Office of Student Conduct

Jurisdiction

The University reserves the right to initiate conduct proceedings for any student, group of students, or student organization that has allegedly violated a university regulation. Jurisdiction extends not only to violations that occur on university property, but also to off-campus violations when the behavior would constitute a violation of local ,state, or federal law and/or when such behavior has an adverse effect upon the university community. Such parties will be afforded all aspects of fairness and due process in all such matters. The student conduct system strives to maintain an educational environment, protecting the rights of others while holding individual students accountable for their actions, in a positive educational manner.  Members of the university community may initiate student conduct procedures if they have reason to believe that there has been a violation of university policy or the Code of Conduct. Policy violations should be submitted, in writing, on the University Student Conduct Referral form or through an email that provides the information requested on the form. Forms are available in the Office of Student Conduct, Room 209, Guillot University Center.

PREPARING FOR A CONDUCT CONFERENCE OR USCB HEARING

When a student or student organization representative appears for a student conduct conference before the Director of Student Conduct or his/her designee or before a University Student Conduct Board (USCB), the following procedural rights will be accorded:

• To receive a letter of notification with the date, time, and place of the student discipline conference or University Student Conduct Board (USCB) hearing.
• To have a student conduct hearing that shall be scheduled no earlier than three (3) business days after the date of the notice except in extenuating circumstances with approval from the Director of Student Conduct.
• To have an advisor present during the student conduct conference or University Student Conduct Board (USCB) hearing; however, the advisor may not participate in presenting the case, question witnesses, or make statements during the conference. The advisor may not act as legal counsel. An attorney may be present only if the student has been charged with a felony offense.
• To have the right to question all witnesses.
• To receive written notification of the decision of the student conduct conference or USCB hearing within ten (10) business days, barring unforeseen circumstances.
• To either accept the decision and sanction from the hearing officer or University Student Conduct Board (USCB), or submit a written appeal to the hearing officer within three (3) business days from the date of receipt of the decision letter.
• A student may appeal on one or more of the following grounds:
  • The student has been denied due process.
  • Discovery of substantive new evidence or substantive evidence of bias on behalf of the hearing officer or University Student Conduct Board (USCB).
  • The sanction(s) recommended was/were not justified by the nature of the violation(s).