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Hearing Procedure

Disciplinary or Judicial hearings at Valdosta State University are "PEER REVIEW" panels used to arrive at corrective recommendations regarding alleged student misbehavior. These recommendations affect the student or organization’s relationship with the University ONLY.

The administration of discipline is viewed, as an educational process NOT a criminal or civil trial proceeding. As such, the disciplinary procedures used are determined and administered by educators. Such procedures will give cognizance to the test of fairness, justice, truth, and the requirements of due process. The procedures used by all disciplinary committees are as follows:

  1. All disciplinary hearings involving the accused student/organization and the appropriate judicial committee are considered to be open meetings and the Student Conduct Office posts a judicial hearing notice 24 hours prior to the actual judicial hearing outside the Dean of Students Office in its display case in the University Union.
  2. Judicial hearings are presided over by the chairperson of the committee or his or her designee. The judicial committee chair may exclude any person from the judicial hearing who is determined to be materially interfering with the judicial hearing proceedings. Any disruptions of a judicial hearing can result in the possible immediate interim suspension of the student/organization involved in the disruption. The chairperson of the committee makes such a determination, and when that determination is made those causing the disruption will be asked to leave the hearing and its premises. If they do not voluntarily leave then University Police will escort them off the premises.
  3. Recommendations of the judicial committees are by a simple majority vote. A judicial committee quorum is fifty percent of the committee's membership plus the chairperson.
  4. The format of the judicial hearing will follow this sequence:
  1. An oath is administered to the accused.
  2. The presentation of the alleged charge(s) to accused. (Charges are prepared and presented by a representative of the Dean of Students Office.)
  3. A call for a response to each charge from the accused by the chair.
  4. The presentation of witnesses and documentation supporting the alleged violation(s).
  5. The presentation of the comments and documentation supporting the accused’s position.
  6. Examination and questioning by the committee and the accused follows witness comments and information supporting the alleged violations, and after the witness comments and information of the accused.
  7. The presentation of the closing comments by both parties, first the administration then the accused.
  8. Committee deliberations then occur and they are closed to the public.
  9. The judicial committee reconvenes and reads their findings and/or recommendation(s) to the accused. They also notify the accused of the right to appeal.
  10. Hearing is adjourned.

E. All comments are given under oath.

F. The accused student may bring an advisor of his or her own choosing to the hearing.

G. The judicial committee has three charges. The first is to determine the facts. Second, the committee is to decide on the question of responsibility or non-responsibility for any or all charges, and lastly, IF there is a finding of responsibility for any or all charges, they are to develop a suitable disciplinary recommendation. Committee deliberations are closed to all but the members of the committee. The committee will hear only that information pertinent to the charge(s). Committee deliberations concerning the sanction(s) may draw upon representatives of the Office of Student Affairs for guidance.

H. The Judicial Committee will advise the accused of its recommendation(s) at the conclusion of the deliberations. The recommendation(s) of the committee is also communicated to the accused in writing, following the verbal notification at the judicial hearing.

I. The accused student/organization is also informed both verbally and in writing of the right to an appeal and is informed of how to pursue the appeal process.

J. An audio recording of the hearing will be made and filed in the Student Conduct Office.

Last revised SPR 2007