Rights of the Students Engaging in Hearings
- The student is entitled to a hearing (i.e., administrative hearing, committee hearing, hearing panel depending on the charge).
- The student may appear at the hearing during the presentation of the case on which a decision may be made. Should the student elect not to appear, all statements contained in the Specification of Charge(s) letter is considered true and accurate.
- The student is entitled to present their case through statements, questions, witnesses (character witnesses are not permitted, only fact witnesses) and other forms of evidence.
- The student is free from any assumption of responsibility for any violations under which they are charged.
- The student is entitled to be accompanied by an advisor of their choice, who may be the Student Advocate if so desired. The advisor’s role must be passive and limited to advising the student as to whether the student should answer or should not answer questions. The advisor is not allowed to question any individual at the hearing, including the judicial board. The chairperson and the procedural officer may disqualify the advisor from any further participation and/or direct their removal should this be violated.
- The student may refuse to answer questions. Witnesses shall be required to answer all questions asked of them unless their answers would tend to incriminate them under any provisions of the Campus Regulations
- The decision of the student conduct board/hearing officer(s) shall be made only on the basis of matters presented at the hearing.
- The University will make a record of the events of the hearing that will be retained in its custody. A reporting individual or respondent may request, in writing, a transcript. The University would forward the digital record to a vendor, pre-approved by the University, and all cost for the transcript would be the responsibility of the requesting party.
- The student will be provided a Notice of Disciplinary Action (outcome of the hearing) in writing within ten (10) working days. This will include an explanation of the decisions rendered within ten (10) working days of the hearing.
- Included in the written notice of the results of the hearing, a person found responsible will be notified of their right to appeal the decisions of the student conduct board/hearing officer(s). Should they appeal, any action based on such decisions shall be suspended until acted upon through the appellate process except as provided for in Part IV, Section C of the Student Code of Conduct/Handbook. The University’s administrative conduct process ends once the appellate process concludes. The decision is final and will no longer be subject to review.
- All Disciplinary Hearings are closed to the public.
