Hearing Committees and Process
Section 401 of the BOR policies, authorizes each institution to develop appropriate policies and procedures to discipline students / organizations for the violation of Valdosta State University’s rules. In accordance with this responsibility, disciplinary sanctions shall be applied only after the requirements of due process, fairness, and reasonableness have been met. The aim of any disciplinary action is the redirection of student behavior toward the achievement of their academic goals.
The President has delegated the function of student discipline to the Vice President for Student Affairs, and he in turn designates the Dean of Students Office and its staff to handle the day to day disciplinary process.
The Dean of Students Office is assisted in the student disciplinary process by the efforts of various judicial committees. The use of “peer-review” groups in student disciplinary matters is consistent with Valdosta State University’s educational goals, as well as its practice of student participation in institutional governance. The judicial committees used are as follows:
The Student Government Association (SGA) Judicial Council
The Valdosta State University (VSU) Judicial Committee
The Dean of Students or his/her designee assigns a case to the appropriate judicial committee. Referrals are based on many factors like the severity of the incident(s), the type and number of violations, the location of the alleged violations, the current and past disciplinary history of a student or organization, the case load of the committees, as well as the Dean of Student’s or his/her designee’s professional assessment. This list is not considered to be all-inclusive.
In some cases, an accused student and or organization may request a waiver of a judicial hearing and be given an administrative hearing ONLY when the student and or organization accepts complete and unconditional responsibility for ALL alleged violations, and it is agreed upon in advance in writing before any disciplinary sanctions are issued.
In other instances, the professional opinion of Dean of Students or his designee may deem it more appropriate for a disciplinary matter to be reviewed and acted on by the appropriate judicial committee.
The President of the University or his/her designee may hear an appeal from any judicial committee. (See Appendix B Section V for details)
The Composition of each Judicial Committee is as follows:
A. The Student Government Association Judicial Committee shall be composed of (11) enrolled students representing a cross-section of the Valdosta State University student body. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the SGA President and approved by the SGA Senate with prior input from the Dean of Students Office.
All members of the committees shall have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average the semester of their appointment, and must maintain this average during their tenure. If a member does not maintain a 2.0 cumulative average, has 3 or more unexcused absences to scheduled judicial meetings, or is found responsible for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, then he or she automatically forfeits his or her position on the judicial committee.
If a vacancy occurs on the SGA Judicial Committee for any reason, the SGA President shall appoint, with the approval of the SGA Senate, a qualified student to serve. No member of the SGA Judicial Committee can serve in the legislative or executive branch of the SGA while serving on the judicial council.
B. The Valdosta State University Judicial Committee shall be composed of five faculty members and two students. The President of Valdosta State University makes all appointments to this committee. The President will select the chair of the committee from the five faculty members, as well as appoint two students from the SGA Judicial Committee with input from the Dean of Students.
The following process shall apply for convening all judicial committees: 1. The accused student and or organization shall be notified in writing of the specific charge(s) made against them and of the date, time, and place where a hearing will be held. 2. The notification will inform the accused student and or organization that an advisor of their choosing may accompany them. The advisor is not there to represent the student and or organization before the judicial committee. The advisor is only there to advise the student and or organization in their response to the committee. 3. The charge letter notifying the student and or organization of the judicial hearing shall be postmarked no less than (5) class days prior to the date designated for the judicial hearing. 4. The accused student and or organization shall be permitted to pose questions to all witnesses at the hearing. (All questions are to be directed to the chairperson who asks the witness to then respond.) 5. An audio recording of the hearing will be made. A copy of the recording will be kept on file in the Dean of Students Office. 6. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the policy set forth in Disciplinary Hearing Procedures for Judicial Committees at Valdosta State University. (Appendix B, Section III.) 7. After proper notification is given,(note items 1-3 above) and if the accused student and or organization does not appear at the hearing, then the hearing will proceed in their absence. |