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Policy Details
Date of Last Update
1/4/2021
- President
Responsible Office
Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution
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Conduct Process and Resolution Procedures
STU 6.0
Policy Statement
The University will use the following procedures to respond to behavior which violates the values of the University and the responsibilities enumerated in the Statement. Resolution and appeal processes are administrative functions and are not subject to the same rules of civil or criminal proceedings. Because some violations of these standards are also violations of law, students may be accountable to both the legal system and the University’s policies. All meetings, conferences, hearing and appeal processes, and other interactions under this policy, may be conducted in person or remotely as appropriate.
6.1 Academic Misconduct Procedures
OSCCR works collaboratively with all GVSU faculty members to
address academic misconduct concerns. Academic misconduct procedures
apply to any allegation of academic misconduct
that happens in a
course, program of study, or research. Violations of the standards of
academic integrity that fall outside this definition will follow the
General Conduct Procedures defined in Section 6.2.
6.1.1 Instructor Responsibility
If an instructor suspects any instance of academic misconduct,
the instructor must notify and meet with the student to discuss the
incident. Based on the outcome of that meeting, the instructor may
find there was no act of academic misconduct and take no further
action. If the instructor finds there was an act of academic
misconduct and the instructor would like for corrective action to be
taken, the instructor must report the matter to OSCCR with sufficient
evidence to substantiate their finding, and with a recommendation for
a corrective action as listed below:
• Impose additional course requirements.
• Require the
student to redo the work in question.
• Reduce the student’s
grade on the work in question.
• Impose a failing grade for the
assignment, examination, or the entire course.
6.1.2 Report of Academic Misconduct to the Office of Student
Conduct and Conflict Resolution
Upon receipt of a student conduct report regarding academic
misconduct, the Conflict Resolution Facilitator (CRF) will review the
documentation, meet with the student, and with the instructor if
necessary, to make one of the following determinations.
6.1.2.1 If the CRF finds that the claim of academic misconduct cannot be substantiated, no action will be taken.
6.1.2.2 If the CRF finds that the claim of academic misconduct is substantiated and the student accepts responsibility for a violation of the Statement, the student may waive their right to a hearing and accept restorative measures appropriate to the circumstances. The CRF may decide to take one of the following actions:
• Accept the recommendation from the instructor.
• Adjust
the recommendation from the instructor.
• Assess additional
restorative measures appropriate to the current act of academic
misconduct.
• After a review of the student’s conduct record,
assess additional restorative measures.
6.1.2.3 If the CRF finds there is reasonable cause to believe that the student has engaged in an act of academic misconduct and the student does not accept responsibility for the violation, the CRF will work with the student and the instructor to refer the matter to a hearing.
6.1.3 Hearing Procedures
The Hearing Board/Hearing Officer will follow the procedures
defined in Section 6.2.4.2 and will be assigned per the procedures in
Section 7.1.
6.1.4 Appeal Procedures
The Appeal Board/Appeal Officer will follow the procedures
defined in Section 6.3 and will be assigned per the procedures in
Section 7.2.
6.1.5 Final Resolution
No corrective action or restorative measure(s) will be imposed by
the instructor or the University until the matter reaches final
resolution, via the University conduct process.
6.2 General Misconduct Procedures
These procedures apply to all actions and behaviors by individual
students and/or UAOs which violate the values of the University and
fall within the definitions of Student Responsibilities.
6.2.1 Initiation of Process and Notice
When a student conduct report of a possible violation of the
Statement is made to OSCCR, a Conflict Resolution Facilitator (CRF)
will review the report and make one of the following preliminary decisions:
• There is insufficient information to pursue the student conduct
report further or the reported activity is not a violation of the
Statement and the matter is closed and/or referred to alternative
dispute resolution.
• There is sufficient information to
determine that the reported activity falls within the purview of the
Statement and there may be a violation of the Student
Responsibilities. If this determination is made, the CRF will send
notice of the student conduct report to the student or UAO
representative through University email which will be deemed received
immediately upon sending.
6.2.1.1 This notification will include the date of the incident, a link to the Statement, a list of the sections of the Statement that are the subject of review and the date, time and location of the Administrative Conference
6.2.1.2 When involving a UAO registered with the Office of Student Life, all notices referred to in these procedures shall be sent to the President of the UAO on record in the Office of Student Life. If the UAO is not a Registered Student Organization, but instead affiliated with the University through an academic department or administrative unit, notice shall be provided to the head of that department or unit who must designate a student to serve as the UAO representative of the UAO through this process.
