The Conduct Process

Reports

Reports of behavior alleged to violate university policy should be filed with or forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Additional information can be found on the Incident Reporting page.

Interim Measures

Interim measures may be placed on a student by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and/or HRL staff to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the university community or any member of it. In the case of student groups, interim measures may be placed on a student group by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and/or other administrative unit(s). These measures may include, but are not limited to, a “no contact” directive, removal of privileges, removal from or relocation within the residential community, and suspension of activity. 

An interim suspension of a student from the university may be imposed by the Vice Provost/Vice President for Student Affairs, or designee. See the Administrative Action Policy for additional details. Should an interim suspension be issued and resolution of the matter that prompted it not be resolved within two weeks, the interim suspension may convert to an administrative leave of absence. 

Participation

The university invites students/student groups to participate fully in all aspects of the conduct process. If a student/ student group elects not to participate in any part of the process (e.g., submitting a written statement or participating in a hearing), the conduct officer/hearing body may proceed without benefit of that student’s/student group’s input. A student/student group will be held accountable for any sanctions issued as a result of a hearing. 

Investigation

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards staff and/or designee(s) will gather information regarding the alleged incident in order to determine the appropriate means of resolution. 

Investigations may include interviews, a review of related documents, requests for written statements from any person involved in the alleged incident, and review of material available electronically. Students and student groups are encouraged to be forthright and as specific as possible when offering information related to an investigation, but may choose the extent to which they share information. 

Cases may be dropped for insufficient information, or referred for an Administrative Conference, Adaptable Resolution, or disciplinary action. In order for a case to be referred for disciplinary action (i.e., an Administrative or Conduct Board Hearing), there must be sufficient information to believe that a policy violation may have occurred and that the alleged student/student group may be responsible.

Relevance

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, the investigator from the Office for Institutional Equity, conduct officer, or the hearing panel, as appropriate, may exclude and/or redact: 

• Information that has no bearing on a fact at issue in the case, is more prejudicial than probative, or is duplicative; 
• Medical or mental health information, treatment and/or diagnosis, unless relevant to a fact at issue in the case; 
• Sensitive personally identifying information (e.g., social security numbers, contact information, etc.). 

Polygraph examinations and/or their results are neither admissible nor considered in any part of the disciplinary process. Generally, character witnesses are not permitted.