Student Organization Accountability

The Department of Student Community Standards receives reports from the university Police Department, The Student Community Standards Investigations Office, staff, students and the local community at large.

1. A student conduct administrator (SCA) reviews report for alleged student rule violations. See Student Rules 41-42, Appendices VI, VII, and VIIIas well as the Student Organization Manual.

• If the SCA determines one or more rule violations may have occurred, a notification letter is issued to the student.
• If the SCA determines the behavior described in the report does not rise to the level of a possible rule violation, they may choose to take no action or to hold an informal “call-in meeting” with the student.

Is there a possibility that a university rule was violated? (If yes, 2a; if no, 2b or 2c)

A student conduct administrator (SCA) reviews report for alleged student rule violations. See Student Rules 41-42, Appendices VI, VII, and VIII as well as the Student Organization Manual.

a. If the SCA determines one or more rule violations may have occurred, a notification letter is issued to the Chief Student Leader on behalf of the organization. Is suspension a possible outcome if the organization is found responsible? If no, proceed to 3a; if yes, 3b.

b. If the SCA determines the behavior described does not rise to the level of a possible rule violation, they may choose to hold an informal “call-in meeting” to discuss the report with the Chief Student Leader. The purpose of a call-in meeting may be to bring attention to certain activities or mistakes in event planning to the Chief Student Leader, provide information on the rules and expectations for Recognized Student Organizations and connect them to helpful resources.

c. If no rule violations have occurred, there may be no action necessary at all.

Upon receiving a notification letter, the Chief Student Leader may come to the Student Conduct Office to review the conduct file. The notification letter will indicate what the most severe outcome of the conduct conference could be.

a. If the most severe possible outcome is Conduct Probation, you will have to attend an Administrative Conference for your organization. If you have been assigned an Administrative Conference, you are not required to attend an information session but may choose to schedule one to learn more about the process prior to the day of your organization’s conduct conference.

• When you arrive for your organization’s conduct conference, you will have the opportunity to review the conduct file if you have not viewed it prior to the conduct conference. Please note that if your organization’s case involved an investigation, it is best to review the file in advance due to the typical length of an investigation report.
• The conduct conference is a time for you to share your organization’s perspective on the incident. This is the time to officially respond to the charge(s) and the information in your organization’s conduct file so that the Student Organization Accountability Board panel members or student conduct administrator can make an informed decision about the charge(s).
• You may bring an advisor with you to your organization’s conduct conference, typically the advisor for your organization or a national representative if applicable. On campus advisors are encouraged to attend conduct meetings but it is not required.

b. If the suspension of your organization is a possible outcome of your organization’s case, your organization will have a Student Organization Accountability Board (SOAB) panel. If your organization has been assigned a SOAB conduct panel, your organization will also be scheduled to attend an information session to learn more about the process prior to your SOAB panel.

• When you arrive for your SOAB Panel, you will have the opportunity to review your conduct file if you have not viewed it. Please note that if the case involved an investigation, it is best to review the file in advance due to the typical length of an investigation report.
• The conduct conference is a time for you to share your perspective as the Chief Student Leader on the incident. This is your time to officially respond to the charge(s) and the information in your conduct file so that the panel members or Student Conduct Administrator can make an informed decision about the charge(s).
• You may bring an advisor with you to your conduct conference, typically the advisor for your organization or a national representative, if applicable.

At the start of your conduct conference (or during an information session if applicable), a staff member will meet with you to review your charge(s), your rights and responsibilities in the process, the range of the possible sanctions, and to answer any questions that you may have. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to accept or not accept responsibility for the alleged student organization rule violation(s) in your notification letter on behalf of your organization.

The initial phase of the conference is focused on whether the alleged violation(s) identified in the charge letter occurred. The SCA or SOAB panel members gather information to decide whether the alleged behavior is more likely than not to have occurred using the preponderance of information standard and, if so, determine whether it is a violation of the Student Conduct Code or Organizational Rules and Regulations. During this phase, you will be asked questions about the incident on behalf on your organization. Only information relevant to determining whether the charge(s) occurred is considered at this time.

• You will also have the chance to present witnesses with first-hand, direct knowledge of the incident(s), or any additional supporting information you have about the charge(s).
• Once you have shared your perspective, the SCA or SOAB members will determine whether you are found responsible for any violations and let you know this outcome. If you have been found responsible for one or more violations, you will be assigned sanctions.

If you are found responsible or accept responsibility for one or more violation(s), the SCA or SOAB panel members will assign sanctions.

• Sanctions are requirements that are assigned with the purpose of fostering development, promoting wellbeing, and addressing the impact of the incident. Considerations of the impact include effects on the individual student, others involved, and the community.
• In addition to providing educational opportunities, sanctions may affect a students’ privileges at the university.
  • See Student Organization Manual, Section III for possible sanctions.

You will typically learn the outcome at the end of the conference. Student Organization Accountability Office will issue an official outcome letter that will include the following: the findings for each charge, the rationale for those findings, assigned sanctions, if any, and a link to the appeal request form.

If your organization is found responsible or accepts responsibility for any violations, you may file an appeal within five (5) university business days. At the conclusion of your conduct conference, the SCA or SOAB panel chair will explain the appeal process, including the specific aspects of the conduct conference that you can base your appeal on.

• To initiate an appeal, you must complete the online SOAB Appeal Request Form using the link in your outcome letter. The appeal request form will be routed to the appropriate office for review. If you do not submit the appeal request form by the deadline specified in your outcome letter, you will waive your opportunity to appeal.
• An appeal can be based on one or more of the following factors:
  • New, relevant information that was not available at the time of the original conduct conference would have made a difference in the outcome;
  • The severity of the sanction(s) assigned in the original conduct conference was not appropriate for the violation(s) for which you were found responsible; and/or
  • A procedural error occurred in the course of the original conduct conference that had an impact on the outcome.