Student Handbook - The Taft School

VOLUNTARY USE OF THE HEALTH CENTER
A student may voluntarily use the Health Center when he or she has been drinking or using
controlled substances. This process must begin with a phone call to the Health Center or to a
faculty member from the student or from a student assisting. A student confronted about alcohol
or substance use cannot claim that he or she had intended to go to the Health Center or was en
route there. However, once the phone call establishes the intent, the student will not sit before
the Discipline Committee, be suspended or placed on probation. However, in all likelihood
he or she would be placed on Warning with regard to the Alcohol/Drug Rule and the student’s
parents will always be asked to come to school for a conference with the headmaster and other
appropriate faculty to discuss measures that will be taken to help the student move forward.
The student will be required to be evaluated by a member of the counseling staff.
DISCIPLINARY RESPONSE
When a student violates a Fundamental Rule of the school, his or her case is referred to the
office of the dean of students, who either will refer the case to the Discipline Committee or
will set a penalty in accordance with guidelines established by the Discipline Committee. The
Discipline Committee is usually composed of six students and six faculty with a nonvoting
faculty chair. In unusual circumstances when students are not available to serve, the Discipline
Committee will be comprised of six faculty with a nonvoting faculty chair. Students who
appear before the Discipline Committee will have an opportunity to make a statement
regarding the circumstances of the infraction. The student’s faculty advisor, the dean of his
or her class, and a member of his or her student Class Committee will also be invited to the
meeting to speak in support of the student, but no other representatives may participate in
the disciplinary process.
The Discipline Committee may recommend Warning periods, Probation periods, suspensions, or
combinations of these; dismissal; or other responses they deem appropriate.
A student may, in some cases, be placed on Warning in regard to the rule that was violated
for a period of time recommended by the Discipline Committee. Warning indicates that a
student will most probably be dismissed if he or she violates that rule again during the period
of Warning.
A student who violates more than one Fundamental School Rule or whose conduct warrants such
a response may also be placed on Probation by recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee
or by the dean of students with the approval of the headmaster. Probation indicates that a student
will most likely be dismissed if he or she violates any Fundamental School Rule during the period
of Probation. Reaching Disciplinary Report once, although a violation of a Fundamental Rule,
will not normally lead to the dismissal of a student on Probation.
Of course, the Discipline Committee may recommend the dismissal of a student for a first
violation of a Fundamental Rule if it feels the circumstances warrant such action. Students found
selling drugs or alcohol or procuring drugs or alcohol for other students in all likelihood will be
dismissed for a first offense. In addition, students who consume alcohol and who then drive or
ride in an automobile will most likely be dismissed for a first offense. Although students are not
RULES & CONDUCT
Student Handbook 2010–11
19