A No Contact Directive (NCD) is an administrative, non-punitive action that may be taken by the University. NCD’s prohibit a student from having verbal, physical, written, and/or electronic contact with specific other persons for a definite or indefinite period of time.
All parties involved receive an official written directive, effective immediately, that they are to avoid all contact with the other party. This directive prohibits all forms of contact and communication between both parties, including, but not limited to: (1) direct in-person contact (including making efforts to intentionally encounter the other party and unnecessarily remaining in close proximity to the other party), (2) telephonic contact, (3) written contact, and (4) electronic contact (including text message and social media contact).
Additionally, these directives prohibit both parties from pursuing contact or communication with the one another through any third party. Specifically, both parties are prohibited from: (1) soliciting family, friends, co-workers, classmates, or acquaintances, to act on their behalf to contact or communicate with the other party, and/or (2) contacting the family, friends, co-workers, classmates, or acquaintances of the other party in an effort to contact or communicate with them.
The Student Code of Conduct empowers the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards (SCCS) to issue No Contact Directives as necessary to ensure student safety. Additionally, the campus Title IX Coordinator may instruct the issuance of a No Contact Directive as a supportive measure after a report of prohibited conduct.
No. SCCS may issue No Contact Directives with or without opening a disciplinary investigation. If SCCS opens a disciplinary investigation, you will receive separate notice of the investigation.
No. A No Contact Directive is not a disciplinary measure and does not create a disciplinary record transcript notation. However, violating a No Contact Directive may create a disciplinary record.
This directive does not prohibit incidental contact, such as unintentionally passing the other party in an academic building or arriving at an off-campus establishment where the other party is present. However, in the instance of a chance encounter, please leave the location or separate yourself from the other party while at the location.
If you and the other party routinely encounter one another as part of a University-related activity (for example, through common enrollment in an academic course), please contact SCCS at (865) 974-3171 or studentconduct@utk.edu for instructions on remaining in compliance with this directive while participating in such activity
Yes. You may still maintain contact with mutual friends. However, this directive prohibits you from asking mutual friends to communicate with or contact the other party on your behalf or requesting information about the other party from mutual friends.
No. This directive prohibits all contact and communication to the other party, regardless of the intent of the contact. Additionally, retaliation against the other party is strictly prohibited and may result in University discipline.
The University views reports of violations of No Contact Directives as serious in nature. Upon receipt of such information, SCCS promptly investigates the matter and moves forward with disciplinary action when appropriate.
You may contact SCCS with a request that the directive be removed. Each request is individually reviewed. If you make a removal request, please continue to comply with the directive while SCCS considers your request.