Radford University

Student Conduct Process

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. What happens when a student is charged with a violation of the Standards of Student Conduct?

Students charged with violating the Standards of Student Conduct will be contacted by a case coordinator, either from the Office of the Dean of Students or the Office of Housing and Residential Life. The coordinator will meet with you to discuss the charges, the incident, and inform of you what you need to do resolve the matter.

 

2. How do I go about settling the matter?

The coordinator for your case, after they have explained the charges, the process, and your options will ask that either agree with or disagree with the charges.

 

3. What happens if I disagree with a conduct charge?

You do not have to agree with the charges under the standards of student conduct. If you do not agree with the charges then a hearing will convene to determine if you are in violation and what the sanctions should be.

 

4. What happens if I agree with the charges?

If you agree to the charges then the coordinator for your case will assign sanctions. The sanctions vary for each offense. The coordinator for you case will be able to give you an idea to what the range of sanctions for your case will be.

 

Additionally, if you agree with the charges but do not like the sanctions you were assigned you may request that they be reviewed for appropriateness by either the Dean of Students (or his/her designee) or the Director of Housing and Residential Life (or his/her designee) depending upon where your case was resolved.

 

5. What happens at a Conduct Hearing?

A Conduct Hearing exists to determine if a student has violated the standards of student conduct and if so what the sanctions will be. At the hearing a representative from the University will present the facts of the case as the University understands them. You will have an opportunity to ask questions of the individual presenting the facts, an opportunity to present your own testimony, witnesses, and information that is deemed relevant by the chair.

 

6. If I go to a Conduct Hearing who will hear the case?

Depending upon the complexity of the incident and the severity of the incident will determine who hears your case. Your case will either be heard by a Administrative Hearing Officer or a Conduct Board. The Conduct Board is comprised of a student, a faculty member, and a staff member.

 

7. If I go to the Conduct Hearing and they find me in violation can I appeal the decision?

Yes. A student may appeal the decision of the Conduct Hearing to the Dean of Students or the Director of Housing and Residential Life (or his/her designee) based on one or all of three criteria: 1)a procedural error, 2) insufficient evidence presented at the hearing to find you in violation, or 3) sanctions inappropriate for the offense. If a student was suspended and dismissed by the Conduct Board and if the Dean of Students denies an appeal the student may appeal one more time to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

 

8. May I have an attorney present for a Conduct Hearing?

Yes. An attorney may be present for a hearing as non-participating observer. The attorney will not be allowed to speak on your behalf. Students going through the conduct process are expected to represent themselves.

 

 9. Can my parents and friends attend?

Students may have up to four non-participating observers in the conduct hearing. Those four observers must come from the following category: 1) Parents, Guardians, and immediate family members, 2) attorneys, and 3) counselors.

 

10. What are Student Advisors?

Student Advisors assist a student through the conduct process. They may not speak on their behalf but may advise the student and sit with the student through the entire process. Any full-time Radford University student may serve as an advisor. The Office of the Dean of Students has a list of trained Student Advisors that may assist you in with your case.

 

11. Are my parents going to find out?

Parents are notified of the outcome of a conduct proceeding if the student involved is under the age of 21, was found in violation of or accepts responsibility for drug charge, or was found in violation of or accepts responsibility for a second alcohol charge.

 

12. What is the three strikes policy?

The three strikes policy only relates to alcohol. It states that three alcohol violations routinely lead to suspension.

 

13. Can I be suspended after two alcohol violations?

Yes.