Student Conduct Process

Click here to access The �Ӱ�ԭ�� Code of Conduct booklet.

Student Conduct Process Map –This flowchart outlines The �Ӱ�ԭ��'s student discipline process, which is also referred to as the student conduct process.

Sanctioning Guidelines – These guidelines provide a range of sanctions for each offense assuming that a student has no prior conduct history.

Informal and Formal Conduct Hearings

Any member of the �Ӱ�ԭ�� community with knowledge of an alleged violation of this Student Code of Conduct may file a complaint against any student or student organization for misconduct. The complaint shall be prepared in writing and directed to the Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or a written report may be made through the �Ӱ�ԭ�� Police Department or an appropriate law enforcement agency. A complaint should be submitted as soon as possible after an alleged violation occurs.

Educational Conference: Upon determining that there is sufficient information that a violation of the Student Code of Conduct may have occurred, a Conduct Officer provides the accused student with notice of the alleged violations. Thereafter, the a Conduct Officer meets with the accused student for an Educational Conference. The Educational Conference provides an opportunity for the accused student to share their insight into the alleged incident and misconduct. Thereafter, the Conduct Officer shall determine whether it is more likely than not that the student violated the Student Code of Conduct. If the student accepts responsibility for the violations and agrees to abide by the applicable sanctions, there shall be no subsequent proceedings. However, if the violations and sanctions cannot be agreed upon at the Educational Conference, there will be a formal hearing of the matter.

Deferred Suspension Review - Students who are on Deferred Suspension at the time of an alleged incident will be afforded the opportunity to have a Deferred Suspension Review meeting with the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students (or designee) rather than an Educational Conference. In accordance with the definition of Deferred Suspension, the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students (or designee) will render the final decision with respect to the student’s responsibility for violations of the Student Code of Conduct and issue any appropriate sanctions. Students on Deferred Suspension do not have the right to a formal hearing.

Post-Suspension Review - Students who are on Post-Suspension Probation at the time of an alleged incident will be afforded the opportunity to have a Post-Suspension Review meeting with the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students (or designee) rather than an Educational Conference. In accordance with the definition of Post-Suspension Probation, the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students (or designee) will render the final decision with respect to the student’s responsibility for violations of the Student Code of Conduct and issue any appropriate sanctions. Students on Post-Suspension Suspension do not have the right to a formal hearing.

There are two types of formal hearings:

Aadministrative Hearing: An Administrative Hearing is used to adjudicate alleged violations of a less serious nature when the likely sanction does not rise to the level of a suspension or expulsion. The Director of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution will assign a Conduct Officer who was not involved in the Educational Conference or a �Ӱ�ԭ�� Review Board member to serve as the Administrative Hearing Officer. Decisions rendered in an Administrative Hearing are final and not subject to appeal.
�Ӱ�ԭ�� Review Board Hearing: A �Ӱ�ԭ�� Review Board (URB) Hearing is used to adjudicate alleged violations of a serious matter that may result in the sanction of suspension or expulsion for the accused student. A URB Hearing is conducted by a URB panel consisting of faculty, staff, and students selected from the URB pool and a non-voting chairperson appointed by the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students (or designee). Decisions rendered in a �Ӱ�ԭ�� Review Board Hearing are subject to appeal as outlined in Article III, Section F.

The Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students (or designee) may exercise discretion as to the type of formal hearing given concerns of the timeliness, specific circumstances, or complainant. In cases involving more than one accused student, hearings concerning each student may be conducted separately at the discretion of the Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.

Additional guidelines concerning formal hearings and �Ӱ�ԭ�� appeals can be found in the Student Handbook.

Standard of Responsibility

The �Ӱ�ԭ�� utilizes the “preponderance of the evidence” standard of responsibility in conduct proceedings. The �Ӱ�ԭ�� will determine, based on information presented, whether it is more likely than not that a student or student organization is responsible for violating the Student Code of Conduct. The burden of meeting the standard of responsibility rests with the �Ӱ�ԭ��.