Why
a Student Conduct Board?
Trinity
University strongly believes that students can and should monitor
the campus behavioral environment. Campus policies are designed
with input from the Trinity Alcohol Coalition, the Association
of Student Representatives (ASR), and through its student designees
on the Standards Committee. Student staff members enforce
policies in the residence halls. The body charged with
upholding policies is the Student Conduct Board--a panel of eight
upperclass students selected by ASR and approved by the president
of the University. The goal of the Student Conduct Board
is to teach students the importance of living by standards defined
by the student University community.
Is
this the same as a court of law?
The Standards
of Conduct and the Student Conduct Board are not to be confused
with legal processes and entities. While some policies
parallel state laws, policies are simply rules established
within the University to create an environment conducive to
an academic community.
The Student
Conduct Board serves as a hearing board for nearly all violations
of Standards of Conduct as outlined in the Student Handbook.
The Student Conduct Board seeks to discover the truth about
what occurred in reported incidents, to decide if students
are responsible for violating policy, and to assign sanctions
if appropriate if violations occurred. The standard used
is not one "beyond a reasonable doubt," but is based
on the greater weight of the credible evidence. The
Student Conduct Board is not set up to follow formal rules
of evidence.
What
are the rules of procedure?
Please
refer to the Student Handbook Joint Statement and Standards of
Conduct or elsewhere on this web page for detailed information
about the Student Conduct Board's rules of procedure and University
policies.
The
Student Conduct Board will inform the student in writing of policies
that may have been violated. These will be sent electronically
at least 96 hours prior to the hearing date. Responding
parties may request the presence of witnesses by submitting a
written request no later than 48 hours prior to the scheduled
hearing.
Why
have I been referred to a hearing with the Conduct Board?
Usually
Residential Life staff and Campus Security Officers submit incident
reports if a student is suspected of violating University policies. In
most instances, you will be alerted at the time of the alleged
violation that the case is being referred. The Dean of
Students reviews and refers incidents to the Student Conduct
Board.
Who
can I contact about this?
Each
case is referred to a presiding Board member. That student
is listed on the notification letter and will be your contact
before and after the hearing and will also conduct the hearing
as scheduled. This member will serve in a neutral position
in order to assist you through this process and will not be a
decision-maker in the case. This member leaves the room with
you while the rest of the Board makes its decision. Feel free
to contact that person if you have questions. (Please note that
anything you say to this member will be on the record.)
Who decided which policies I may have violated?
The chairperson
of the Student Conduct Board reviews all cases and decides
which policies may have been violated (Residential Life and
Campus Security staff don't determine this). Please refer to
the Standards of Conduct to see how each of these policies
may apply.
What
if I can't or won't attend?
Unless
there is an academic conflict, all students are required to attend. The
Student Conduct Board justices often have a full hearing schedule
and are unable to make changes. Please address any problems
with the presiding Board member. If you do not attend,
the Student Conduct Board will hear the case without the benefit
of your input.
What happens when I get to the hearing?
The
presiding Board member asks you and any other students involved
in your case to be seated. The Board begins taping, lists
the policies in question for each respondent, and then reads any
written information into the record.
The
parties involved make opening remarks and then the presiding
Board member follows up with questions. The other Board
members are invited to ask questions, and at the conclusion,
each party makes closing remarks.
The
presiding Board member clears the room, exits, and the remaining
seven Board members then make a decision. The accused parties
must remain and are invited to return when the decision is made
to learn the hearing results. Within the five class days
the presiding Board member sends out a written summary to the
responding parties that summarizes the reasoning of the Conduct
Board and details the sanctions (if applicable).
What
can happen to me?
If
you are found responsible for violating policies, the Student
Conduct Board may assign a range of sanctions, which frequently
include probation, a monetary fine, community service hours,
or some combination. The Student Conduct Board has authority
to place students on probation, suspend and expel. If
sanctions are not completed on time, a hold will be placed on
your University records and you will not be permitted to register
for classes.
What is the role of the Dean of Students?
The Dean of Students advises the Student
Conduct Board and observes hearings. However, the Dean doesn't
participate in the discussion or the assignment of sanctions.
May I see the report in order to properly
prepare?
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.
How will this be reflected on my record?
Conduct records are separate from the official academic
transcript. The Dean of Students Office maintains conduct records and
shares them only upon request and only with the approval of the student
(or former student). These records are most often requested as part of
background checks for law school, the bar, and government work. In most
cases the agencies are not concerned about the violations as much as
proper disclosure.
Tips
Please
note that hats are not allowed in the hearings. Food
is also prohibited.
You
should review the specific policies you are suspected of violating
prior to your hearing. Those policies will not automatically
be read aloud. Nearly all policies are found in the Standards
of Conduct or Residential Life sections of the Student Handbook.
You
are expected to arrange for any witnesses that you would like
to appear on your behalf. This will help to ensure a smooth
and fair hearing.
If
you are required to complete a sanction, please do so by the
deadline issued. Failure to do so will result in having
a hold placed on your academic records.
Questions?
Contact
Kira Noreiga, Chairperson of the Student Conduct Board, or
David Tuttle, Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life,
through campus e-mail. The Dean of Students Office telephone
number is (210) 999-8843 and is located in 118 Northrup Hall.
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