When Community Standards receives a complaint that a student has allegedly violated the Student Conduct Code, the office will contact the student(s) and request that they attend a resolution meeting with a conduct officer to discuss the allegations.
The resolution meeting is not a formal hearing. It is a meeting between the student and a staff member to discuss the incident, share information, and discuss possible resolution options.
Students should carefully review the letter they were sent, which includes a summary of the allegation(s), the policies that will be discussed, information about how to request a copy of the case file, Procedural Advisors, and how to request disability accommodations.
If an accused student does not attend the meeting without prior notice, a decision may be rendered in the student’s absence. The Resolution by Agreement process is fully outlined in Part 7 of the Student Conduct System Handbook.
There are a number of possible outcomes from a resolution meeting:
- A student(s)/organization(s) and conduct officer mutually agree on an outcome, including agreement on any policy violations as well as any appropriate sanctions outlined in Part 9 if there has been a policy violation.
- A resolution between the student(s)/organization(s) and the conduct officer is not reached and the student(s)/organization(s) is referred to a formal hearing with a University Conduct Board or Administrative Hearing Officer as outlined in Part 8.
More information about the resolution by agreement process can be found in the Syracuse University Student Conduct System Handbook.
Procedural Advisors
Students are permitted to have a Procedural Advisor to support them in any meeting with Community Standards. The role of a Procedural Advisor is outlined in Part 5 of the Student Conduct System Handbook.
Procedural Advisors must be a full-time faculty, staff, or student of Syracuse University. Parents/Guardians, outside attorneys, and fact witnesses are not permitted to serve as a Procedural Advisor.
Request for Reconsideration
Once a Resolution by Agreement is reached, the decision is final and will only be revisited based on one or more of the following:
A student(s)/organization(s) may request that a resolution by agreement be reconsidered within five (5) business days of resolving their case. After five (5) days, the resolution by agreement is considered final. Requests for reconsideration submitted within five (5) business days shall be reviewed by the Director of Community Standards or designee.
The Director or designee may modify or uphold the original decision of the conduct officer, or refer the matter for a formal hearing as appropriate. Decisions of the Director of Community Standards or designee are considered final unless the matter is referred to for a formal hearing.