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.
Who can be a Procedural Advisor?
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).
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.
What is a Procedural Advisor?
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.
What will a Procedural Advisor do?
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 hearing with the student. It is always the student's responsibility to prepare and present their case.
How do I request a Procedural Advisor?
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.
May I have an attorney as my Procedural Advisor?
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.
Are there limits to what a Procedural Advisor can do?
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. Advisors, and attorneys when applicable, do not represent or speak for their respective parties. Any advisor who fails to conform their behavior to these requirements will be removed from the proceedings and barred from acting as a procedural advisor in future University Student Conduct System proceedings.
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 who will determine if the case will be forwarded to the University Conduct Board for formal resolution.
The University reserves the right to have an attorney present at any meeting.