University Conduct Hearing Board Training

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University Conduct Hearing Board Training

• March 20, 2009
• Dr. David Hoffman
• Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director,
  Office of Citizenship and Community Standards
• Stephanie Vandas and Matt Walterbach
• Office of Citizenship and Community Standards
• Interns

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Agenda

• 1) Meet the Board Members
• 2) Overview of Training
• 3) Office of Citizenship and Community Standards
  (OCCS) Mission
• 4) Conduct Code Process v Legal Process
• 5) Student and Organization Rights and
  Responsibilities
• 6) Structure of Student Conduct Process
• 7) Purpose of Conduct Boards
• 8) Expectations of the Board
• 9) Ten Guiding Principals for Members of Student
  Conduct Hearing Boards, ASJA
• 10) Sign Confidentiality Agreement

3
Meet the Board Members

• Name
• How long have you been at Truman?
• In what area are you working or studying?
• Share one story (any age) of getting in trouble
• What you did
• How it was handled
• What you learned

Section 1 of 10
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Overview of Training

• Training 1-TODAY!!
• Mission
• Philosophy
• Conduct system
• Expectations
• Training 2
• Board Procedures
• Sanctions
• Questioning
• Case Scenarios and
• Role Playing

• Training 3-
• Sexual Misconduct Hearing Training
• Training 4
• Mock Sexual Misconduct Hearing

Section 2 of 10
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Citizenship and Community Standards Mission
Statement

• The Office of Citizenship and Community
  Standards (OCCS) strives to resolve allegations
  of misconduct under the Student Conduct Code in a
  manner consistent with its principles of
  fairness, honesty, and integrity.  The Office
  acknowledges the importance of balancing the
  interests of the individual student or student
  organization and the community at large, as well
  as protecting the integrity of the institution
  and its values. 

Section 3 of 10
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Continued

• To that end, the Office of Citizenship and
  Community Standards seeks to enhance the
  educational mission of the University by
  promoting a purposeful, inclusive, just, caring,
  responsible, and celebrative community.  To
  foster the development of future leaders and
  responsible citizens, Citizenship and Community
  Standards promises to support the academic
  community by promoting and investing in students
  holistic learning, ethical growth, and character
  development.

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of the Student Conduct System
Purpose

• The Office of Citizenship and Community Standards
  acknowledges that students are responsible and
  capable of making appropriate decisions however,
  it understands that students will occasionally
  make mistakes.
• Therefore, the goal of the system is to help
  students take responsibility for their behavior
  and educate them about the consequences of their
  actions.

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of the Conduct System
Principles

• Fairness
• Communicate alternate perspectives
• Heard without prejudice
• Honesty
• Realize human fallibility but confront choices
• Integrity
• Have a legitimate process that is based upon
  espoused expectations

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Student Conduct Code
Core Values

• Trust
• Honesty, integrity, respect for truth
• Community
• Students honor and value community
• Civility
• Civil and respectful treatment of each other in
  their interactions
• Responsible Citizenship
• Acceptance of the duty to model ethical and moral
  conduct

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Truman State Universitys
Community
Values

• What Does it Mean to be a Bulldog
• The OCCS strives to make Truman. . .

• A Purposeful Community
• Goal of developing mature men and women
• Goal to pursue excellence
• An Inclusive Community
• Individuals with different values and beliefs are
  accepted and respected by maintaining effective
  communication
• A Just Community
• Appreciates diversity
• Honors and respects everyones rights

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Community Values (continued)

• A Caring Community
• Supports students well-being
• Encourages service to others
• A Responsible Community
• Has people who accept responsibility
• Balances freedom with corporate good
• A Celebrative Community
• Spirit of the institution is celebrated
• Students, Faculty, and Staff seek opportunities
  to enrich Truman

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of the Conduct System
Tenets

• Each student and organization will be
• Notified of conduct proceedings.
• Able to review the facts of the case.
• Given individual attention and consideration and
  spoken to candidly and honestly.
• Held to a high standard of behavior.
• Offered instruction that contributes to moral and
  intellectual development.
• Able to petition for review (appeal) a suspension
  or expulsion case.
• All facts will be considered before a decision is
  made.
• Human fallibility will be recognized.

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Differences Between Student Conduct Code and the
Legal Process
Section 4 of 10
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Continued

• University conduct action can be taken before
  criminal action.
• The University is not required to provide those
  protections mandated in criminal court.
• The student conduct process is not a substitution
  for criminal proceedings, but rather is focused
  on education.
• The conduct process is not double jeopardy
  because students have responsibilities to Truman
  in addition to those to society.
• Since the process is different, there may be
  different outcomes for criminal cases and conduct
  cases.

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Student and Organization

Almost halfway done Section 5 of 10
Rights and Responsibilities
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Student Rights

• To freedom of inquiry, speech, and assembly.
• To freedom from
• threats and acts of violence.
• obscene treatment from others.
• interference from others in an unreasonable and
  unauthorized manner while inside or outside the
  classroom.
• theft and willful destruction of personal
  property.
• To study and learn in an atmosphere of academic
  freedom.
• To due process in University conduct action.

