Council have the ability to add any additional punishment to a sport club disciplinary sanction as they see fit. Every club member, authorized representative, and coach/instructor is responsible for the knowledge of and adherence to the policies set forth by this UTSCA Handbook.
If Sport Club staff determine an infraction(s) has/have occurred:
Any club that is non-compliant with the Sport Club Program or the Administrative Compliance Program will be subject to disciplinary action. A club is not administratively compliant if they have failed to do ANY of the following:
Any behavioral violations by the club or individual of State Law, Federal Law, University Policy, or Sport Club Policy will result in a disciplinary hearing with either the Office of the Dean of Students or a combination of the UTSCA Council and Sport Club staff. A disciplinary hearing will set disciplinary action forth under the appropriate guidelines. Depending on the severity of the violation, probation, suspension, or removal as well as a referral to Student Conduct may result immediately. Serious violations of this nature include, but are not limited to, misappropriation / mishandling of funds, failing to follow emergency procedures, destruction / theft of property and conduct which negatively reflects upon University of Texas at Austin Sport Club Program.
Examples of Behavioral Non-Compliance:
Should a club commit an infraction; the following measure(s) may be taken:
Initial Suspension is meant as a temporary status while the appropriate personnel review the situation. Clubs on initial suspension will lose access to their accounts, all practice, and game privileges until the issue which caused the suspension is resolved. Sport Clubs Administration will inform all of the club’s authorized representatives once that club has been placed on initial suspension.
Any incident of administrative or behavioral non-compliance may result in initial suspension until the issue is corrected. Upon conclusion of the investigation of the incident that caused the initial suspension, a club may be subject to one of the following: Probation, Partial Suspension, Full Suspension or Removal.
NOTE: A club may not voluntarily remain on initial suspension for more than two weeks. Doing so can result in Removal.
Any club that commits their first minor administrative non-compliance infraction will be issued a Warning.
Clubs may be placed on Probation due to infraction(s). Clubs will be able to function under their probationary status, but will receive additional consequences if deadlines are missed while on Probation. Any club on Probation will receive additional sanctions for each infraction. Multiple infractions while on probation may result in a partial or full suspension. Sport Clubs staff will inform the club of this status. Any violation while on probation may result in the the probationary period being extended, along with additional consequences. The summer session is not considered to be an academic term for the purposes of probation.
Clubs may receive a fine due to an infraction. Fines may be used in association with Probation, Partial Suspension, or Full Suspension as a part of the disciplinary outcome. Repeated violations may result in additional fines in increasing amounts. The initial fine for Administrative Non-Compliance may be up to $100. Any fine will be assessed to the Allocation Account of the club. If the club does not have any allocation left, the fine will be applied their future allocation funding.
Clubs on partial suspension will not be permitted to participate in club related activities in the areas in which they are suspended. Sport Clubs staff will inform the club and all of their Authorized Representatives of this status. At the conclusion of the partial suspension period, the club will be placed on probation based upon the number of offenses and/or the type of offense. The full probationary term will be served by the club once the partial suspension ends.
Clubs on full suspension will lose access to their accounts, Recreational Sports facilities, and will no longer be eligible for allocation for the next year. Sport Clubs staff will inform the club and all of their Authorized Representatives of this status. At the conclusion of the full suspension period, the club will be placed on probation based upon the number of offenses and/or the type of offense. The full probationary term will be served by the club once the full suspension ends.
Any club that is removed from the Sport Club program will completely lose all funding and access to facilities and fields administered by Recreational Sports, and may be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for further investigation. If the club is not referred to the Office of the Dean of Students, the club will become a registered student organization under Student Activities. University of Texas at Austin Recreational Sports will not recognize a removed club as a sponsored student organization. Unused account funds may be returned to the UTSCA Council account for redistribution to the remaining clubs through incentive funding. Any club that has been removed will not be eligible for reinstatement for a period of at least two full academic years.
The appeal process exists to ensure that all disciplinary actions taken against UTSCA organizations are equitable. Separate appeals processes exist for Administrative and Behavioral Non-Compliance. With the concept of equity in mind, be advised that appeal of a disciplinary decision that seems extreme to the Club could result in an even stiffer penalty being levied by the person/council/committee who hears the appeal.
The following process is to be followed when the UTSCA Council is on campus between September and April. Should there be a need for an appeal when the UTSCA Council is not available, a member of the UTSCA Council and either an appointed Authorized Representative or Sport Club student staff member will review the appeal.