33 | STEVENS STUDENT HANDBOOK THE STUDENT CONDUCT PROCESS The University expects its students to act as responsible citizens whether on campus property or in the community. Students accept the rights and responsibilities of membership in the University community when they enroll at the University. All undergraduate and graduate students, student groups and student organizations are responsible for reading, understanding, and abiding by the Student Code of Conduct and the Stevens policies referred to in this Code of Conduct. The student conduct process allows for investigation and adjudication of alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct. The student conduct process at Stevens is an educational process that promotes safety and respect in the Stevens community. If an undergraduate or graduate student, a student group or a student organization is found responsible for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, sanctions and stipulations may be imposed that reflect the severity of the violation, previous disciplinary action (if any) and the impact on the greater Stevens community. Academic dishonesty and impropriety are violations of the Student Code of Conduct. For undergraduate students, the resolution of academic concerns is managed by the Honor Board; the process for students enrolled in graduate courses is described in the Graduate Student Code of Academic Integrity. The student conduct process is not a legal process. As a result, the formal rules of evidence will not apply and questions relating to the competency, relevancy, or materiality of evidence and the latitude in the questioning of parties involved shall be based upon the determination of the Conduct Officer as to what is just, fair, and reasonable under the circumstances. Conduct Officers will use the preponderance of the evidence (i.e., more likely than not) standard to make decisions regarding Code of Conduct violations. Participants in the Student Conduct Process may consult with legal counsel outside of the Student Conduct Process but are not permitted to involve legal counsel in Conduct Meetings (as defined in the next section) or other proceedings held in accordance with the Student Conduct Process, with the exception of alleged violations of the Title IX policy. A Complainant or Respondent (as defined in the next section) may involve an advisor, who must be a member of the Stevens community, in Conduct Meetings or proceedings, but the advisor may not speak or participate at these meetings or proceedings. Reporting Alleged Violations. Incidents that may violate the Student Code of Conduct may be reported via public reporting forms, which can be submitted by any member of the Stevens community, or by speaking directly with a Conduct Officer (as defined below) or Campus Police Officer. Conduct Officers. Once an incident report is received, the Director of Community Standards or designee will assign a Conduct Officer to review and resolve the matter. The Conduct Officer may be the Director of Community Standards, the Director of Residential Education, the Director of Undergraduate or Graduate Student Life, an Assistant Director of Residential Education, a Resident Director, or another designee. Title IX Policy Violations. Alleged violations of Stevens’ Title IX Policy should be reported and will be handled via the process described in that policy. Contact information for the University’s Title IX Coordinators, who have centralized oversight responsibility for Gender-Based and Sexual Misconduct matters at Stevens, is located in the Title IX Policy and in the Campus Offices and Services section of this Handbook. Student Organization Process. The Offices of Undergraduate and Graduate Student Life investigate alleged violations by undergraduate and graduate student organizations, respectively. The investigation includes interviewing those individuals with information about the incident and meeting with the appropriate officers of the organization. If deemed necessary, the case may be referred to the Office of Community Standards which may engage multiple investigators to assist with the process. The notice of the conduct hearing, procedures of the hearing, and the appeal process will follow the same procedures as described for violations of the Student Code of Conduct. If the student organization waives its right to a conduct hearing, sanctions will be imposed at the discretion of the investigator(s).The investigator(s) will liaise, as necessary and appropriate, with an organization or group’s advisor, coach, and/or national leadership/headquarters.
