Complete hearing procedures can be found in the Student Conduct System Handbook.
Students who do not resolve a case through Resolution by Agreement are referred for a formal hearing with the University Conduct Board or an Administrative Hearing Officer as outlined in Part 8 of the Student Conduct System Handbook.
The purpose of the hearing is to provide the opportunity for students to present all relevant information and other evidence with regard to alleged violations of the Student Conduct Code.
Hearings are conducted via Zoom unless otherwise noted.
Hearings are not legal proceedings. Rules of evidence and the criminal standard of proof do not apply. Hearings are confidential and closed to persons not directly related to the case. The results of Student Conduct System hearings are held confidential in accordance with applicable law. All parties, procedural advisors, witnesses, and hearing board members are expected to maintain the confidentiality of conduct system proceedings.
Students are permitted and encouraged to have a procedural advisor to assist them through the hearing process. The role of a procedural advisor is outlined in Part 5 of the Student Conduct System Handbook. An advisor has no standing in the proceedings, but may provide advice in a manner that is not disruptive to the proceedings. If a student needs assistance obtaining a procedural advisor, please contact Community Standards via email at studentconduct@syr.edu.
The order of the formal hearing is typically as follows:
- introductions and reading of the complaint;
- reading of the alleged charges against the Respondent, and the Respondent’s response to these charges;
- opening statements;
- presentation of information/witnesses by the Case Presenter, questioning of participating parties/witnesses through the Hearing Chair/Administrative Hearing Officer;
- presentation of information/witnesses by the Respondent, questioning of the Respondent through the Hearing Chair/Administrative Hearing Officer;
- closing statement by the Complainant and/or Case Presenter;
- closing statement by the Respondent.
Hearing board decisions are made in private and by a majority vote of the board members. All hearing board decisions are subject to confirmation by the Director of Community Standards or designee.
All parties will be informed of the confirmed hearing board decision in writing within ten (10) University business days after the conclusion of the hearing. A hearing is considered concluded when all hearing board deliberations are complete.