Description of the Student Conduct System
The State University of New York has provided for each campus the opportunity and responsibility to establish regulations governing student conduct and behavior. Within the framework created by the State University the (local) College Council shall promulgate or review and ratify regulations governing the conduct and behavior of students, subject to general guidelines established by the Chancellor, and in accordance with law and such other rules or policies as the trustees may from time to time establish. Authority for the administration of regulations at a campus rests with the campus President (Chief Administrative Officer).
The Vice President for Student Development is designated by the President to administer the student conduct system, under the supervision of the President. The responsibilities of the Vice President include the authority to designate a professional person as Director of Student Conduct whose responsibilities include training and supervision of Conduct Board members and Student Conduct Hearing Officers, communication with students and parents, and oversight and review of all cases.
Members of the faculty, staff, and student body participate meaningfully in the formulation and periodic review of these regulations in order that campus mission and specific objectives may be supported and accomplished.
Faculty-Student Conduct Board(s)
Faculty members are appointed to the Faculty-Student Conduct Board(s). Note that “faculty” in this context refers to both teaching faculty and non-teaching faculty (professional staff), as defined by the UUP union. No less than three members of the Faculty are appointed per year, usually for two-year terms, to foster carry-over with anticipated rotation. A member of the Faculty serves as Hearing Facilitator of each Board. Faculty alternates are also selected and prepared to assist in the conduct system.
Students are also appointed as Conduct Board members. Both full-time members and alternates are named, trained, and prepared to serve within the student conduct system. Students named to this responsibility shall have and maintain good academic standing and shall usually have reached their third semester of study. Unscheduled student vacancies may be filled by the Vice President for Student Development, in consultation with the Director of Student Conduct. During the early part of the semester, Examination Week, and other such times when campus groups are not fully functional, the Vice President for Student Development will charge such groups (administrative boards) or hearing officers as necessary to maintain the integrity of the student conduct system.
In exceptional cases, the Vice President may serve as or designate a faculty member as a hearing officer who shall have the same responsibility as a hearing board.
Cases pending at the end of the fall semester will be processed as early in the Spring semester as is practicable. Cases pending at the end of the Spring semester will be processed in early summer. With certain serious cases pending at the time of a student withdrawal, the student will be prohibited from returning to the campus until the case is resolved or for a period of three years, whichever is sooner.
A student who is alleged to have had a violation and who is a graduating senior will be ineligible to graduate until conduct action on the case has been completed and eligibility to graduate is confirmed. If the conduct action results in suspension, the student will be subject to being ineligible to graduate until the term of suspension has been served. Campus conduct action for an alleged violation of the Student Conduct Code will not be delayed due to the pending nature of any related criminal charge(s).
Filing Charges
Any member of the campus community may file allegations against a student under the STUDENT CONDUCT CODES. Allegations must be filed in writing within 14 days of the event leading to the filing in the Director of Student Conduct, Bouck Hall, dated and signed, using the correct form. Consultation regarding the filing of an allegation is available and suggested from members of the Residential Life staff, University Police, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Development. Final determination will be made by the Director of Student Conduct regarding whether an allegation has merit and will be processed by the student conduct system.
All students involved in the conduct process are presumed not responsible until determined responsible. Responsibility is determined either by an admission of responsibility or by the presentation of information and evidence before a Conduct Board or other hearing body. The Conduct Board or other hearing body will use a common sense application of the information and evidence before it in determining if the student is responsible or not responsible for the violation(s). If the filing of an allegation will be delayed beyond the 14-day period, the Director of Student Conduct should be notified as soon as possible to determine if an extension may be permitted.
Due Notice of Allegations
All students involved in the conduct process will receive written notification at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled hearing. The written notification will include a letter of summons to appear before the Conduct Board at a specific date, time and place; a copy of the allegation statement, and a copy of information designed to assist the student in preparation for the conduct hearing.
Waiver of Hearing
A student alleged to have violated a Student Conduct Code may request his/her hearing be waived and have the allegation reviewed by the Director of Student Conduct or designee during a Conduct Review Meeting. By making such a request, the student stipulates a plea of "responsible" to allegation(s) and requests a review of behavioral expectations which may include disciplinary sanctions. The Director of Student Conduct may approve or disapprove a request to waive a conduct hearing.
Responsibilities of the Full-Time Residential Life Professional Staff
Responsibilities of the Residence Hall Director and other full-time Residential Life staff include enforcement of College policies through educational and problem-solving approaches involving residents. Residence Hall Directors are authorized to conduct informal reviews of allegations involving the following Student Conduct Codes: (#7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20a, 20b and 22). Such reviews by Residential Life professional staff shall follow general rules of procedural fairness; however, such reviews need not conform to the strict procedures to be followed by the conduct boards. Rather, every attempt will be made to establish the facts of the matter and to educate regarding College rules and regulations and the need for these rules and regulations to guarantee a safe and civil College environment for all persons. Each such review must be documented in writing with a brief summary and an appropriate outcome sanction.
Each such review and outcome is under the purview of the Director of Residential Life who shall be consulted regarding such reviews and outcomes. A copy of these actions shall be forwarded to the Director of Residential Life in each case for review and for maintenance of appropriate records.