Standard of Conduct Review Board Policies and Procedures

Effective: 8/1/17; Reviewed 7/25/22
Updated: 5/8/23
Contact: Student Life Office

Purpose

Respond to student behavior that is inconsistent with William Jewell College’s Standard of Conduct. Students who violate the Standard of Conduct policy will consider how their actions adversely impact community, others, and self through education, reflection, and restoration.

The Standard of Conduct Review Board is granted authority by William Jewell College administration and serves as the committee responsible for responding to charge(s) of student violations of the Standard of Conduct policy. The Standard of Conduct Review Board is comprised of students who are required to maintain the highest standards consistent with the mission and values of William Jewell College.

Confidentiality regarding all aspects of hearings—including the hearing, deliberation, and votes by individual members—is of the utmost seriousness and importance. Any member who breaks confidentiality is subject to removal from the Standard of Conduct Review Board and disciplinary action.

  • Expectations of Responding Student – In a hearing before the Standard of Conduct Review Board, the responding student is expected to:
    • Present an oral or written statement in response to the charge(s);
    • Be present during the entire hearing;
    • Present witnesses during the hearing, when appropriate and with the permission of the Standard of Conduct Review Board Chairperson. The Chairperson has discretion to allow or deny written statements from witnesses unable to attend the hearing.
  • Composition & Responsibilities – The Standard of Conduct Review Board is comprised of five students and one faculty/staff member. Faculty/Staff members are recommended by the Dean of Students. The faculty/staff member is then randomly selected from a pool of members approved to serve by the VP of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Life. Student members are nominated by Student Senate and confirmed for eligibility by the Standard of Conduct Review Board Advisor. Student members must meet the following eligibility requirements:
    • maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
    • be classified as a full-time (12 credit hours) student at William Jewell College.
    • be in good standing with the College.
    • requires a minimum commitment of one academic year.
    • attend all training sessions and hearings, if selected from the pool for a hearing.
  • Chairperson – a student appointed by the Dean of Students from the pool of Student Senate nominees. The Chairperson is responsible for:
    • Meeting with the Standard of Conduct Review Board Advisor to prepare for hearings.
    • Administering and overseeing executive sessions, the hearing, and deliberations.
    • Ensuring adherence to procedural guidelines.
    • Designating a “Recording Secretary” before each hearing.
    • Exercising discretion to decide who has permission to address the Board during hearings.
    • Being an active voting participant in the hearing.
    • Preparing a written summary of outcomes from each hearing.
    • Relaying hearing information for appeals, if requested by the Dean of Students or VP of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Life.
  • Vice Chairperson – a student appointed by the Dean of Students from the pool of Student Senate nominees. The Vice Chairperson is responsible for serving as a member of the Standard of Conduct Review Board and assumes the Chairperson’s role and responsibilities in their absence.
  • Board Members (including the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson) are responsible for:
    • Understanding the mission and vision of William Jewell College and College policies and procedures.
    • Understanding the educational purpose of the Standard of Conduct Review process and implementing educational decisions and outcomes.
    • Attending all meetings and hearings, unless excused by the Chairperson.
    • Signing an annual confidentiality agreement.
    • Recusing themselves from a hearing if they have a conflict of interest (i.e. relationship with respondent or other hearing participant, circumstance that impacts ability to be impartial or objective, bias, etc.)
    • Reading all incident reports, supporting documentation, evidence, and other materials pertaining to the hearing.
    • Listening to all parties involved in the hearing.
    • Determining if there is merit to the charge(s).
  • Board Advisor (ex-officio, non-voting) – the Dean of Students will:
    • Provide historical precedence.
    • Advise the Board as necessary.
    • Maintain all College records pertaining to Standard of Conduct Review proceedings.

Hearings

Hearings occur as needed and require a (minimum) of three members that includes one faculty/staff and two student members to constitute a quorum. No hearing may be held without a quorum present. All hearings are private and closed to the public

The following process will be followed for hearings:

  • Pre-Hearing Executive Session – The Standard of Conduct Review Board will meet to review relevant documents and materials prior to the scheduled hearings. Board members who have a conflict of interest will recuse themselves from hearing any conflicting case. The pre-hearing executive session excludes responding students.
  • Hearing Procedures – The Chairperson will lead the hearing, control the floor, and have full authority over the hearing. The hearing will proceed as follows.
    • call the hearing to order
    • all participants will introduce themselves
    • the Standard of Conduct Review purpose will be read
    • all participants will be reminded about confidentiality of the hearing
    • the charges will be read
    • the responding student will be asked if they’re contesting the charges
    • if charges are contested, the responding student may state their case, bring forward witnesses, etc., with the Chairperson’s authorization
    • the individual(s) bringing charges may present evidence, bring forward witnesses, etc., with the Chairperson’s authorization
    • questions may be asked of the individual(s) bringing the charges by board members
    • questions may be asked of the individual(s) bringing the charges by the responding student, with the Chairperson’s authorization
    • the individual(s) bringing the charges may make a closing statement
    • the responding student may make a closing statement
  • Deliberation in Executive Session – Only voting members of the Standard of Conduct Review Board will participate in deliberation. The Board:
    • has the authority to speak with any hearing participant again.
    • has the right to review any past conduct history of the responding student.
    • will issue a ruling on the charge(s), along with any subsequent Outcomes (see below).

