Community Standards Advisor

What is a Community Standards Advisor?

[Note: The following is for Community Standards matters not addressed under the procedures of the Interim Title IX Grievance Policy.]

At any time during the Community Standards process, the respondent or complainant may consult with an advisor from the University community. An advisor is a member of the University community who a student is permitted to consult with throughout the process, including accompanying the student to meetings/hearings within the Community Standards process. In this context, University community refers to all current employees and students of Saint Joseph’s University. The choice whether or not to invite an advisor is solely that of the respondent or complainant involved.  

An advisor serves to guide the individual through the Community Standards process. At any stage of the Community Standards process, the individual may seek advice from the advisor, and the advisor may give advice to that individual. However, the advisor may not speak for that individual or otherwise direct questions to or address others present in any Community Standards process meeting/hearing (e.g., the opposing party, witnesses, and/or the person conducting the meeting/hearing (university official). An advisor cannot serve in a different role during the Community Standards process (e.g., witness).  

The University may remove or dismiss an advisor who becomes disruptive or who does not abide by the restrictions on participation, as determined by the person conducting the meeting/hearing (university official).  

An advisor may take notes, but is not permitted to inspect, read, copy, photograph, or transcribe any documents or data at any stage of the Community Standards process. While an advisor’s schedule is not determinative, reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate the advisor. Problems with an advisor’s schedule will not delay a meeting/hearing.

Non-University advisors, and family members or legal counsel, regardless of whether they are members of the University community, are not allowed to serve as advisors, inspect hearing records during the Community Standards process, or attend meetings/hearings. The advisor may be someone who holds a J.D., so long as the person holding the J.D. is not then engaged in the active practice of law and discloses and affirms these circumstances to the Office of Community Standards prior to attending any meetings/hearings in this capacity with the advisee party. The Office of Community Standards has the final determination as to who may serve as an advisor. 

A list of University community members who are trained on the Community Standards process and the role of advisors within the process, is available below, and in the Office of Community Standards (Campion 243). A complainant or respondent may choose one of these trained advisors to serve as an advisor, or may select any other person from inside the University community to serve as an advisor.

Trained Community Standards Advisors:

A list of Trained Community Standards Advisors is available here. These advisors have been provided training on the Community Standards process at Saint Joseph’s University and avail themselves as a Community Standards Advisor. Please note that these individuals have not received specific training on the Interim Title IX Grievance Policy, the Interim Sexual Misconduct Policy, or the Interim Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation. Trained Community Standards Advisors.

Questions regarding advisors may be directed to the Office of Community Standards.

Office Information

Campion Student Center, Room 243
Phone: (610) 660-1046
Email: communitystandards@sju.edu