Referral to and Procedures for Honor Board Hearing

The Honor Board hears all academic policy violation cases for which the student denies responsibility. It may also hear social policy cases referred by the Office of Student Conduct or cases where suspension may be a potential outcome. Students who are charged with violations where suspension may be a potential outcome may request the case be heard by the Honor Board.

An Honor Board hearing is conducted with the appropriate panel members, the responding student, reporting party (if applicable), advisors, and any witnesses. The director of student conduct (or designee) will ensure that the hearing information and any other available written documentation is available for the parties to review at least two (2) business days before any scheduled hearing.

The names of the potential hearing panelists will be shared with the responding student. Should any party object to any panelist, that party must raise all objections within one business day, in writing, to the convener. Panel members will only be replaced if the assistant dean of students or associate provost for academic excellence and operations (or designees) concludes that their bias precludes an impartial hearing of the complaint. Additionally, any panelist who feels they cannot make an objective determination must recuse themselves from the proceedings.

The director of student conduct, convener, or designee reserves the right to exclude or limit a witness if it is determined the person does not have information that is relevant to the facts of the incident. Character witnesses and statements are not permitted if they have no relevant factual information about the incident.

The convener will be present and available as a resource during all hearing procedures (including deliberations). All procedural questions are subject to the decision of the convener.

A typical Honor Board hearing procedure follows this basic outline:

• The student respondent, reporting party, witnesses, advisor(s), and the board members meet.
• The convener provides a brief overview of the hearing process to all hearing participants.
• Witnesses leave the room and the charge(s) are read to the student(s). The student responds to the charges and states “responsible” or “not responsible” to each charge.
• When appropriate, the professor, reporting party, or University investigator presents a written and/or oral statement to provide a context for the charges, the student(s) are given an opportunity to address the board, and board members pose questions to either party.
• Witnesses are requested to make statements and respond to questions. Unduly repetitive witnesses may also be limited.
• Both the respondent and reporting party respond to questions and offer any further information or statement(s).
• The respondent, reporting party, and advisor(s) leave the hearing room. The board members deliberate and determine, by majority vote, whether it is more likely than not that the responding student has violated the Code of Conduct policies. If the hearing panel consists of four members, a tie vote would result in a finding of not responsible.

For cases involving academic integrity policies:

• The associate provost for academic excellence and operations or designee will communicate the decision of the hearing to the respondent and the faculty member within two business days. This decision will include the finding, rationale, any outcome, as well as information on the conduct appeal process.

  For cases involving social policies:

• After the Honor Board panel has determined the student is responsible for violating university policy(es), the panel members are given information concerning any prior Code of Conduct violations and outcomes for the respondent. The board members may consider prior violations and outcomes for the purposes of determining the appropriate outcome to be imposed.
• The board will discuss all information available and determine appropriate outcome.
• If the recommended outcome includes suspension or permanent separation, this decision will be made in consultation with the Dean of Students. In cases involving graduate students, the convener may consult with the graduate school dean or designee to determine appropriate institutional outcomes.
• The assistant dean of students or designee will communicate the hearing decision to the respondent within two business days. This decision will include the finding, rationale, any outcome, as well as information on the conduct appeal process. This communication may occur in a meeting with the assistant dean of students. The assistant dean of students will communicate the outcome to reporting parties as required/allowed by federal law. See section on Notification of Outcomes.