6.2.2 Administrative Conference
The CRF will meet with the student/UAO representative to discuss
the student conduct report and to explain the resolution process. The
student/UAO representative will have the right to ask questions and
make a statement. The student/UAO representative may be accompanied
throughout the process by a support person. At the end of this
conference a determination will be reached about the type of process
that will be used to reach resolution.
Based on the information provided by the student/UAO representative, and after further investigation, if necessary, the CRF may find that the incident was not a violation of the Statement and requires no further action. If the CRF decides there is sufficient information to believe the student or UAO has violated the Statement, the matter will be resolved through either a formal or informal process.
6.2.3 Informal Process
If the student/UAO representative accepts responsibility for the
violation of the Statement, they are waiving their right to a hearing
and accept restorative measure(s) appropriate to the
circumstances. The student/UAO representative will be provided with
the details of the restorative measures in writing. In addition to the
restorative measures listed under Section 8.0, the student/UAO
representative may agree to participate in one of the following
conflict resolution processes:
• Circles (conferences) – discussions guided by a
CRF where participants are invited to sit in-circle to discuss a
specific topic with guidelines and a talking piece.
•
Conflict coaching – a one-on-one conversation
between a CRF and a student in conflict with another student who is
unwilling or unable to engage in a facilitated dialogue.
•
Facilitated dialogue – a conversation between two
(2) or more individuals guided by a CRF for the purpose of resolving a
mutual concern.
• Social justice mediation – a
process guided by a CRF where students clearly identify their
interests, needs, and resolution options.
• Shuttle
negotiation – the CRF serves as a liaison between parties in conflict.
Once the student enters into an informal agreement, the agreement may not be appealed. Failure to complete the terms of the informal agreement in its entirety may result in additional allegations being brought against the student.
6.2.4 Formal Process
If the student does not accept responsibility for a violation of
the Statement, a hearing will be held to resolve the matter. A hearing
is an administrative process by which a Hearing Board/Hearing Officer
evaluates the information presented during the hearing, determines
whether the student or UAO violated the Statement, and, if
appropriate, recommends restorative measure(s) to the
CRF. Students/UAO representatives may choose either a Hearing Board or
a Hearing Officer to conduct the hearing.
As stated under Student Rights, the University is committed to providing students and UAOs with a fair process of dispute resolution that provides due process protections to which they are entitled; however, a hearing is an administrative process of the University rather than a criminal or civil court proceeding. The University is the convener of every action under the Statement.
The following procedures provide the details of the rights and responsibilities of all parties.
6.2.4.1 Rights of Students and University-Affiliated Organizations in the Conduct Process These rights apply to the student or UAO alleged to have violated the Statement, the person or group who brought the allegation, and the staff or faculty member representing the University at the Hearing:
• To a fair and prompt hearing before an impartial decision-maker
or hearing board.
• To appear in person and speak at a
hearing.
• To not attend the hearing. If a student or UAO
representative chooses not to attend, the hearing will be held in
their absence. The failure of a student to appear will not be taken as
an admission of guilt.
• To refuse to answer questions.
•
To be accompanied by a support person of the student’s or UAO
representative’s choice.
• To call on witnesses whose testimony
is directly related to the alleged incident, but not to general
character. The names of any witnesses to be called on at the hearing
must be submitted to the CRF at least one (1) business day prior to
the hearing.
• To provide any information/evidence that may
support their testimony. Any evidence to be used at the hearing must
be submitted in advance to the CRF at least one (1) business day prior
to the hearing.
• Additionally, both parties have the right to
request to review any evidence submitted by the other party prior to
the hearing.
• To ask questions of the other party and of any
witnesses called on at the hearingÀ The Hearing Board/Hearing
Officer has the right to determine the method of questioning
(direct questioning, submitting of written questions, or any other
method that Hearing Board members agree will elicit the necessary
information).
• To have a copy of the hearing decision,
rationale, and, if any, the assigned restorative measure(s).
•
To request an appeal to appeal the decision.
6.2.4.2 Hearing Procedures
6.2.4.2.1 At least three (3) business days before the hearing, the student or UAO representative will be sent a notification that includes the name(s) of the Hearing Board/Hearing Officer, in addition to the date, time, and location of the hearing. This notification will be sent through university email and will be deemed received immediately upon sending.
6.2.4.2.2 In all conduct proceedings, the burden of proof rests with the University, represented by a staff or faculty member assigned by OSCCR, which must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that a violation has occurred.
6.2.4.2.3 The decision of the Hearing Board/Hearing Officer regarding responsibility will be made solely on the evidence provided during the hearing. If the student/UAO is found to have violated the Statement, the decision about the appropriate restorative measures may include the administrative contact history made in connection with the incident, and the cumulative conduct history of the student or UAO found responsible.
