My Favorite Student Conduct Story

by Alan Acosta
Associate Dean of Students, Florida State University
Vice Chair for Education, Commission for Student Conduct and Legal Issues

During one summer semester I served as the Residence Coordinator for a residence hall housing the six week Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE, our campus’s TRIO program) Summer Bridge Program. The goal of the program is to help 1st generation college students (usually participants are overwhelmingly low SES and students of color) make the transition from high school to college. It was an exciting experience, and it was my 2nd summer working with the program.

One day I received a behavior report about a student under the age of 21, whom I shall name Dan. Dan and some of his buddies allegedly returned back to the residence hall intoxicated. The report said that he was stumbling, slurring his speech, loud, and yelled “I’m drunk!” He eventually ran to his room, but not before 4 different staff members had seen and eventually documented the situation.

I followed our standard conduct process, charging Dan with policy violations and sending him a charge letter to come meet with me. During his hearing, he shared that he had been off campus and had consumed 1 alcoholic beverage, but it was long before arriving back to the residence hall. He also claimed that he wasn’t drunk, that he didn’t yell or stumble, and that all of the staff members had either embellished or inaccurately reported what happened. He seemed genuine, honest, and forthright throughout the entire hearing.

I listened carefully and thoughtfully. After he left, I had mixed emotions on deciding the outcome of the case. I believed everybody, so I didn’t know what to do. I talked with my supervisor, who walked through all the facts with me. After discussing it, with 4 different staff members reporting specific behaviors and Dan’s own admission of consuming alcohol, I used the preponderance of evidence standard to find him responsible. I thoroughly explained my reasoning for the outcome and what his sanctions would be in his decision letter, which I sent him.

To be honest, I still to this day don’t know if I made the right choice. Everything might have happened just as he said. I had that twinge of buyer’s remorse we all as student conduct officers get when we send out a decision we’re not totally sure about. I reasoned that I had used the right standard, and there was an appeals process for a reason. I let it go.

I did not see or hear from Dan for a long time after sending that letter. I never really thought about it until one day early in the spring semester I saw Dan. He was attending one of our Resident Assistant (RA) information sessions to learn how to become an RA. He caught my eye, and I caught his. He started making his way towards me. I wasn’t sure what he would say or do, but as he got closer, he got a big smile on his face, stuck his hand out, and said “Nice to see you Mr. Acosta.” I shook his hand and told him it was good to see him too. We shared what we were up to and what was happening in our lives. He went back to his seat with that same smile. And for the rest of his entire undergraduate career, whether it was as an RA (we hired him), an Orientation Leader, a member of the Student Senate, or as a member of his fraternity, every single time I saw him, he would come up to me with that same smile, stick out his hand, and say “Nice to see you Mr. Acosta.” He would then inevitably tell me about the wonderful things on campus he was involved with and accomplishing.

We never actually discussed his conduct experience or anything relating to it. But I know in my heart that I built a strong bond and connection with Dan as a result of our conduct hearing. And I choose to believe that our interaction, his involvement in the process, and our educational moments impacted, even if in some small way, his entire experience at the university.

To me, this is the whole essence of student conduct work. We meet students in these particular moments where they have most likely either had a crisis or made a choice that confuses us and makes them question themselves. We get presented a unique opportunity every time we sit down with a student to impact their lives, make a connection, and build community. I love student conduct work because it is one of the rare times I get to sit down one on one with a student I otherwise probably would never meet and have one of the most meaningful, reflective, thought-provoking, and profound conversations during their time at the institution. Does that happen every time? Of course not. But when it does, it is enriching and rewarding for us both.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that one of the student relationships that sticks out most in my mind started in a conduct hearing. I think it surprises my colleagues when I tell that story, as many believe student conduct is just the office that suspends students. But once I reframe colleagues thinking about conduct and show them just how much of a student connection they can achieve when it is done well, I usually get a convert or three. It keeps me motivated to work with and impact the next Dan I meet.

Alan Acosta is Associate Dean of Students at Florida State University. In his previous role, he managed the conduct process for FSU’s housing department. He is also a part-time doctoral student in FSU’s higher education program, which means he has almost no free time. When he does, he spends it with his wife Danielle and petting their cat Ninja. He also loves movies, pro wrestling, and reading all kinds of books (sometimes even books about pro wrestling and movies). He can be reached at aacosta@fsu.edu or @alanacosta81 on Twitter.