Alleged breaches in non-academic student conduct and/or professional integrity under the Code of Conduct should be reported in a timely manner to the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services, who will conduct a preliminary investigation. Failure to report alleged breaches in a timely manner could impede the school’s ability to investigate or substantiate the allegations. The Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services may consult with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. If further investigation is required, the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services, in collaboration with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, may then appoint an ad hoc committee consisting of two faculty members and chaired by an additional faculty member. If such a committee is appointed, the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services will inform the accused student in writing of the allegations against the accused, the name(s) of those who reported the charges, and the date, time, and place of the hearing on these charges. The accused student will also have the opportunity to resolve the conduct matter through the informal resolution process detailed in the Code of Conduct.
If the matter proceeds to a hearing, the accused will be allowed reasonable time to prepare a response and will be granted the privilege of an advisor to be chosen by the student from the School of Divinity faculty. The advisor shall assist the student in the pre-hearing process, but will not be permitted to participate in the hearing. In all hearings, the accused and their advisor will have the right to be present at all times during the hearing except when the committee retires to deliberate and makes its decision. Evidence shall be admitted without regard to the rules of evidence in courts of law. The accused student may present evidence to the committee and may provide testimony and present witnesses. The accused student will also be permitted to ask questions of any adverse witnesses presented.
All materials and information related to the case should be confidentially submitted to the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services. Any verbal reports related to the case will be documented in writing by the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services. Prior to the hearing, a written summary report of the findings will be provided by the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services to the accused student, the ad hoc faculty committee, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, and the Dean of the School of Divinity.
After a thorough review of the case and the evidence presented by the accused student, the committee will decide whether the accused has violated the Code of Conduct. A majority vote of the committee is necessary for finding of responsibility. If the accused student is found to have violated the Code of Conduct using a preponderance of the evidence standard, the committee may decide on one or more of the sanctions stated in the Code of Conduct, including:
- Imposition of reasonable terms and conditions on continued student status;
- Removal from a course in progress;
A complete list of sanctions (referred to as Outcomes) may be found in the Code of Conduct.