Complete hearing procedures can be found in the Student Conduct System Handbook.
If a case isn’t resolved through Resolution by Agreement, it’s referred for a formal hearing with the University Conduct Board or Administrative Hearing Officer as outlined in Part 8 of the Student Conduct System Handbook.
- The hearing gives students the chance to present relevant information and evidence about the alleged violation.
- Hearings are held via Zoom unless noted otherwise, and they are not legal proceedings, so rules of evidence and the criminal standard of proof do not apply.
- Hearings are confidential and closed to anyone not directly involved in the case, and all participants are expected to keep proceedings confidential.
- Students are encouraged to have a procedural advisor to support them through the hearing, as described in Part 5 of the Handbook. An advisor has no formal standing in the hearing but can offer advice as long as it doesn’t disrupt the process.
- If a student needs help finding a procedural advisor, they can contact Community Standards at studentconduct@syr.edu.
The sequence of proceedings in 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.
Students may appeal any formal hearing outcome. Appeals information can be found in Part 10 of the Student Conduct System Handbook.