38 | STEVENS STUDENT HANDBOOK If the Respondent accepts responsibility for the alleged violation(s) at the initial Conduct Meeting, the Conduct Officer will, within fifteen business days of the admission of responsibility, provide the Respondent with a letter identifying the specific violation(s) and sanctions imposed as a result. If the Respondent does not accept responsibility for the alleged violation(s) at the initial Conduct Meeting, the Conduct Officer will complete their fact-finding inquiry within fifteen business days and determine whether a violation has occurred. Once the Conduct Officer completes the fact-finding inquiry, the Conduct Officer will convene another Conduct Meeting with the Respondent, where the Conduct Officer will explain the results of the fact-finding inquiry and the Respondent will have the opportunity to respond and discuss any alleged violations with the Conduct Officer before the Conduct Officer renders their final decision and sanction(s) (if any). Resolution Process The Conduct Officer commences the student conduct process within ten business days of receipt of a report by notifying the accused student, group or organization (“Respondent”) of the alleged violation(s). The Conduct Officer will meet with the Complainant (if applicable), the Respondent, and any witnesses in a Conduct Meeting within fifteen business days of the notice and may meet with other individuals who could have pertinent information regarding the alleged violation(s). All parties are required to participate and cooperate with the student conduct process. Failure to participate and cooperate constitutes a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Should a Respondent fail to schedule or attend a Conduct Meeting in the time designated by the Conduct Officer, the student conduct process will move forward, and the Respondent’s case will be decided in the Respondent’s absence. Commencement of the Student Conduct Process 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. 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, and other matters and interviews determined to be necessary and appropriate by the investigator. If deemed necessary, the case may also be referred to the Office of Community Standards to assist with the process. The investigator(s) will liaise, as determined to be necessary and appropriate by the investigator, with an organization or group’s advisor, coach, and/or national leadership/headquarters. The notice of the investigation, procedures for the investigation, and the appeal process will follow the same procedures as described for violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions will be imposed as determined by the investigator(s). 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.
