Student Conduct Panel
In order to provide students with an equitable conduct process, the Student Conduct Panel (SCP) was developed to serve as a body of peers that hears and determines cases of student policy violations.
The SCP consists of student justices and one student Chief Justice, who have been selected by the SCP’s advisor and by the previous year’s panel of student justices. All justices have been trained in order to be knowledgeable about Keuka College policy, as well as equitable adjudication procedures. The SCP hears lower level policy violations, including but not limited to: first-time alcohol violations, first-time cannabis violations, drug and alcohol paraphernalia, fire-safety violations, etc,
As documentation of policy violations are received in the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, the Coordinator reviews all violations and assigns each case to the appropriate hearing body or individual. Before assigning a case to the Student Conduct Panel, the Coordinator will review all potential cases with the Chief Justice, and together they will select cases appropriate for the Student Conduct Panel. A group of between three and five members of the Student Conduct Panel will hear the incident. The Coordinator or designee will be present, or on call to assist the Student Conduct Panel, but will only support in a non-voting, procedural capacity.
Hearing Procedure
- It is the responsibility of the Coordinator to notify the student of the charges, date, time, and place of the conduct panel hearing. Any student who is unable to attend the hearing due to legitimate purposes (i.e. class, medical issue, etc.) must contact the Coordinator to either reschedule 24-hours in advance of the hearing (exceptions will be made for emergency situations), or submit a written statement outlining the student’s involvement in the alleged policy violation. Submission of such statement signifies the student’s permission to have the incident heard in absentia.
- Hearings are conducted in private and all parties involved will be informed that the proceedings and any decisions made will be kept confidential.
- Any party to the panel hearing may be advised by a member of the College—including another student, staff member, faculty member or parent. During the panel hearing, no party may be represented by legal counsel.
- Admission of any person to the panel hearing will be at the discretion of the SCP.
- The accused shall have the right of presenting witnesses (not more than three), subject to the right of cross-examination by the SCP.
- No “character witnesses” may be present to give statements.
- The SCP members may ask questions of the responding student at any time subject to relevance as determined by the Chief Justice or the advisor (or designee).
- Persons disruptive to the panel hearing procedures will be expelled from the panel hearing by the Chief Justice or advisor (or designee).
- The Chief Justice has the right and responsibility to evaluate and qualify all forms of presented evidence. The Chief Justice may choose to consult with the advisor (or designee) regarding these decisions.
- All procedural questions are subject to approval by the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice may choose to consult with the advisor (or designee) regarding these decisions.
Disposition
- After the panel hearing, the SCP shall review any materials and documentation submitted and determine by majority vote whether the behavior of the responding student constitutes a violation of the Code of Conduct or Keuka College policy.
- If the SCP determines a policy violation has occurred, then the panel will come to a majority decision concerning the appropriate sanction/outcome. The Chief Justice shall inform the student in writing of the outcome of the incident. Any outcomes levied by the SCP become effective immediately upon notification unless otherwise specified or unless the student submits an appeal to the advisor.