Upon receipt of an allegation/complaint of student or student organization misconduct, the Director of Student Conduct reviews the allegation/complaint and arranges for a preliminary investigation to determine if the complaint has merit and if charges should be filed. this investigation will occur in a timely manner and generally will be concluded within 60 days of submission of the complaint.

Educational Conference: After speaking with the complainant, the Conduct Officer meets with the accused student for an Educational Conference. The Educational Conference provides an opportunity for the accused student to share his or her insight into the alleged incident and misconduct. Thereafter, it is determined whether the matter can be disposed of administratively by mutual consent of the parties in a manner acceptable to the Conduct Officer. If the charges, sanctions, and/or provisions are agreed upon in writing, there shall be no subsequent proceedings. However, if the charges, sanctions, and/or provisions cannot be agreed upon at the Educational Conference level, there will be a formal hearing of the matter.

Deferred Suspension Review (formerly "Behavioral Contract Review"): Students who are on Deferred Suspension (formerly “Behavioral Contract”) at the time of an alleged incident will be afforded the opportunity to have an informal hearing with the Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee) rather than an Educational Conference. In accordance with the definition of Deferred Suspension (formerly “Behavioral Contract”), the Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee) will render the final decision with respect to the student’s responsibility for violations of the Student Code of Conduct and issue any appropriate sanctions and/or sanction provisions. Students who are on Deferred Suspension (formerly “Behavioral Contract”) do not have the right to a formal hearing.

There are two types of formal hearings:

Administrative Hearing: An Administrative Hearing is used to adjudicate alleged violations of a less serious nature when the likely sanction does not rise to the level of a suspension or expulsion.  The Director of Student Conduct will assign a Conduct Officer who was not involved in the Educational Conference to serve as the Administrative Hearing Officer. Decisions rendered in an Administrative Hearing are final and not subject to appeal.

University Review Board (URB) Hearing: A University Review Board (URB) Hearing is used to adjudicate alleged violations of a serious matter that may result in the sanction of suspension or expulsion for the accused student. A URB Hearing is conducted by a URB panel consisting of faculty, professional staff, and students who are selected from the URB pool. The decision of a URB panel may be appealed on limited grounds specified in Student Handbook within five (5) full class days of the decision if class is in session and five (5) full business days if class is not in session. A written appeal must be received by the Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee) and must explain on what ground(s) an appeal is based.

The Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee) may exercise discretion as to the type of formal hearing given concerns of the timeliness, specific circumstances, or complainant. In cases involving more than one accused student, hearings concerning each student may be conducted separately at the discretion of the Director of Student Conduct.

Additional guidelines concerning formal hearings and University appeals can be found in the Student Handbook.