The Student Conduct Process is an educational process to resolve reports of potential violations of College policy. The Student Conduct Process seeks to create a safe learning, living, and working community in which teaching, scholarship, and creative work thrive at the highest level.
The College’s Student Conduct Process is an educational proceeding rather than a criminal or civil trial. Therefore, the participation of attorneys, formal rules of evidence, and procedures correlating with the criminal justice system are not applicable. In the Student Conduct Process, all academic and non-academic reports of potential policy violations, with the exception of any reported action that may constitute a violation of the College’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Violence, will be reviewed through the Student Conduct Process.
Reports that a student engaged in behavior that may have violated College policy are resolved through the student’s choice of a Community Standards Conference, Resolution Panel, or a Conduct Board Hearing. Each of these resolution options is outlined in the section titled “Detailed Description of All Resolution Process.” Through these processes, a determination is made if a student is responsible for a violation of a College Policy. If a student is found responsible, sanctions may be assigned. Sanctions are intended to provide opportunities for reflection, learning, and growth as well as repair harm caused by a student’s behavior, whether to themselves or others.
The Associate Dean for Campus Life, or their designee, may, at their discretion, combine multiple reports of a single student’s behavior into a single process if the reported behavior is relatively closely related in time and/or nature. Reports received by the Office of Community Standards will typically be referred to a Community Standards Conference for review unless the student requests that a Resolution Panel or Conduct Board Hearing be convened. In more serious situations, concerns related to campus safety, or instances where a student may be facing removal from the residence halls or the College, a Conduct Board Hearing will typically be convened.
A student may be referred to the Student Conduct Process when a student is mentioned in a police report that indicates the student may have been involved in an alleged violation of local, state, or federal law. Proceedings within the Student Conduct Process may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings at the College’s discretion.
In an effort to provide fundamental fairness, ensure community safety, and provide appropriate response to sensitive or serious incidents, the College has the discretion to refer any matter to a Community Standards Conference or Conduct Board Hearing for review, and/or identify alternative procedures for resolution, whether formal or informal.
The effectiveness of the Student Conduct Process relies upon the cooperation of all participants in an orderly and fair exchange of information. All community members participating in the Student Conduct Process, regardless of their role, are expected to show consideration for all members of our community so that the fact-finding and analysis may proceed fairly, reliably, and quickly. The administrator tasked with overseeing the orderly completion of the Student Conduct Process and all associated meetings may remove any participant from any meeting if any participant fails to act with appropriate decorum. Should a removal occur, the administrator has the discretion to continue on without the participant or reschedule as they deem appropriate.
Brief Overview of the Community Standards Conference process
- A report is received by the Office of Community Standards (OCS)
- OCS reviews all submitted material and reaches out to any involved persons, starting with the Reporting party (if known) to gather more information and confirm details.
- Individuals who are listed as the Responding Party(s) will receive an email with a meeting date and time to discuss the report. The first meeting is typically a Community Standards Conference. Please note, a meeting does not mean a student is responsible for a policy violation, it is part of the information gathering process.
- The Responding Student will typically receive 48 hours notice of the time and location of the Community Standards Conference. If a student cannot meet at the scheduled time, it is up to the student to request to reschedule. The College reserves the right to proceed with the process whether or not the responding student attends the meeting.
- If there is not a clear violation of a policy, a student may still be sent an email reminder regarding College policy. (i.e. Quiet Hours reminder, Prohibited items reminders, etc.)
- During the meeting, the Community Standards Administrator (CSA) will review the information with the student, including any potential policies that may have been violated. The Responding Student and CSA will discuss what happened, the Responding Student will be able to share their perspective and understanding of the situation outlined in the report. During this conversation the Responding Student can share information as to why they are not responsible for a policy violation(s) or they may acknowledge that they are responsible for a policy violation, if appropriate based on the facts presented during the meeting.
- Based on the preponderance of evidence, the CSA will determine whether it is more likely than not that the Responding Party was responsible for a violation of a College policy.
- If a Responding Student accepts responsibility or is found responsible for a violation of College policy, the staff member will review potential sanctions for the violation with the Responding Student.
- An outcome letter detailing the conversation between the CSA and the Responding Student, as well as any sanctions, will be emailed to the Responding Student.
- Note, letters are still sent even if a Responding Student is found not responsible. This letter will detail the conversation and explain why a Responding Student is not responsible for a violation(s).
- A Responding Student has 5 business days from the date of their outcome letter to appeal. For more information on appealing a decision, you may review the appeal process.