Acadia University is a community founded on respect. While we may express disagreement or challenge each others’ ideas, we must always respect each other’s personal and property rights. The Non-Academic Judicial Process addresses misbehaviour and violations of University policy including harassment, violation of alcohol policies, physical violence, and property damage.

Any member or agency of the University community (student, faculty, administrator, Acadia University employee, Acadia Students’ Union employee) may lodge a complaint. Sanctions may include fines and restorative or educational justice approaches.

To file a complaint, get an explanation of your charges, obtain an Acadia University Judicial Incident Report, or ask questions about the Judicial Process, please contact Steve Hassapis, Coordinator, Student Community Development. We also encourage you to read our handbook (PDF).

Why we have a Judicial Process

Acadia University is an educational institution which seeks to further the social and emotional development of students as well as their ability to be critical and rational thinkers. Acadia University strongly supports the principle of freedom of expression and inquiry, will protect the right of its members to express unpopular opinions and ideas and conduct research in unpopular areas, and will expect that members of the Acadia University community will recognize their responsibility to protect these rights for all others members of the community.

The University does not tolerate intimidation (which includes, but is not limited to, harassment and "silencing" of unpopular opinions). We also believe that a fundamental code of behaviour is sensitivity to the effect of one’s personal behaviour on others and respect for their personal and property rights.

Our Mandate

Our Judicial Board comprises students, faculty, and staff approved by the University administration and Acadia Students' Union. The Judicial Process itself is fundamentally informal and the Judicial Board’s members are not trained legal experts.

The authority for the Acadia University Judicial Process was approved by the Province of Nova Scotia to the Board of Governors under the University's Act of Incorporation in 1891. These powers are exercised on behalf of the Board of Governors by the Executive Director, Student Services.