Reinstatement/Readmission for Students Found Responsible for Rape

This policy establishes the requirements for reinstatement or readmission of Students who have been suspended, dismissed, or expelled after being found responsible for rape, as defined by SUNY Downstate policy.

Return After Suspension

1. A Student suspended under this Policy is not automatically returned to active enrollment when the suspension period ends. SUNY Downstate will determine, at the time of sanction, whether the Student’s return will proceed through reinstatement or readmission, based on the underlying facts of the offense, length of separation, administrative requirements, and applicable academic standards.
2. The decision letter will specify whether the return process will be handled as a reinstatement or readmission, as set forth below.
3. The decision letter will inform the Student that they are ineligible to apply to or attend any state-operated campus of The State University of New York during the period of suspension.
4. The decision letter will require the Student to disclose their Suspension when applying to any community college of The State University of New York during the period of suspension.

Reinstatement
Reinstatement is used for separations of two (2) academic years or less, or where the student remains in SUNY Downstate's enrollment system in inactive status.

Reinstatement is contingent upon:

1. Completion of all sanction requirements stated in the final conduct decision letter.
2. Compliance with any ongoing directives (e.g., no-contact orders).
3. Continued academic and administrative eligibility.

Students must submit a Reinstatement Request Form to the Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee) no later than 90 days before the start of the intended term of return.

Readmission
Students whose separation exceeds two (2) academic years, or whose enrollment record has been formally withdrawn from SUNY Downstate, must follow the readmission procedure below.

Readmission requires:

1. Submission of a Readmission Application to the Office of Admissions by the published deadline for the applicable semester.
2. Payment of the standard readmission/application fee (waiver or deferral available for hardship).
3. Completion of all sanction requirements stated in the final conduct decision letter.
4. Compliance with any ongoing directives (e.g., no-contact orders).

Readmission to SUNY Downstate following an expulsion or dismissal under this Policy may be granted only under exceptional circumstances and requires the specific approval of the President or designee. A request for such readmission must be submitted to the Vice President for Student Affairs no later than 90 days before the established application deadline for the semester in which the Student seeks to return. The Vice President for Student Affairs will review the request and, where appropriate, forward it to the President or designee for consideration.

SUNY Downstate will not admit any Student who has been expelled at any other SUNY state-operated or community college campus for disciplinary reasons except under exceptional circumstances and with the specific approval of the President or designee. 

Denial of Return
Under either process set forth above, SUNY Downstate shall deny return of the Student if:

1. Sanction conditions remain incomplete;
2. Return would pose a substantial risk to safety, security, or lawful operations in the sole judgment and discretion of SUNY Downstate; or
3. The Student is subject to unresolved disciplinary proceedings.

A Student is not eligible to return to SUNY Downstate if they withdraw prior to the conclusion of any conduct proceedings. If a Student withdrew prior to the conclusion of any conduct proceedings and seeks to return to SUNY Downstate, the Student must consent to the continuation of the conduct proceedings, if the proceedings have not concluded prior to any decision about re-enrollment being rendered.

 

Last Updated: September 2026
Approved by: The Council of Deans