Administration

Student Conduct Office completes 32 investigations related to Beta Theta Pi

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Office of Student Conduct has completed the student conduct investigation and disciplinary process for 32 individuals related to the tragic death of Timothy Piazza at the now-banned Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Of those:

  • Nineteen of the students took a “conduct withdrawal” from the University before the disciplinary process could conclude. Under a “conduct withdrawal” students have a notation placed on their transcripts stating that while there has been no disciplinary conclusion, should the student seek to return to Penn State, he or she must first undergo completion of the University’s disciplinary process.
  • Seven students were found to be in violation of the University’s Student Code of Conduct and received disciplinary actions ranging from probation to expulsion. The violations included “hazing” and “creating a condition that endangers.”
  • Six students participated in student conduct conferences and were not charged with any violations.

“We remain resolved to focus, as we always do, on student safety and well-being, and will continue to hold accountable any individuals or student organizations that put others in danger,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron.

The Penn State Student Conduct process is separate and distinct from any criminal proceedings.

“Dangerous drinking and negative behavior within the Greek-life community are longstanding issues impacting campuses nationwide, and we have said ‘enough is enough,’” said Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs. “Penn State remains committed to addressing negative outcomes, and preventing them where we can. To achieve the transformation we seek, commitment and partnership is needed from chapters, alumni boards, housing corporations, councils and national organizations to put student safety first, and encourage chapter members to bring issues to those among us who seek to address them.”

The University has made significant progress implementing the comprehensive student safety measures outlined on Aug. 21, including launching a Greek Chapter Score Card, streamlining an ethics and compliance hotline and establishing a relationship statement for all Greek-letter members to sign.

“Many University offices and Greek chapter organizations have been working to implement the enhanced safety measures and I applaud their dedication to act and uphold the importance of these actions with our students and wider community,” Barron said. “Our new disciplinary process is meant to re-establish safety as the priority among organizations that have traditionally been self-governing.”

Under the disciplinary process, Penn State officials have also revoked recognition of Delta Tau Delta fraternity until the end of the 2018 fall semester as the result of several violations of University rules. The suspension of recognition means that the former fraternity has lost all rights and privileges associated with being a recognized student organization at the University.

* Because of student privacy, no additional information about these cases will be available. In deference to federal guidelines on student privacy, Penn State does not disclose details of any student's course through the conduct process, including the outcome of any individual investigation, or any specific resulting sanction should a student be found to have violated the Code of Conduct.

Last Updated November 7, 2017