How the process works...
One of the best options that you have is to speak with a Students Defending Students Representative about the specifics of your situation. Every person is unique and sometimes the most important details don't become apparent until you talk with someone about it!
There are two different types of charges that can be filed against you-- A-level charges or B-level charges. A-level charges are suspendable, and B-level charges are not suspendable. (If you are on probation and incur a charge of either level, you will also be charged with an A-18 charge for Violation of Probation.)
SO:
1) An event occurs for which you have been written up for violating the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct.
2) You receive the charges either in the mail or through your OAK e-mail account, notifying you of a specific time and date you are to meet with an administrator for your Procedural Interview (aka P.I.).
3) Your Procedural Interview takes place. Sometimes this happens with the Resident Coordinator of your residence hall, or (for more serious violations) a hearing officer from the Office of Judiciaries. During your P.I. the administrator will make sure you understand what you are being charged with, find out whether or not you wish to admit or deny the charges, and find out more about "you". If you choose to admit the charges, the P.I. is the only meeting you will have to go through, because your sanction is given on the spot. If you choose to deny the charges, you proceed to the following step.
4) A date and time is scheduled for a hearing to take place in order to weigh your claims against the claims of the complainant (the person filing the charges against you). There are two different types of hearings that could possibly take place:
a) Administrative Hearing: In this type of hearing, you will present your case to one single administrator who acts as the "judge" in your hearing.
b) University Hearing Board: In this type of hearing, the Hearing Board is comprised of two students and one faculty member. Only suspendable offenses are eligible to be heard by a UHB. If this is the case, the student facing suspension is given the option to choose whether he or she wants an Administrative Hearing or a University Hearing Board. The philosophy is that having students on your hearing board will provide more insight on the outcome from a student perspective.
During all hearings, a Judiciaries Hearing Officer will be present to ensure the rules of the hearings are followed, as well as answer procedural questions the administrator/UHB might have. Please feel free to ask the Hearing Officer any questions during the hearing-- that's why they're there! You are also entitled to ask for a short break during any hearing in order to ask a question or clarify a statement that was made.
5) Toward the end of your hearing, you will be either found IN-VIOLATION or NOT IN-VIOLATION of the charges. If you are found not in-violation, you are essentially free to go. If you are found in-violation, the administrator/UHB will deliberate to determine a sanction (this can take anywhere from five minutes to a few hours, each case is different). Once they do, you will return to the hearing room to find out what your penalty is.
YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO APPEAL!
There are three bases on which you can appeal the decision of a UHB/Administrator:
a) Procedural Defect (the rules of the hearing were not properly followed)
b) Introduction of New Evidence
c) Inappropriate Sanction (when the sanction that was given is not consistent with precedent)
Please keep in mind that you cannot appeal based on inappropriate sanction just because you don't like the penalty you've been given! Your appeal must be grounded in logic and fact-- without which, your appeal hardly stands a chance. It is best to let SDS assist you in writing your appeal because of our wide range of experience in the Judiciaries process.
The last option in case your appeal fails is to submit a Vice Presidential Appeal, which is sent to the VP of Student Affairs for review. Ultimately this is the one senior OU administrator responsible for Judiciaries operations who determines whether or not the points you argue in your appeal are worthy of amending/dropping your charges. These are very rare and are typically reserved for controversial cases or cases in which a substantial precedent could be set or a serious lawsuit is at stake.
Please remember, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact a Students Defending Students representative. We are happy to explain everything in terms specific to your situation, and will help you to clarify what you want to say in your defense. You don't have to face Judiciaries alone.
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