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Student Responsibilities

• To respect the rights and property of others.
• To comply with
• published rules of the University.
• all local, state, and federal laws.
• To recognize
• actions reflect upon the individuals involved as
  well as upon the entire University community.
• the Universitys obligation to provide an
  environment conducive to learning and
  development.
• To adhere to academic requirements determined by
  individual instructors.

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Student Organization Rights

• To enrich the community by serving as a source
  development for students through programs and
  activities.
• To elect officers.
• To freedom of inquiry, speech, and assembly.
• To freedom from
• threats and acts of violence
• obscene treatment from others and other
  organizations
• theft and willful destruction of organizational
  property
• To fair process in conduct action.

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Student Organization Responsibilities

• To respect the rights and property of others and
  other organizations.
• To comply with
• published rules of the University
• all local, state, and federal laws
• To recognize
• that student and student organization actions
  reflect upon the individuals involved as well as
  upon the entire University community.
• the Universitys obligation to provide an
  environment conducive to learning and development.

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Continued

• To elect officers and members who
• ensure that the student organization complies
  with the Student Conduct Code, University rules,
  and laws.
• actively oppose and prevent any organizational
  activity that violates the Student Conduct Code,
  University rules, and laws.
• To obligate officers to advise members whose
  conduct could lead to misconduct charges under
  the Student Conduct Code or criminal charges
  against the organization for violation of local,
  state, or federal laws.

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So how is the system organized?
President Dr. Darrell W. Krueger
Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Lou Ann Gilchrist
Conduct Officer Asst. Dean of Student Affairs
Dr. David Hoffman (Assisted by Kaye Davis,
Secretary)
Residence Life Conduct System Director, Ms.
Andrea OBrien
University Conduct Board 6 students, 3 faculty,
3 staff in pool
Coordinator SLF, Appeals
Conduct Board Hearing 2 students, 1
faculty/staff
Hall Directors Administrative Conduct Officers
Note Coordinator SLF also serves as a Conduct
Officer
Residence Life Student Boards 3 students
Section 6 of 10
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Structure of the Student Conduct Process
The Student Conduct process at Truman has two
branches Residence Life and the OCCS
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(No Transcript)
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Your Purpose in the Student Conduct Process

• Your peer influence can often be very effective
  in changing students behaviors.
• As a member of the University community, you can
  empathize with the accused student and witnesses
  you meet with and can more fully understand their
  perspectives.
• You also have a vested interest in maintaining a
  safe and civil environment where all individuals
  are treated with respect.

Section 7 of 10
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Your Role in the Student Conduct Process
We appreciate you!

• You serve as a/an
• Impartial Juror listening to the case at hand and
  making a sound judgment based on the information
  and witnesses available.
• Educator in determining appropriate educational
  sanctions if the student or organization is found
  to be responsible.
• Representative by sharing your perspective from
  your role in the University community.
• Ambassador for the Student Conduct Code and the
  University Conduct System

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What the University Expects from You

• Uphold all University Policies and the Student
  Conduct Code.
• Keep everything you see and hear confidential!!
• Attend all hearings for which you have been
  selected.
• (Should you be unable to attend the hearing you
  were selected for, you are required to notify the
  Assistant Dean, Dr. David Hoffman, at least 48
  hours before your scheduled hearing.)
• Be prompt and efficient in all your dealings with
  the Conduct Hearing Board.

Section 8 of 10
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Expectations Continued

• Act in a professional, courteous manner.
• Ask questions in the course of a conduct hearing
  and attempt to gather all information possible
  before you make a decision.
• Make reasonable decisions based upon a more
  likely than not standard
• Remove yourself from any case in which you might
  have a bias because of a relationship with the
  accused, accuser, or bias because of the nature
  of the offense (contact Dr. Hoffman.)

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Ten Guiding Principals for Members of Student
Conduct Hearing Boards, ASJA

• 1. Disciplinary systems should reflect the
  diversity of campus cultures.
• 2. Common values can be identified and affirmed.
• 3. Cases should be heard before they are decided.
• 4. Educational aims and progressive discipline
  should guide the imposition of sanctions
• 5. Progressive discipline should encompass the
  interests of people seen and unseen

Section 9 of 10
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Ten Guiding Principals for Members of Student
Conduct Hearing Boards, ASJA

• 6. The complexity of human nature allows a higher
  self to be born.
• 7. Hearing board members are role models
• 8. Hearing board members are learners.
• 9. Confidentiality should be explained and
  protected
• 10. The disciplinary process should promote
  ethical dialogue and critical thinking

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Confidentiality Agreement
1) Read Document
Final Step!
2) Questions?
3) Sign Document
Section 10 of 10
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Thank You for your time and interest!

• Next training session
• University Conduct Hearing Board Training-Part 2
• April 3 , 2009?
• Time p.m.?
• Location