Student Conduct Appeal Process

A complainant or respondent may appeal the decision of the Conduct Review Officer (CRO) or the Student Conduct Review Board to the Vice President of Student & Educational Services or their designee. The request for appeal must be in writing and submitted within ten calendar days of the decision rendered. Failure to file an appeal will render the decision final.

The basis for an appeal must be one of the following:

1. 1. The complainant’s or respondent’s right of due process under the Student Code of Conduct was violated.
   2. Inconsistent or overly severe imposed sanction.
   3. To consider new evidence which is sufficient to alter a decision, or other relevant facts not brought out in the original hearing, because  such evidence and/or facts were not known to the person appealing at the time of the original hearing. This shall only apply to new  evidence that could not have been discovered with reasonable investigation, review or effort.

Appeals shall be decided upon the record of the original proceedings and upon written summaries submitted by the CRO and/or the Student Conduct Review Board. A new hearing shall not be required to be conducted, however may occur at the discretion of the Vice President of Student & Educational Services.

The Vice President of Student & Educational Services or designee may:

1. 1. Affirm the finding and the sanction imposed by the CRO or the Student Conduct Review Board.
   2. Affirm the finding and reduce, but not eliminate, the sanction(s). Sanctions may only be reduced if found to be grossly disproportionate  to the offense.
   3. Remand (order back) the case to the original CRO or Student Conduct Review Board. Cases may be remanded if specified procedural  errors or errors in interpretation of College regulations or policy were so substantial as to effectively deny a fair hearing, or if new and  significant evidence became available which could not have been discovered before or during the original hearing.
   4. Cases may be dismissed if the findings are held to be arbitrary and capricious. On appeal, the decision of the Vice President of Student Services or designee shall be final.