Part 5 of the Student Conduct System Handbook states that any student/student organization may be advised throughout the student conduct process by a Procedural Advisor (PA) and outlines the role and who may serve as a PA.
About Procedural Advisors
Case Presenters and Respondents may be advised throughout the conduct process by a procedural advisor. This page is designed to provide you with more information and procedural advisors and who to access one.
General Information
Persons who may serve as procedural advisors are limited to full-time students, faculty, and staff of Syracuse University. Parents/guardians are not permitted to serve as procedural advisors, except in cases involving allegations of sex-based discrimination or harassment, such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, or stalking (Title IX).
Attorneys are not permitted to serve as advisors in the student conduct process except in cases involving allegations of sex-based discrimination or harassment, such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, or stalking (Title IX).
Fraternity/Sorority Procedural Advisors
The designated student officer/representative of a recognized fraternity or sorority affiliated with a national or international headquarters may choose to be accompanied in conduct resolution proceedings by a professional employee or volunteer staff advisor designated by that headquarters. The advisor may not be an attorney, or a parent or guardian of any involved student, and may not simultaneously serve as the advisor for any individual student charged in connection with the same incident. Individual students must select an advisor in accordance with Part 5.1 of the Student Conduct System Handbook.
The headquarters advisor’s role is limited to conduct resolution proceedings as outlined in Parts 7 and 8 of this Handbook and does not extend to any phase of the investigation, including interviews or evidence collection. This provision does not expand the organization’s procedural rights beyond those otherwise provided in this Handbook. Any advisor who disrupts the conduct process will be excused and the process will continue in their absence.
In Cases of Alleged Sexual Misconduct/Gender-Related Harassment (Title IX)
In cases involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating or domestic violence or stalking, the complainant and the respondent have an equal opportunity to be advised by an advisor of their choice—including an attorney—throughout all phases of an investigation and conduct process involving allegations of sex-based discrimination or harassment, such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, or stalking. In addition, when criminal or civil proceedings are pending, regardless of the nature of the alleged conduct, the complainant and respondent may be advised by an attorney.
A procedural advisor provides quiet, non-disruptive advice and support to their respective party. They do not speak for or on behalf of the Case Presenter or Respondent in the conduct proceedings. Procedural advisors do not represent the Case Presenter or Respondent.
A procedural advisor will assist the student in developing their case. However, the Advisor will not prepare nor present the student’s case at an informal resolution meeting or formal hearing. The PA can attend the Resolution by Agreement Meeting, and/or formal hearing with the student as a support and resource during the process. It is always the student’s responsibility to prepare and present their case.
If you would like to request a trained Procedural Advisor, please review the Meet the Procedural Advisors page for contact information. Students are expected to take the initiative to contact a PA for their case.
Students are are also welcome to ask any full-time Syracuse University student, faculty, or staff to serve as their procedural advisor and/or reach out to their home school or college to seek procedural advice or other support.
Attorneys are not permitted to serve as procedural advisors in the student conduct process (including both a Resolution-by-Agreement Meeting, and/or a formal resolution hearing with an Administrative Hearing Officer or University Conduct Board). The only time an attorney is permitted in our process is in cases involving allegations of sex-based discrimination or harassment, such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, or stalking (Title IX).
In Cases of Alleged Sexual Misconduct/Gender-Related Harassment (Title IX)
In cases involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating or domestic violence or stalking, the complainant and the respondent have an equal opportunity to be advised by an advisor of their choice—including an attorney—throughout all phases of an investigation and conduct process involving allegations of sex-based discrimination or harassment, such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, or stalking. In addition, when criminal or civil proceedings are pending, regardless of the nature of the alleged conduct, the complainant and respondent may be advised by an attorney.
Yes. Procedural advisors have no standing in University Student Conduct System proceedings, except to provide advice to their respective parties in a quiet, non-disruptive manner.
An Advisor who becomes disruptive, fails to comply with the expectations outlined in this Handbook, or otherwise impedes the conduct process in any way may be warned and/or excused from further proceedings by the Conduct Officer, University Conduct Board, or Administrative Hearing Officer.
In such circumstances, the conduct officer, hearing panel, hearing officer, or Director of Community Standards (or a designee) will determine whether to proceed with the meeting or hearing without the presence of the procedural advisor or to forward the case to the Director of Community Standards.
The University reserves the right to have an attorney present at any meeting.