Processes and Procedures

 Last updated August 2, 2019.

 

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All communication will be provided to the student through his/her/their @shockers.wichita.edu email.

1. INCIDENT REPORT IS FILED. Any individual may report alleged student, student group, or student organization misconduct to Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS). The individual filing the report is known as the Complainant and the alleged party is known as the Respondent/s. The Complainant will submit the report to SCCS via: www.wichita.edu/reportit. Reports must be filed on a good faith basis.
2. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION. The Preliminary Investigation will take place to determine if the allegations validate a policy violation.
   1. A SCCS staff member will conduct a case review, gather additional information, and interview any necessary party that might be able to provide a better understanding of the alleged misconduct.
      1. There are four possible outcomes when an Incident Report is filed:
         1. NO ACTION. For reports that do not constitute a policy violation or have a Respondent, no action may be taken.
         2. CONFLICT RESOLUTION. Conflict Resolution allows individuals involved in a conflict to have significant influence over the resolution process and possible outcomes.
            1. In order to utilize Conflict Resolution, the following must be followed:
               1. Harm caused is documented;

               2. All parties must agree to participate; and

               3. The incident is resolved by mediation, dialogue, etc.
         3. EDUCATIONAL CONVERSATION. For reports where the situation is concerning but doesn’t appear to be a violation, SCCS may elect to have an Educational Conversation.
            1. Examples of an Educational Conversations include repeated low-level behaviors or an incident that occurred outside of the University’s jurisdiction.
         4. INITIATION OF CONDUCT PROCESS. If it appears that a student/student group/student organization may have violated the Student Code of Conduct, and the incident occurred within the University’s jurisdiction, the conduct process will be initiated. 
3. WRITTEN NOTICE TO STUDENT. A staff member, also known as the Conduct Administrator, will be assigned to the Respondent and give him/her/them written notice.
   1. Written notice will detail the alleged violation/s, inform the Respondent of the date/time/location of the Informational Meeting, notify the Respondent’s of his/her/their rights and responsibilities, and provide the Conduct Administrator’s contact information.
4. INFORMATIONAL MEETING. The Conduct Administrator will review the rights and responsibilities of the Respondent, explain the alleged violation/s, contents of the case, and discuss the resolution options.
   1. Resolution options are selected by the Respondent. However, in circumstances where the violation is severe enough, SCCS may select the resolution option for the student.
   2. There are two resolution options: Informal and Formal.
      1. The resolution options will be discussed in the Informational Meeting; however, the resolution may not take place on the same day.
5. INFORMAL RESOLUTION. The Informal Resolution is a formal meeting with the Conduct Administrator to discuss alternative behaviors, potential outcomes of the alleged incident/s, and detail the remaining steps in the conduct process. 

   1. The respondent may or may not accept responsibility.

   2. If found in violation, the Conduct Administrator will assign a sanction/s related to the violation and the severity of the misconduct.
      1. Sanctions will likely be probation or lower.
   3. If found not in violation, no sanctions will be applied.
6. FORMAL RESOLUTION. If the Respondent does not wish to proceed with an Informal Resolution, and/or the outcome of an alleged violation would rise above Disciplinary Probation or result in removal from a residential facility, the Respondent may elect to pursue a Formal Resolution.
   1. The Respondent may or may not accept responsibility. This decision will not limit the student to a specific Formal Resolution.
   2. There are two Formal Resolution options: an Administrator Hearing or a Student Conduct Board Hearing.
      1. An Administrator Hearing allows the Conduct Administrator to determine whether it is more likely than not that a violation occurred and determine appropriate outcomes/s.
      2. A Student Conduct Board Hearing is conducted by a panel of three or five individuals comprised of students, faculty, and/or staff. The Board is responsible for determining whether it is more likely than not that a violation occurred and determine the appropriate outcome/s.
   3. A variety of options are possible and will be related to the violation and severity of the misconduct.
7. OUTCOME ISSUED. The Conduct Administrator will notify the Respondent whether he/she/they have been found in violation or not in violation. The Administrator will also notify the Respondent/s of any imposed sanction/s.
8. APPEAL. Any Respondent or Complainant who participated in the entire conduct process and wish to file an Appeal must do so, in writing within five University business days of the date of the outcome letter.
   1. A Respondent is allowed one appeal per case. Appeals can be heard based on new evidence that was not available prior to an outcome being issued or if the process was done incorrectly.

      1. Appeal forms can be found on the SCCS website page.

   2. SCCS will determine if the appeal meets appellate grounds and the Appellate Body will review the Appeal.

      1. The Appellate Body will inform the student of the outcome and the outcome is considered final.

Student conduct records, including investigation records, are maintained electronically by Student Conduct & Community Standards for seven years from the date the case is closed.

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