Informal and formal processes defined

Informal Process

Educational Conference

Educational conferences allow us to address behavior whether or not it violates the Code of Student Conduct. Information discussed and agreed upon in these educational conferences will not appear as a reportable record. Educational conferences help to:

• Identify potential consequences of past and future behaviors
• Reflect on decision-making processes
• Explore alternative outcomes
• Determine if changes in behavior are necessary

Informal Warning

Sometimes students can make poor decisions without impacting the larger community, and by going through the conduct process are able to recognize their mistakes and accept responsibility for their actions. While a violation of the Code of Student Conduct is reported to have occurred, the nature of the violation allows for the incident to be addressed without formal charges or sanctions.

Mediation

Our department strives to build community and create an atmosphere conducive for civilized conversation among all members of this campus including students, faculty, and staff. We are available to help resolve disputes between two members of our community before the conflict rises to a level of violating the Code of Student Conduct. In mediation, the department staff will help members of our community:

• Engage in civil conversation
• Agree to set ground rules
• Reduce perceived power differentials
• Focus the dialogue on interests rather than positions

As a neutral third-party facilitator, Student Conduct staff control the process, but the parties control the outcome.

Formal Process

Investigation

When referrals are made to our department, we do our best to understand the incident and its impact on the student and campus community rather than take sides. To ensure the successful development of our students we are interested in:

• Finding information relevant to the incident
• Truthfulness of information provided

Formal Charges and Sanctions

Before a student is contacted by Student Conduct, the details of the referral are reviewed, investigations are conducted when necessary, and upon finding the referral to be valid the hearing officer begins the fact finding process. The ultimate goal of the formal process is to:

• Help students identify inappropriate conduct
• Accept responsibility for their actions
• Reduce future misconduct
• Promote positive changes in behavior and decision-making processes

The assigned sanctions are applied to meet the goals of the formal process.