6.2.4.2.4 A single verbatim audio recording will be made of the hearing. This record will remain the property of the University and will be kept by OSCCR. No other recording device is allowed. The recording is considered part of the student’s or UAO’s disciplinary record and will be maintained by OSCCR.
6.2.4.2.5 The Hearing Board/Hearing Officer and the University’s representative may ask questions of any witnesses called on at the hearing.
6.2.4.2.6 The Hearing Board/Hearing Officer may remove any individual from the hearing who is disruptive. The hearing may proceed without the presence of the removed individual. If the disruption is caused by a student, the Hearing Board, in consultation with the Director of OSCCR, may determine that a report of a possible violation of the Statement be submitted.
6.2.4.3 Decision
The Hearing Board/Hearing Officer will issue a written decision
to OSCCR within three (3) business days, including a decision
regarding the allegation, the rationale for the decision and, if
applicable, the recommendation for restorative measures. Within three
(3) business days from the date the decision is received by OSCCR,
notification of the decision, rationale, and any assigned restorative
measures will be sent to the student or UAO representative alleged to
have committed a violation and the person or group who first brought
the allegation.
6.3 Appeal Procedures
6.3.1 Right to request an appeal
The student or UAO with the alleged violation, the person or
group who first brought the allegation or the University, has the
right to request an appeal a decision of the Hearing Board/Hearing
Officer. In cases related to academic misconduct, both the student and
the instructor have the right to appeal a decision of the Hearing
Board/Hearing Officer. Students/UAO representatives may request the
appeal heard by either an Appeal Board or an Appeal Officer.
6.3.2 Grounds to appeal
The party appealing the decision of a Hearing Board/Hearing
Officer must submit a written appeal, received in OSCCR within three
(3) business days of the date the party was sent the written
decision. An appeal received after that time limit has expired will
not be heard unless there is a compelling reason, as determined by the
Vice Provost for Student Affairs (or designee). The appeal must
include at least one of the following three (3) grounds for appeal,
and the remedy requested from the appeal body.
6.3.2.1 New evidence A claim that new evidence, unavailable during the original investigation or hearing, could substantially affect the original finding or restorative measure(s). A summary of the new evidence and its impact must be included in the appeal request.
6.3.2.2 Procedural error A claim that procedural error had a significant effect on the outcome of the hearing.
6.3.2.3 Conflict of interest The CRF or decision-maker(s) had a conflict of interest or bias for or against accuser or accused that affected the outcome of the hearing.
6.3.3 Review Process
The Appeal Board/Appeal Officer will review the appeal request to
determine whether there are grounds for an appeal. If there are
grounds for an appeal, the Appeal Board/Appeal Officer will review the
materials used in the hearing, including the recording made of the
hearing. If a finding of responsibility is upheld, the administrative
contact history related to the matter, and the cumulative conduct
history of the student or UAO alleged to have committed a violation,
will also be reviewed. The Appeal Board/Appeal Officer does not meet
with either party during the appeal process.
6.4 Scope of Appeal
The consideration of an appeal is limited to determining whether
the findings of the Hearing Board/Hearing Officer, were so incorrect,
or that a procedural error was so significant, that it affected the
outcome of the hearing or the imposition of restorative measures and
requires that the decision should be changed. An appeal is a limited
review of the findings and/or restorative measure of the Hearing
Board/Hearing Officer as requested by the person(s) making the
appeal. An appeal is not used for the purpose of:
• Substituting the judgment of the Appeal Board/Appeal Officer for
that of the original Hearing Board/Hearing Officer,
• Deciding
whether or not it would have reached the same decision, or
•
Reexamining the changes against the student or UAO.
6.5 Appeal Board/Appeal Officer Decision Options
After review of the materials, the Appeal Board/Appeal Officer may:
• Dismiss the appeal and uphold the original decision.
•
Grant the appeal and remand the case back to the original Hearing
Board/Hearing Officer for reconsideration citing the findings of the
Appeal Board/Appeal Officer.
• Grant the appeal and require a
new hearing with a different Hearing Board/Hearing Officer.
•
Grant the appeal and modify the restorative measures required.
6.6 Appeal Decision
The Appeal Board/Appeal Officer will issue a written decision to OSCCR within three (3) business days, including a decision based on the grounds for the appeal, the rationale for the decision, and, if applicable, the new recommendation for restorative measures. Within three (3) business days from the date the Appeal Board/Appeal Officer decision is received by OSCCR, notification of the decision, rationale, and any changes to the restorative measures will be sent to the student or UAO representative found responsible and the person or group who first brought the allegation. The notification will be sent through University email and will be deemed received immediately upon sending.
The decision of the Appeal Board/Appeal Officer is final and binding.