Policies of CSU Pueblo
University Policy
| Policy Title: Ensuring Access to Higher Education | Category: Admissions and Enrollment |
| Owner: Vice President for Enrollment Management, Communications and Student Affairs | Policy ID#: 4-001-00 |
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Contact: |
Effective Date: 4/8/2020 |
A. Policy Purpose:
This policy will provide guidelines for seeking information about criminal and disciplinary history for applicants who apply for admission and for students who are enrolled at the University and is made pursuant to legislation commonly referred to as “Ban the Box”.
B. Policy Applies To:
All individuals seeking admission to CSU-Pueblo and to currently enrolled students, staff and faculty.
C. Definitions:
Applicant: any person who as competed an application for admission to the University.
Campus life: activities on campus to include, but not limited to, Student Life, Student Organizations, Club Sports, Outdoor Pursuits etc. Campus life does not include academic pursuits.
Conviction: "conviction" means a conviction by a jury verdict or by entry of a verdict or acceptance of a guilty plea or a plea of nolo contendere by a court. "Conviction" does not include a plea to a deferred judgment and sentence until the deferred judgment and sentence is revoked.
Student: a person who has been admitted to the university.
Student housing: housing on campus for students, includes residence halls and Walking Stick Apartments.
Assault as defined in CRS 18-3-201, 202, 203, 204.
Domestic violence as defined in CRS 18-6-800.3.
Kidnapping as defined in CRS 18-3-301, 302.
Murder as defined in CRS 18-3-101, 102, 103.
Sexual assault as defined in CRS 18-3-401 et al.
Stalking as defined in CRS 18-3-601, 602.
Voluntary manslaughter as defined in CRS 18-3-104.
D. Policy Statement:
Colorado State University Pueblo is committed to excellence, setting the standard for regional comprehensive universities by providing leadership for its region and maintaining its commitment to accessibility. In order to accomplish this goal, the University strives to make higher education accessible to the widest range of potential students and provide a safe and secure environment for the campus community to the greatest extent possible.
As such, CSU-Pueblo will require students to self-report the following information on their application:
- Prior convictions for stalking, sexual assault, and/or domestic violence;
- Prior convictions for assault, kidnapping, voluntary manslaughter, or murder within five years of submitting an application;
- Prior disciplinary history at another academic institution for stalking, sexual assault, and/or domestic violence;
- Any pending criminal charges against the applicant; and
- Educational records related to academic performance.
If the Applicant discloses any of the above information, then the application will be reviewed in a reasonable time. If an Applicant is denied admissions due to their reporting of the above offenses, they will receive notice of the denial and will have an opportunity to appeal that decision. The right to appeal will be set out in the application and the appeal will be reviewed in a reasonable time frame by a committee. The Applicant will receive notification of the decision of the appeal committee which will be considered for the remainder of the calendar year.
To balance the University’s commitment to accessibility with the need for a safe and secure environment the University may conduct further review of any admitted Student who chooses to reside in Student Housing or participate in Campus Life. When further review is conducted, the following will be considered in determining the level of participation of students who have a criminal history:
- The nature and gravity of any criminal conduct and whether it bears a direct relationship to a particular aspect of a student’s participation in campus life, including but not limited to, campus residency and campus activities;
- The time that has passed since the occurrence of any criminal conduct;
- The age of the student at the time of the conduct underlying a criminal conviction;
- Any evidence of rehabilitation or good conduct produced by the student; and
- The benefit of the student participating in campus life.
E. Responsibilities:
Committees comprised of appropriate stakeholders will determine admission of Applicants who disclose criminal or disciplinary history as described in this policy, appeals of denials of admission, and determination of participation in Student Housing and Campus Life.
F. Related Laws, Policies, & Procedures:
Procedure for Admission review
Procedure for review of participation in Student Housing and Campus Life
G. Authority:
CRS 23-5-106.5