Any student charged with a violation of the Code has the right to request the assistance of a Student Advocate. Student requests for assistance should be made through the Lead Advocate. If a student is to be assisted by a Student Advocate, the student and/or the Student Advocate must notify the initial meeting official or the hearing presiding officer in writing at least 24 hours in advance of any scheduled initial meeting or hearing. Any student charged with a violation of the Code is entitled to a hearing before the members of the Conduct Board or with Administration, depending on the nature and
severity of the charge, as provided for in Sections XIV-XVII of this Code, except where the student and the university agree to resolve the charge without a hearing, as provided for in Sections XXI-XXII of this Code.
The focus of a student conduct proceeding is to determine whether the accused student has engaged in conduct that violates the Code. Student conduct proceedings will not be governed by legal rules of evidence and deviations from the procedures prescribed in this Code will not invalidate any sanction decision or outcome, unless the deviation results in significant prejudice to the student’s right to receive reasonable notice of the charges
against him/her and the right to respond to the charges.
The standard used to determine if a violation of the Code has occurred shall be a preponderance of the evidence, meaning that it is more likely than not that a violation has occurred. The criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt shall not apply in student conduct proceedings.