Community Standards
As part of the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Community Standards promotes student success through resource connection, upholding community standards, and providing intentional interventions and support.
The Office of Community Standards:
- Upholds the Student Code of Conduct for individual students and student groups.
- Consults on student behavior concerns and classroom disruptions.
- Oversees the Admissions Review Safety & Security Committee.
- Works collaboratively with the Dean of Students Office to connect students with campus resources.
- Provides student conduct record checks for employment and educational purposes.
The Office of Community Standards reviews referrals Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm, excluding holidays.
Student Code of Conduct
The 91次元 expects all students to uphold values of honesty, integrity, and accountability. The Code outlines standards for academic and general behavior, as well as student rights and responsibilities. All members of the UM Community are encouraged to review the Student Code of Conduct annually.
General Misconduct
Students are expected to contribute positively to the campus community. Misconduct may include, but is not limited to, behavior that disrupts University operations or causes a risk to the health and safety of the UM Community.
Student Group/Organization Misconduct
Student groups and organizations are held to the same standards as individual students. Hazing and other misconduct should be reported using the Student Group/Organization reporting form linked above.
Academic Misconduct
At UM, Academic Misconduct is primarily managed by the Provost's Office. When academic misconduct is suspected, faculty should submit an . For additional resources regarding the academic misconduct process, visit Academic Misconduct Resources for Faculty.
Contact Us
Office of Community Standards
(406) 243-5325
communitystandards@mso.umt.edu
Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
The Office of Conflict, Resolution, & Policy is responsible for administering UM's Discrimination, Harassment, & Retaliation policy and oversees response to reports of protected-class misconduct, including conduct protected under Title IX. For more information and reporting options, visit the Office of Conflict, Resolution, & Policy website.
Students of Concern
If this is not a student conduct issue or you are unsure but know a student needs assistance, please submit a . Students may also request assistance by completing the .
Frequently Asked Questions
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Check your UM student email account on a regular basis. You may be receiving an emailed letter inviting you to discuss the incident with a UM Staff Member.
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UM Housing will also process, investigate and adjudicate Code of Conduct and UM Housing Policy violations.
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In most cases, no. If you or someone else needs emergency medical help due to alcohol or drug use, you won’t face disciplinary sanctions for related violations—as long as you seek help and cooperate with responders.
This policy protects:
- Students who call for help
- Students who receive help
- Students whose violations are discovered because of the call
You may be asked to complete an education program or seek treatment, but this won’t be recorded as a disciplinary sanction.
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You should attend this meeting to provide information about what you know on the situation. If the meeting time that is set does not work for you, you should use the contact information in the letter to request your meeting be rescheduled.
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The first meeting with students is called the Preliminary Meeting where you will be provided information about the student conduct process. You will be informed of your rights, the alleged violations of the student conduct code, and the overall process.
The next step in this process is the Findings Meeting where the behavior reported is discussed and you have an opportunity to present any information and discuss your perspective. You can have the Findings Meeting at the same time as the Preliminary Meeting, or, you can schedule the findings meeting within the next 5 business days.
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Yes, you may have an advisor accompany you to all meetings within the conduct process. However, the advisor cannot speak for you in the meeting. If you are bringing an attorney, you must notify the hearing officer before your Preliminary Meeting so the University’s legal office can also have representation in the meeting.
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You can submit your sanctions to . If that link doesn’t work or you are having trouble with it, you may also email your sanction to your hearing officer. If all else fails, sanctions can be submitted to the Office of Community Standards via email.
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A hold will be placed on your student account, which prevents you from registering for classes, ordering transcripts, or conducting other business with the University.
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There are a few reasons a hold may be placed on your account. You will know what type of hold by the Hold Description
- Admission Review – Please contact the Office of Community Standards at 406-243-5929.
- Behavioral Health Options – Please contact the BHO program directly at 406-243-2290.
- Community Standards - Please contact the Office of Community Standards at 406-243-5325.
- Residence Halls – Please contact UM Housing at 406-243-2611.
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Yes. If you attended your findings meeting, you will have the option to accept or appeal the findings and the sanctions being imposed. There will be instructions in your outcome letter informing you of the process to appeal.
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Your student conduct record generally contains the applicable incident report(s), meeting and outcome letters, and other documents related to student conduct incidents you have been involved in while a 91次元 student.
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Yes. Only certain University staff, including the Office for Community Standards and UM Housing, or those with a legitimate right to know, as defined by the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act, have access to your student conduct records. You may choose to sign an authorization to allow us to release your student conduct records to another person or organization such as a parent or guardian, study abroad program, or advisor.
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In accordance with University policy and Montana State Law, we keep and maintain student conduct records for seven years from the academic year in which the incident was resolved. Records involving suspensions and expulsions from the University are kept indefinitely.
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Most future employers will not inquire about your student conduct record. However, relevant organizations will require you to release your records for review by an affiliated investigator (e.g. if you are sitting for the bar exam, or the job you're applying to involves security clearance). The investigator will provide us with a copy of your signed release form and request a copy of your student conduct records. We will not release your confidential records without a release form from you.
Typically, graduate schools will inquire about your student conduct record during the application process. Please consult with the Office for Community Standards to determine if you have a student conduct record and if so, what will be reported to a prospective graduate program or professional school