What is a Hearing Panel?

Hearing Panels are a combination of four to six faculty, staff, and students trained to participate in the campus conduct process. This group makes a determination of responsibility in conduct and academic integrity cases then determines appropriate sanctions for students found responsible for violations of the Student Code of Conduct or Academic Integrity Policy.

Student Advisors are representatives of the Student Government Attorney General’s Office who advise the responding party, student charged with violating the Code, of the conduct process and is available to assist in the preparation and presentation of information to the conduct officer or hearing panel.

Case Coordinators are representatives of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities who advise the reporting party of the conduct process and will assist in the preparation and presentation of information to the conduct officer or hearing panel.

What to Expect?

Before your Panel Hearing be sure that you have submitted your evidence and witness list to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities three business days before your hearing. Your Case Coordinator or Student Advisor can assist you with this process. The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities can also answer any questions you may have about the hearing.

During the hearing you and a University Official, usually the Case Coordinator, both give an opening statement, provide testimony about the case, and question your witness(es). The Hearing Panel gets the opportunity to question all witnesses and evidence. Then you and the University Official present closing statements to the Hearing Panel.

After the closing statements, the Hearing Panel will make a decision of responsible or not responsible based on the information presented during the hearing.

Finally if you are found responsible then the Hearing Panel deliberates about educational sanctions. You and the Case Coordinator each offer recommendations for sanctions. The Hearing Panel will ultimately determine the imposed sanctions.