All final decisions of the Board require a 2/3 majority vote of Board members present.

  • Post Hearing – The Board Advisor will communicate in writing the Board’s decision and any outcomes to the responding student within two business days following the hearing. The responding student will also receive information regarding the appeal process. All records pertaining to the hearing will be retained in the responding student’s disciplinary file per the College’s Records Retention Policy.

Outcomes

Verbal or written warnings may be issued to respondents who showed poor judgment, but were not deemed in violation of the Standard of Conduct.

The Standard of Conduct Review Board may issue Outcomes if it is determined that the responding student violated the College’s Standard of Conduct. Outcomes are based on circumstances of the incident that resulted in the charge(s). The merits of each case will be considered prior to any decision about Outcomes.

Outcomes are intended to respond to the behavior and disciplinary history of the responding student. The Standard of Conduct Review Board may render Outcomes even if the responding student fails to:

  • meet with a Student Life Office Staff member to receive Notification of Charges, or
  • attend the Standard of Conduct Review Board hearing after reasonable efforts have been made to notify the responding student of the charges against him/her and the date, time, and location of the hearing.

The following are possible Outcomes that may result from a Standard of Conduct Review Board hearing. Outcomes include, but are not limited to:

  • Verbal/Written Warning – Documented warning that the behavior was unacceptable.
  • Educational Requirement – Research or completion of an educational course or program that responds to the behavior that resulted in disciplinary charges.
  • Written Reflection – A written reflection detailing the student’s thoughts, observations, experiences, and lessons learned from the incident and Standard of Conduct Review process, and an analysis of the impact of the violation on community and self.
  • Notification – The student may be required to communicate the charge(s) and outcome to their academic advisor, coach, or any person who has legal access to this information.
  • Community Service – A designated project or number of hours served by the student for the good of the community, usually completed at William Jewell. If off-campus service is approved, it must be at a not-for-profit organization; the student cannot receive pay for the work; and written confirmation of completion from the benefiting agency is required.
  • Restitution or Fine – Financial accountability for damage to property and/or continued disciplinary problems caused by the student or a proportional fine may be levied against the student.
  • Disciplinary Probation – An official state of warning from the College notifying the student that, if the student violates any college policy while on probation, they could face additional discipline, depending upon the severity of the subsequent violation. Students are required to sign a Probationary Contract with the Student Life Office, acknowledging they understand the terms and requirements of their disciplinary probationary status.
  • Partial Suspension – A partial separation of the student from William Jewell College, without refund. The student loses the right to participate in extracurricular, co-curricular, and other non-academic activities, and may receive other restrictions on campus. The student will continue to attend classes and may use academic resources, although certain conditions may be imposed. The student will not be in good standing with the College during a period of partial suspension.
  • Full Suspension – A formal separation of the student, without refund, from William Jewell College during a specified period of time. The period of suspension can range from one semester of separation to indefinite separation from the College. The student will not be in good standing during a period of full suspension.
  • Dismissal – Permanent separation of the student from William Jewell College, without refund. William Jewell College will reveal a dismissed student’s status if asked by another institution to which the student is transferring.

If a suspended student returns to the College and is determined to be in violation of a subsequent College policy violation, the student may be permanently dismissed from the College.

Appeals

  • Responding students have the right to appeal the Standard of Conduct Review Board decision and Outcome under the following circumstances:
    • The decision was contrary to the substantial weight of the evidence.
    • There is a substantial likelihood that newly discovered information, which was not available during the Standard of Conduct Review, would result in a different decision.
    • Bias or prejudice by a member of the Standard of Conduct Review Board.
    • The Outcome handed down by the Review Board is disproportionate to the offense.
  • Appeals must be submitted in writing from the responding student to the Dean of Students within 48 hours of notification of outcome.
  • Outcomes remain in effect during the appeal process, unless otherwise noted.Appeals are reviewed and ruled on by the Vice President of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Life. The VP of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Life will review and rule on appeals involving full suspension or dismissal.
  • The Appellate Office (VP of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Life) may, but is not required to, request a meeting with or additional information from: the responding student; the person(s) who submitted the charge(s); witnesses; the Standard of Conduct Review Board; or the Chairperson. The Appellate Officer has the authority to uphold the Review Board’s decision and Outcome, alter the Outcome by making it more or less severe, or altogether reverse the Review Board’s decision or Outcome. The Appellate Officer will communicate their decision in writing to the responding student, the Standard of Conduct Review Board Chairperson and the Dean of Students.