What is the Community Standards Process?
When an incident report/complaint is received, the report/complaint is assigned to an administrator within the Division of Student Life. The following options are available for case resolution (as determined by the Office of Community Standards):
1. Alternative Resolution Hearing
2. Administrative Hearing
3. Peer Review Board Hearing
4. Community Standards Board Hearing
In most cases, allegations of less serious violations shall be heard by an Administrative Hearing Officer or the Peer Review Board, or addressed through alternative resolution. Generally, more serious violations including significant interpersonal conflicts/sexual offenses shall be heard by an Administrative Hearing Officer or the Community Standards Board.
Who is the Alternative Resolution or Administrative Hearing Officer?
Any professional staff member of the University community may serve as a Hearing Officer to hear a complaint. In most cases, the Hearing Officer is a member of the Office of Community Standards or Office of Residence Life. The Office of Community Standards determines who shall hear a case.
What is the Peer Review Board?
The Peer Review Board (PRB) is a group of students who are trained to hear specific cases. The PRB includes the following members:
Board –Students are selected by a committee composed of the Vice President for Student Life (VPSL)/designee, the Chairs of the PRB, and the Presidents of the University Student Senate, the Greek Council, and the Student Union Board.
Chairpersons – Two non-voting student members are selected annually by agreement of the President of the University Student Senate, and the VPSL/designee.
Moderator – The Moderator is selected from the professional staff of Student Life by the Vice President for a term of at least two semesters. The Moderator shall advise the PRB on matters such as the type of information that may help in determining if Community Standards were violated and precedents in sanctions. The Moderator shall also facilitate the appropriate paperwork and record keeping, as well as reserve the hearing space.
When a hearing is necessary, the PRB selects five student representatives (or four, with the agreement of the respondent and complainant) to serve on a hearing panel to hear the case. Board Members shall disqualify themselves from serving on a Peer Review Board case if they believe in good faith that they cannot be objective in the matter. The respondent and complainant may object to a member for cause in writing at least 48 hours before the hearing. The Moderator shall rule on all objections and replace any disqualified members.
*For the 2009-2010 academic year, Bill Bordak (Assistant Director of Community Standards) will serve as Moderator for the Peer Review Board.
PRB MEMBERSHIP:
Any undergraduate student in good standing with the University is eligible to serve on the Peer Review Board. There is an application process (for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) each spring semester for the upcoming year's Board. Freshmen members are selected at the start of the fall semester each year.
What is the Community Standards Board?
The Community Standards Board (CSB) is a group of students, faculty, and administrators/staff who are trained to hear cases that involve more serious violations of the Community Standards. The CSB includes the following members:
Board – The Community Standards Board is a seventeen-person board, consisting of seven students, five faculty members, and five administrators/staff. Five student members are selected by University Student Senate, and two graduate student members are appointed by the Dean of each school; the five faculty members are selected by the Faculty Senate; and the five administrators/staff are appointed by the Vice President for Student Life (VPSL). The term of membership on the Community Standards Board shall be two years for faculty and administrators/staff and one year for students, running from August to August. Terms are renewable.
Chairperson – The Chairperson is a voting member, who is selected by the Moderator on a case-by-case basis.
Moderator – The Moderator is selected from the professional staff of Student Life by the Vice President for a term of at least two semesters. The Moderator shall advise the CSB on matters such as the type of information that may help in determining if Community Standards were violated and prior sanctions relating to similar conduct. The Moderator shall also facilitate the appropriate paperwork and record keeping, as well as reserve the hearing space.
When a hearing is necessary, the Moderator selects five representatives to serve on a hearing panel to hear the case. The composition of each panel shall consist of at least one faculty member, one student, and one administrator/staff. Board Members shall disqualify themselves from serving on a Community Standards Board case if they believe in good faith that they cannot be objective in the matter. The respondent and complainant may object to a member for cause in writing at least 48 hours before the hearing. The Moderator shall rule on all objections and replace any disqualified members.
*For the 2009-2010 academic year, Dr. Nancy Komada (Senior Director of Graduate, Off-Campus, Commuter, and Adult Student Life) will serve as Moderator for the Community Standards Board.
