The Conduct Process
Getting Ready for your Hearing
1) Read your charge letter. This will be sent to your Nazareth email account and will briefly outline the date and time of the incident, list the potential violations of the Student Code of Conduct, and details regarding your hearing.
2) Review the Student Code of Conduct and the Conduct Process.
3) Your assigned conduct officer will schedule your hearing around your class schedule. Typically it will be held within a few weeks of the incident and you will be given at least 1 business day's notice. If you have another obligation (practice, work, or other student obligations) that may prevent you from meeting at your assigned time, please contact your hearing officer to reschedule.
4) Please don't skip your meeting! If you do not attend your hearing, it will be held without the benefit of your participation and you will be notified of the outcome.
During your Hearing
A conduct hearing is an opportunity to share your perspective on what took place during the documented incident. Generally, these look like a conversation between yourself and your assigned hearing officer. This is your hearing, and while you have the right not to participate or answer any questions that may be asked of you, engaging fully in the hearing is recommended and encouraged. We want you to be an active participant in the hearing process! Most hearings will conclude with the hearing officer sharing their decision and the outcome. In some cases, if there is more than one student involved, the decision may not be shared until all parties have been met with.
You will be notified of the official decision of your hearing officer via an outcome letter that will be sent to your Nazareth student email,
Types of Hearings
Formal Student Conduct Hearings
Conduct Officer Hearings
These types of cases are resolved through hearings held by a designated student conduct officer and the responding student. These conduct officers are typically Residential Life staff but other faculty or staff may be appointed to serve in this capacity by the Assistant Vice President of Student Experience.
Conduct Board Hearings
While most formal cases are managed in the manner described above, instances may arise that the Director of Residential Life and Community Standards may refer to a full student conduct hearing board. Typically this would be reserved for students that are facing suspension, expulsion, or revocation of degree as a result of their involvement in an incident. These types of cases are taken seriously as they are typically held as a result of an incident that has caused significant harm to the College Community or repeated violations where the respondent has not taken responsibility or amended their conduct. Cases heard by a student conduct hearing board are directed by the chair who manages all related activities and is a non-voting member. Voting members of the board will be composed of 3 faculty or staff members. Prior to the board, the Director of Residential Life and Community Standards will also meet with the student to explain the process, offer them an advisor, and get the names of any witnesses they would like to participate on their behalf.
Informal Student Conduct Hearings
Residential Life administrators and other College officials may also hold informal hearings regarding less serious policy violations and impose appropriate sanctions
After your Hearing
After your hearing, you will receive an outcome letter that will outline the decision of the hearing officer and any corresponding sanctions.
Sanctions
Expulsion
The student’s status in the College is terminated, and the student is declared ineligible to reapply for admission. In the event of an expulsion, no refund will be granted to the student. This includes tuition, housing, food, and fees.
Suspension
The student’s status in the College is terminated, and the student is not permitted to register at Nazareth College for a designated period of time. At the end of the suspension period, the student must submit a written request for reinstatement to the Assistant Vice President of Student Experience. Any specific requirements identified at the time of suspension or at the time of the request for reinstatement must be fulfilled before reinstatement will be considered. In the event of a suspension, no refund will be granted to the student. This includes tuition, housing, food, and fees.
Deferred suspension from Nazareth College
The student is expected to refrain from all further campus violations for a designated period of time. Further violations of College policy or the student code of conduct may result in the student being suspended. The College may impose conditions during the deferral period.
Disciplinary probation
The student is expected to refrain from all further campus violations for a designated period of time. Further violations may result in suspension or expulsion from Nazareth College.
Removal from residence halls/Cancellation of housing contract
The housing contract, which provides resident student housing and food privileges, is revoked for a specified period of time. Renewal is at the discretion of the office of Residential Life.
Deferred removal from the residence halls
The student is expected to refrain from all further campus violations for a designated period of time. Further violations of College policy or the code of conduct may result in immediate removal from on-campus housing.
Warning
Written notice to a student that continued or further violations of any College policy, rule, or regulation within a specified period of time may result in more severe disciplinary action.
Admonition
An oral statement to a student informing the student that s/he has violated or is violating College policies, rules, or regulations.
Other potential sanctions
Other sanctions may include Restitution, Fines, Community restoration, loss of campus privileges, Withholding or revocation of degree, records, or admission, and/or holds that prevent registration. These are further defined in the Student Code of Conduct, Section 6. Sanctions
Appealing the Outcome
You have the right to request an appeal of the outcome. Appeals should be directed to the Associate Vice President for Student and Campus Life/Dean of Students. The request must be received no later than seven (7) business days after the receipt of the written sanction(s).
In the absence of the Associate Vice President for Student and Campus Life/Dean of Students, a designated individual from the College’s senior administrative staff will be appointed to hear your appeal.
An appeal may be requested if you believe one or more of the following conditions exist:
- A procedural error occurred during the process that had a direct impact on the outcome;
- Information is available that was unavailable at the time of the hearing, and the new information is relevant to the Student Conduct Body's determination; or
- The sanction is too severe.
It is important to know: All sanctions and interim actions remain in place throughout the appeal process or until the time to appeal has passed.
If the office of the Associate Vice President for Student and Campus Life/Dean of Students receives a request for an appeal, they may do the following
- Uphold the original decision and sanctions
- Uphold the original decision and alter sanctions
- Refer the case for rehearing or review
All decisions of the Associate Vice President for Student and Campus Life/Dean of Students are final.