Disciplinary Responses

Discipline cases that may result in suspension or dismissal are generally heard by the faculty-student Discipline Committee (chaired by the dean of students, the academic dean, or a designee), and should take into account, as far as the welfare of the community will allow, such factors, including but not limited to, the needs and age of the individual student, the previous record, and the circumstances of the offense, including how it came to light. However, when in the discretion of the dean of students or academic dean in consultation with the head of school and Upper School principal, the facts and circumstances of a serious discipline case that may result in suspension or dismissal dictate that the hearing involve administrators only, the dean of students may convene an Administrative Discipline Committee (chaired by the dean of students, academic dean, or a designee) to hear the case. Some examples of facts and circumstances that could warrant an Administrative Discipline Committee are when privacy or safety concerns exist based on the issue being considered, or there is a need to hold a hearing on a shortened time frame without sufficient time to convene a Discipline or Dean’s committee.

Students who commit a serious offense for which suspension or dismissal are not considered appropriate responses, (a determination made by the dean of students, the academic dean, or the head of school) generally appear before the Dean’s Committee (chaired by the dean of students, academic dean or a designee). Violations of other School rules that are less serious are generally considered by the dean of students, the academic dean, or their designee. Cases involving a boarding student who demonstrates continued difficulty complying with the rules governing boarding life may be heard by the Boarding Review Committee.

Finally, the head of school retains ultimate authority in every disciplinary matter and always has the discretion to determine the appropriate disciplinary process and response without calling a meeting of any of the discipline committees described above. If the head of school exercises this authority and dictates a process to follow, that process will always provide the student subject to discipline with notice of the charges the student is facing and an opportunity to be heard.

More details regarding the regulations and processes governing the Dean’s Committee, Discipline Committee, Administrative Discipline Committee and Boarding Review Committee can be found in the Appendix.

Students are not allowed to withdraw from the School in the face of discipline.

Off-Campus Programs Discipline

When a Milton Academy student participates in an off-campus program (a School-sponsored exchange program, a School-sponsored trip, or a year-long or semester program approved by the School), that student still represents the School and is therefore subject to the same rules, disciplinary processes (except as otherwise provided below) and disciplinary consequences that hold for students staying on campus. For this reason, the School views any violation of rules taking place at an off-campus program very seriously.

Any student participating in a School-sponsored exchange program or School-sponsored trip (e.g. French exchange) who is found to have engaged in an activity that would merit an appearance before a Dean’s Committee or one of the Discipline Committees may be asked to appear before that committee upon return to Milton. Such activities may warrant being sent back to Milton immediately, and students will be subject to the same disciplinary consequence they would have been subject to had the activity occurred at Milton.

In cases where a student attending a year-long or semester program approved by the School (e.g. School Year Abroad or the Mountain School) is found to have engaged in an activity that would merit an appearance before a Dean’s Committee or one of the Discipline Committees, the School will normally defer to the program’s disciplinary process and record the instance as though the student appeared before our Dean’s or Discipline Committee. As such, a violation of a School rule that merits possible expulsion may result in expulsion without an appearance before a Discipline Committee.

As with all other disciplinary matters, ultimate authority rests with the head of school who may determine the disciplinary response without a meeting of any of the discipline committees or a Dean’s Committee or deferral to any other process.

A suspension or dismissal resulting from disciplinary infractions committed by a Milton student while the student is participating in an off-campus program is subject to the same communication and reporting procedures outlined in this Handbook.