Student Disciplinary Procedures (Information for Students)

SECTION 15.3. STUDENT DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES.

Complaint Procedures:

1. Any charge, accusation, or allegation which is to be presented against a student, and, which if proved, may subject a student to disciplinary action, must be submitted in writing in complete detail to the office of the chief student affairs officer promptly by the individual, organization or department making the charge.

2. The chief student affairs officer of the college or his or her designee will conduct a preliminary investigation in order to determine whether disciplinary charges should be preferred. The chief student affairs officer or his or her designee will advise the student of the allegation against him or her, consult with other parties who may be involved or who have information regarding the incident, and review other relevant evidence. Following this preliminary investigation, which shall be concluded within thirty (30) calendar days of the filing of the complaint, the chief student affairs officer or designee shall take one of the following actions:

   1. Dismiss the matter if there is no basis for the allegation(s) or the allegation(s) does not warrant disciplinary actions. The individuals involved shall be notified that the complaint has been dismissed;
   2. Refer the matter to mediation; or
   3. Prefer formal disciplinary charges.

3. In the event that a student withdraws from the college after a charge, accusation or allegation against the student has been made, and the college prefers formal disciplinary charges, the withdrawn student is required to participate in the disciplinary hearing or otherwise to resolve the pending charges and will be barred from attending any other unit of the university until a decision on the charges is made or the charges are otherwise resolved. If the withdrawn student fails to so participate in the disciplinary process without good cause, the college may proceed with the disciplinary hearing in absentia and any decision and sanction will be binding.

Mediation Conference:

4. The mediation conference shall be conducted by a qualified staff or faculty member designated by the chief student affairs officer. The following procedures shall be in effect at this conference:
   1. An effort will be made to resolve the matter by mutual agreement.
   2. If an agreement is reached, the faculty or staff member conducting the conference shall report his/her recommendation to the chief student affairs officer for approval and, if approved, the complainant shall be notified, and a written memorandum shall be created memorializing the resolution and any consequences for non-compliance.
   3. If no agreement is reached, or if the student fails to appear, the faculty or staff member conducting the conference shall refer the matter back to the chief student affairs officer who may prefer disciplinary charges.
   4. The faculty or staff member conducting the mediation conference is precluded from testifying in a college hearing regarding information received during the mediation conference.

Notice of Hearing and Charges:

5. Notice of the charge(s) and of the time and place of the hearing shall be personally delivered or sent by the chief student affairs officer of the college to the student at the address appearing on the records of the college, by certified or overnight mail and by regular mail and e-mail to students who have a college e-mail address. The chief student affairs officer is also encouraged to send the notice of charges to any other e-mail address that he or she may have for the student. The hearing shall be scheduled within a reasonable time following the filing of the charges or the mediation conference. Notice of at least five business days shall be given to the student in advance of the hearing unless the student consents to an earlier hearing.

6. The notice shall contain the following:

   1. A complete and itemized statement of the charge(s) being brought against the student including the rule, bylaw or regulation he/she is charged with violating, and the possible penalties for such violation.

   2. A statement that the student has the following rights:
      1. to present his/her side of the story;
      2. to present witnesses and evidence on his/her behalf;
      3. to cross-examine witnesses presenting evidence against the student;
      4. to remain silent without assumption of guilt; and
      5. to be represented by legal counsel or an advisor at the student's expense.

   3. A warning that anything the student says may be used against him/her at a non-college hearing.