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What to Expect

Before a Hearing

The J-Board must meet within a week of receiving a complaint, but under usual circumstances this will happen within a couple of days. A Hearing Board will then be formed, composed of five members and a Procedural Aide (PA). The PA will then contact and meet first with the complainant, next with the respondent, and then the witnesses to have each individual sign a consent and affirmation agreement and go over their rights and obligations. If this consent and affirmation agreement is not signed, the individual cannot participate in the case. No individual is bound, either by honor, policy, or law, to participate in the case or to be present at the hearing. Any party or witness can submit written testimony before the hearing in lieu of or in addition to being present at the hearing.

Judicial Board Hearings

1. The Hearing Board Chair opens the hearing. At this point the complainant, respondent, and witnesses are all present.
2. Both parties (complainant and respondent) give opening statements. During this period, the witnesses are not present.
3. Next, both parties are questioned.
4. After the initial round of questioning the parties, the witnesses are brought in one at a time and questioned.
5. The Board takes a recess and decides if any party or witness needs to be questioned further.
6. Following the end of questioning, both parties are given time to deliver their closing statements.
7. The Hearing Board Chair closes the hearing.

Hearing Board Deliberations and Recommendations

After the hearing has concluded and all testimony has been submitted, the Hearing Board deliberates on:

• The facts and events of the case,
• Any violations found, and
• A recommendation to the Vice President for Student Life (or designee) regarding sanctions.

Deliberations are closed to the public, the procedural aide for the case, and the rest of the Judicial Board not on the Hearing Board. The voting members (five for most hearing boards) hearing the case deliberate as a group. The Hearing Board determines a chronology of events (the finding of fact), the policy and honor violations such facts imply, and the recommended sanctions that such violations warrant. Deliberations generally take a prolonged period of time as the Board must be careful and thoughtful in considering all testimonies and options available to them. Once deliberations have concluded and the Hearing Board has made a decision, the Board collectively composes an extensive document to submit to the Vice President for Student Life (or designee) regarding the recommendations.

Letter from the Vice President for Student Life (or Designee)

Upon the conclusion of the Hearing Board’s deliberations, the Board submits to the Vice President for Student Life or their designee a document that includes the Board’s finding of fact, finding of violations, and recommended sanctions. The Vice President or designee reviews the submitted materials and determines whether or not they agree with the Board’s findings and recommendations. The Vice President or designee may choose to meet with the Hearing Board to discuss any confusion or disagreement they have with the contents of the document. The ultimate decision, however rests with the Vice President or designee. Once the Vice President or designee makes a decision, they send a letter with to the complainant and respondent of the case. The letter that includes information on how to appeal the decision. Possible sanctions include:

• Disciplinary probation
• Financial restitution
• Reflection essays
• Behavioral expectations contract
• Apologies
• Coursework at an external institution
• Educational programs
• Consultation with other members of the community
• Restrictions or removal related to on campus student employment, appointed/volunteer positions, or participation in college organizations or events
• Restrictions related to living in or accessing Reed owned housing
• Removal from Reed owned housing
• Room inspection/search
• No contact orders
• Restriction and/or hold on transcripts, registration, and receipt of diploma until sanctions have been completed
• Loss of alumni privileges
• Information released outside the college
• Alcohol and Other Drug use assessments or other therapeutic interventions
• Health and Counseling Center meetings
• Meetings with the Dean of Students (or designees)
• Limited exclusion from campus
• Full exclusion from campus and all college-affiliated events
• Community service
• Suspension
• Expulsion

Appeals

Either the complainant or respondent may appeal the decision by filing an appeal within ten working days of the receipt of the decision. An appeal may be made in writing to the Chair of the Appeals Board (except for academic misconduct cases that were originally heard by the J-Board, for which appeals are made in writing to the Chair of the Administration Committee), on the basis of any (or all) of the following three appeals criteria:

1. The sanctions were too lenient or too severe,
2. There was procedural error in the original hearing of the case that significantly affected the outcome, or
3. There is new or newly discovered evidence that would have significantly affected the original decision.

The appeals board submits a recommendation to the Vice President for Student Life or designee, who makes the final decision. The decider of the appeal will be a Reed staff member different from the person who made prior decisions in the case.