Preparing for a Conference or Panel
This is intended to provide a summary of what to expect during the conference/panel process. The panel may make changes to the process on a case-by-case basis while still preserving fundamental fairness and integrity in the process. Questions regarding this process should be directed to the Student Rights & Responsibilities.
- What is a Student Conduct Conference?
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A student conduct conference is one mechanism for resolving an incident report. It will occur when the outcomes are not likely to include removal from housing, suspension, or expulsion.
- What is a Student Conduct Panel?
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A Student Conduct Panel (SCP) is one mechanism for resolving an incident report. It will occur when the outcomes reasonably include removal from housing, suspension, or expulsion.
Respondents scheduled for a SCP may elect to have a Student Conduct Conference instead. The conference will be considered a Panel-Level Student Conduct Conference, in which the full-range of sanctions may be assigned, including removal from housing, suspension and expulsion.
- What is a pre-conference?
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- An optional meeting with the case manager that takes place before the Student Conduct Conference or Student Conduct Panel
- Designed to prepare the respondent for the conference/board by explaining the respondent’s rights in the process and answer any questions the respondent may have
- Which parties are involved?
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In both a student conduct conference and a student conduct panel, the following parties participate in the process:
- Respondent: the student involved in the incident who have violated the Code of Student Conduct
- Case manager: a university administrator who will facilitate the process
- Complainant (as approved): parties reporting having been affected by an incident
- Support person (sometimes): person to emotionally or strategically support the respondent (and the complainant, as approved)
- Witnesses (sometimes): individuals with relevant information regarding the incident who can be requested by the respondent, the complainant, or a university official
In addition to those parties listed above, the following also participate in Student Conduct Panels:
- Presiding officer: a university administrator or UICC member who will be the lead facilitator of the process
- Student Conduct Panel: 3-5 full-time students and possibly a faculty member or administrator
- What should you expect?
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- To answer questions regarding
- The reported violations
- The level of the your responsibility, if any
- Your decision making process during the incident
- How this incident will impact you in the future
- What harms occurred and how they can be repaired
- To interact with the individuals present by asking and answering questions
- To answer questions regarding
- What is expected of you?
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- Provide information that is true and accurate
- Engage in good faith with all involved in the process
- Dress in a way that is comfortable for you, as you would for class
- What happens during a conference?
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- Overview of the conduct process
- Affirmation to be truthful
- Review of alleged violations
- Statements and questions of witnesses
- Parties’ statements and questioning
- Parties’ clarification statement
- Closing information regarding notification of decision and the appeals process
- What happens after a conference?
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A university official (for student conduct conferences) or the University Integrity & Conduct Council members (for Student Conduct Panels) deliberate over all of the evidence presented and makes a determination if the respondent is in violation of the charges.
- What happens before a panel?
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- Parties will provide a list of any witnesses they plan to have attending and any documents they would like to present during the proceeding. If the parties plan to have a support person attend, they should provide the name of that person and a waiver confirming their participation. The deadline for providing that information will be sent to the parties.
- The parties have the option to meet with the case manager during the pre-panel meeting to go over any documents/information that will be provided to the panel, as well as discuss the timeline of events.
- What happens during a panel?
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- The Panel will convene briefly before the parties participate. We strive to arrange private rooms (virtual or in person) in which parties can wait while the panel assembles.
- The parties will join the panel. The presiding officer will start the recording and explain the purpose and expectations of the panel, including that a decision is reached using the preponderance of evidence standard. Everyone present will introduce themselves.
- The presiding officer will present and obtain a response for any and all charges of the respondent. The respondent, if present, will provide a response of not responsible or responsible for each charge.
Opening Statements and Questioning of Complainant and Respondent (note that questioning may occur indirectly upon request
- The complainant and the respondent may provide opening statements.
- The panel and the respondent may ask the complainant questions.
- The panel and the complainant may ask the respondent questions.
Statement and Questioning of Witnesses
- Any university witnesses may make a statement. The complainant, the panel, and the respondent may ask the university witnesses questions.
- Any witnesses for the complainant may make a statement. The complainant, the panel, and the respondent may ask the complainant’s witnesses questions.
- Any witnesses for the respondent may make a statement. The complainant, the panel, and the respondent may ask the respondent’s witnesses questions.
Closing Statements and Additional Questioning
- The complainant can provide any additional information.
- The panel and the respondent may ask any remaining questions they have for the complainant.
- The respondent can provide any additional information if they wish.
- The panel and the complainant may ask the respondent any remaining questions.
- The complainant may provide their closing statement.
- The respondent may provide their closing statement.
- The presiding officer will make sure there are no additional or clarifying questions. If not, they will dismiss the parties, and begin the deliberation.
- What happens after the panel?
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- The panel will deliberate all of the information provided during the panel, as well as the case documents.
- The decision will be made using the preponderance of evidence standard, meaning that it is “more likely than not” that the respondent committed the reported violation(s).
- If found responsible, the panel will discuss and recommend possible status and active sanctions. The panel will also discuss any mitigating and/or aggravating factors.
- The panel will provide this information to the SRR case manager.
- The case manager will contact the respondent with the decision of the panel, and any sanctions, if applicable.
- What is a Student Conduct Agreement?
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- Applicable in cases where the respondent wishes to accept responsibility
- Respondent submits a statement accepting the in violation finding for all alleged violations
- Sanctions can include any status sanctions up to and including suspension and expulsion
- Respondent waives all rights to appeal
- If declined by the respondent, the case will proceed as originally referred.