Student Policies Dissertation Policies Student Organizations

Student Handbook

Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee: Policy and Procedures

In most instances, problems between students or between students and faculty members should be resolved without the involvement of the Office of Academic Affairs or the Office of Clinical Training and Psychological Services or the convening of an Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee. However, when formal charges have alleged that a student has engaged in serious misconduct, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training and Psychological Services may ask the core faculty to designate an Ad Hoc Disciplinary committee from their membership. Allegations of serious misconduct are those for which, in the judgment of either or both associate deans, sanctions might include, for example:

• requiring a leave of absence from the program
• requiring significant modification to the students' program of matriculation
• terminating the student from the program

Responsibilities of the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee

Under the direction of its chair, the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee is responsible for conducting a fair and impartial hearing into matters of alleged serious misconduct on the part of a student. The hearing will provide an opportunity for the Committee to hear and review all evidence for misconduct and will provide the student an opportunity for rebuttal. Based on the information presented at the hearing, the Committee is responsible for determining what, if any, sanctions should be imposed or disciplinary actions taken.

Composition of the Committee

The committee will be composed of three members of the core faculty who are not directly involved in the misconduct issue. One member of the committee will be designated as Chair. The associate dean(s) will nominate members of the core faculty and will solicit one or two nominees from the accused student. The core faculty will consider these nominees when forming the committee. If a formal investigative committee has been appointed by the associate dean(s) prior to the request for the formal hearing, core faculty who served on the investigative committee would not ordinarily also serve on the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee. Exceptions to the above procedures will be made in situations in which the student's misconduct directly involved the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training and Psychological Services. In such an instance the core faculty will elect an alternate core faculty member to assume the responsibility of the member(s) directly involved in the misconduct. The Dean of the School, who also serves as Chair of the faculty, will absent him/herself from all discussion of the case because he serves as one level of appeal of the Ad Hoc Committee's decision (see below).

Procedures for the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee

The following procedures will apply to the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee:

1. In the interests of both the student and the school, the hearing should be scheduled in a timely manner. At least five working days in advance of the hearing, the Chair will inform the student, in writing, of the scheduled hearing, the names of the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee members and the specific allegations.

2. The student shall be permitted to have an advisor. The advisor may help in the preparation for the hearing and may accompany him or her to assist, including assisting in the questioning of witnesses. The advisor may also assist the student in preparing an appeal.

3. Prior to the hearing, the accused student may challenge the committee membership by specifying his or her concerns to the Chair of the Faculty. Following discussion between the Chair of the Faculty and the challenged member(s), the Chair of the Faculty will determine whether the challenged member(s) should be disqualified and replaced. Even if not challenged, a committee member may disqualify himself or herself if the member feels that his or her objectivity may be compromised.

4. The hearing will not be open to the public. An audio or video taped recording of the presentation of evidence and rebuttal may be made. The hearing committee's deliberations will be private and not recorded.

5. The Chair of the committee may request the appearance of witnesses on behalf of the committee or the accused student. Faculty, staff and students are expected to comply with these requests. Should the accused student fail to appear for the hearing, it will be conducted as scheduled.

6. The accused student will have the opportunity to hear and question adverse witnesses and to present evidence and witnesses in rebuttal.

7. After all information has been presented the committee will deliberate privately and may take one of several actions. They may take no corrective action if there is insufficient evidence to warrant action, or they may take corrective action which could include, among other things, termination of the student from the program.

8. The actions decided on by the committee will be communicated by the Chair to either the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training and Psychological Services. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training and Psychological Services will inform the student, in writing, of the Committee's decision.

Appeal Process

The student may appeal the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee to the Dean of the School within seven working days of receipt of the committee's decision. Failure to appeal within the above time frame renders the committee's decision final. The appeal must be made in writing and must state the reason(s) why the committee's decision is believed to be inappropriate. Appeals can be based on, but are not restricted to, the following: procedural irregularity on the part of the committee, insufficient evidence to warrant the actions taken, lack of due process or discrimination including racism, sexism or sexual harassment. The Dean will review all information regarding the student's appeal and will inform the student in writing of the final decision.

In instances in which the Ad Hoc Committee's decision is that the student be terminated from the School, and the Dean finds no reason to overturn or amend this decision, the student may appeal the Dean's decision to the University Provost. The written appeal must be made within seven business days of receiving the Dean's decision. The Provost's decision is final. Failure to appeal within the allotted time renders the Dean's decision final.