The University Conduct Board and hearings

1.  The University Conduct Board hears cases that are not heard by the Student Conduct Board.

2.  The University Conduct Board will consist of two faculty members, two faculty member alternates, and one student.  The student member will be appointed on a rotating basis from the current Student Conduct Board by its chair.  The faculty members will be recommended by the Faculty Senate and appointed by the president for a three-year term. 

3.  The dean of students serves as the presiding chair of the University Conduct Board. S/he is a non-voting member and serves as an advisor on the process to the accused student(s), the accusing party(ies), and others involved in the process.  The dean of students presides over the hearing, but will not be present while the decision is made and the sanction, if necessary, is decided.

Procedures for the Student and University Conduct Boards

The Student and University Conduct Boards will conduct their hearings according to the following procedures:

1.  Students will be sent a notification letter that includes a list of all possible University standards of student conduct that may have been violated and that refers students to procedures as outlined in this section of the "Student Handbook."  The notification will be sent a minimum of 96 hours prior to the meeting date of the Conduct Board.

2.  Any student accused of violating University standards of student conduct, or any student presenting a case before a Conduct Board, may submit a written request no later than 48 hours prior to his/her hearing date that the Conduct Board call witnesses on his/her behalf.  The written request must include a brief statement of the information each witness can provide.  The presiding chair has the discretion to decide which witnesses will be called to the hearing. Students will be informed in advance and in writing of all participating witnesses.  Any challenge to the final list will be heard by the entire Conduct Board, whose voting members will then make the final determination as to which witnesses will appear in the hearing.  If the presiding chair does not accept a witness, he/ she will include a brief written reason with the record of the hearing.

3.  Student(s) accused of violating University standards of student conduct will have access to all written records (including but not limited to incident reports, letters, Campus Safety reports, and witness statements).  Accused student(s) may receive copies of reports, but identifying information of other parties will be redacted from the documents.

4.  An audio recording will serve as the single verbatim record of all hearings.  The hearing tape is the sole property of Trinity University.  Any student who has a right of appeal in the case has the right to listen to this audiotape, but will not be provided a copy nor may s/he make a copy or remove the tape from the dean of student's office.  No court reporters or additional recording devices are permitted at the hearing.  The recording of a hearing will be made available to the Conduct Review Board at their request.  Recordings of hearings will not be destroyed until it is certain that the decision of the Conduct Board will not be appealed to the Conduct Review Board or to the President of the University or that any such appeal process has been concluded

5.  Within five class days, a designated member of the relevant Conduct Board will send out a written decision to the accused student(s) and relevant University officials that summarizes the reasoning of the Conduct Board and details the sanctions (if applicable).  This summary will include a review of facts, witnesses heard, information determined to be credible, information used on which to base the decision, and reasoning for the sanction.

6.  Accused student(s) have the right to be present during the hearing.  However, if accused student(s) choose not to attend the hearing, a decision may be made without his/her presence.

7.  Any student appearing before a Conduct Board in any capacity may bring a person of support.  This support person does not have to be a member of the University community.  S/he may be present for purposes of advice and support but may not speak on behalf of the student unless s/he is a previously designated witness.

8.  All hearings are closed to the public, except for the person(s) accused of violating policy, witnesses, the accusing party(ies), support person, the Conduct Board, the board advisor, referring staff, and other University officials as approved by the vice president for Student Affairs.  Any party in a hearing may petition the Conduct Board for an open hearing up to 24 hours in advance of the hearing.  Such a petition should state the reasons an open hearing is requested.  All parties involved in the case will be permitted to express opinions about the petition before the Conduct Board decides the hearing status.

9.  Hearings will generally begin with a reading by the presiding chair of relevant documentation.  Those who have submitted the documentation or are primary witnesses will make opening remarks followed by opening remarks by the accused student(s).  The Conduct Board will ask questions of participants and witnesses.  All parties in the hearing may pose questions to other parties through the Conduct Board.  Participants will be asked to make closing remarks.

10.  All parties in a hearing are expected to act with proper decorum.