Student Conduct Board Roles
The Student Conduct Board offers three different roles that members can hold.
Every board member is initially training as a Panel Hearing Officer, but has the opportunity to complete additional training to also serve as a Forgiveness Review Member and/or Conduct Advisor.
Panel Hearing Officer
Panel Hearing Officers play an integral role in the adjudication of formal student conduct cases by serving as representatives of the University to ensure students are afforded their due process rights. Student Conduct Board Panel Hearings are primarily utilized in cases involving alleged violations of sexual misconduct, endangerment, and harassment. They may also be utilized in cases resulting in a suspension breaking continuous enrollment or expulsion, or cases involving high-risk populations. Panel Hearing Officers are responsible for assisting in the overall implementation of hearing procedures, which includes equal treatment of the parties and due process.
The Assistant Director and Program Coordinator communicate directly to Board Members when a case necessitates the need for Panel Hearing Officers. Once you have committed to serving as a Panel Hearing Officer, and have been selected for a specific case, it is your responsibility to identify any conflicts of interest between you and the case parties.
Duties:
- Respond to emails regarding your availability, panel hearing selection, being an alternate, etc.
- Identify any conflicts of interest between you and the case parties, if applicable
- Download Zoom and Microsoft Teams using your 海角社区email information and actively utilize the apps when selected to serve on a panel hearing or panel forum
- Arrive at scheduled Panel Review time. (15 minutes prior to panel hearing start time, unless noted otherwise)
- Review Incident Reports and documentation presented for Panel Hearing.
- Participate in the Panel Hearing by interacting with the parties and taking a critical examination of all materials.
- Be knowledgeable of Student Code of Conduct violations and review case through preponderance of evidence standard.
Forgiveness Review Member
Student Conduct Board members may assist in the Student Conduct Forgiveness Process, which allows students who have been found responsible for violations of the Code of Conduct to request a case review to potentially have their conduct record forgiven.
Duties:
- Familiarize yourself with rules and guidelines of the student conduct process, including the educational purpose and transformational opportunity of the student
- Identify any conflicts of interest between you and the case parties, if applicable
- Ensure case being reviewed is minor in nature and did not result in suspension or expulsion
- Consider the severity of the violation and the effect of the violation on the University community
- Review the sanctions assigned and completed along with the ethical development that has been since demonstrated by the student
- 30-60 minutes of case review and deliberations among the other Forgiveness Review members
Conduct Advisor
A Conduct Advisor meets with students involved in the student conduct process to assist them in understanding their rights, the conduct process (from investigation through hearing), while also providing them with information about campus resources. Individuals in this role may serve as the Advisor during the formal Student Conduct process. Student Conduct Board members who wish to assist students by serving as a Conduct Advisor should complete the Conduct Advisor training module.
* This role designation option is only available to Graduate students OR Faculty/Staff. Undergraduate students are not able to serve as advisors under the Student Conduct Board.*
Cases where a potential Title IX violation is under review will require Advisors who have successfully completed a Title IX training module.
Duties:
- Identify any conflicts of interest between you and the case parties, if applicable
- You may be requested by the student to meet with them one-on-one to review the role of the advisor, the conduct case, and the student’s rights
- Serve as the primary support to students and offer clarification to the student when needed. The Advisor does not communicate information on behalf of the student
- Complete the Advisor Intake Form and Checklist
- Familiarize yourself with the entire student conduct process prior to a hearing in order to provide reliable feedback and guidance to the student
- Attend any meetings/hearings, as requested by the student
- For TIX hearings: The University is required to provide both the respondent and the complaint an advisor for TIX cases, but the students can also bring their own. The University designated advisor will be available to the student, regardless of if they already have an advisor. The students are not required to use the University designated advisor.
- For TIX hearings: If a student has an advisor and the advisor is present during the hearing, the SCB TIX advisor will attend the beginning of the hearing, will most likely be dismissed, and then will need to remain "on call" for the duration of the hearing.
Student Conduct Board members serving in the capacity of a Conduct Advisor for a case may not participate in the investigation of that case or serve as a Panel Hearing Officer for any case with a current or former student respondent advisee.
NOTE: For specific information related to the role of Advisors in Title IX and Sexual Misconduct cases, please refer to the Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Sexual Harassment Regulation.