The Coordinator of Student Development for Community Standards acts as the moderator for the hearings, but has no decision making responsibilities. This person is responsible for the planning of the hearing and ensuring that the complainant and respondent are being treated fairly and in accordance with the guidelines established in the Student Handbook. Students often assume that hearings are like criminal court. Although some aspects of the hearing parallel the legal system, the objective is very different. A hearing is primarily a forum for the fair presentation of various points of view concerning a specific incident and for parties to resolve issues.
Hearings follow standard procedures designed to encourage orderly discussion.
The moderator serves as the procedural guide. The advisor can be a friend, faculty member, parent, attorney or anyone that the student would choose, but the advisor cannot speak or participate in the hearing at all. If the advisor is going be an attorney, the moderator must be notified of this within three days of the hearing so that the other party involved may be contacted in order to have an opportunity to seek legal counsel. Keep in mind, that the hearing is an educational process. This is why we do not allow attorneys or other advocates to speak on behalf of the student.