Appeals
A request for appeal of a decision delivered through the Community Responsibility Panel or Hearing Officer Proceedings must be submitted in writing to the president of the university by the respondent within seven calendar days of the official notification of the decision.
In cases where it is appropriate to communicate the disposition of the charge to the complainant and/or the impacted party, the complainant and/or impacted party may also submit a request for appeal in writing to the president of the university within seven calendar days of the official notification of the decision.
The written appeal request should indicate whether the complainant or respondent student is appealing the finding(s) of responsibility, the outcome(s), or both, as well as the basis for the appeal itself. The basis of an appeal will be limited to one or more of the following cases:
- A gross procedural error that materially affected the outcome;
- The outcome(s) imposed are not commensurate with the violation(s) of community standards for which the respondent(s) are found responsible;
- The finding was not consistent with a preponderance of the evidence;
- New information, which was unavailable at the time of the hearing that merits re- consideration of the final disposition.
The appeal officer designated by the president will review the written appeal request and determine whether, in the judgment of the appeal officer, sufficient grounds exist for at least one basis of appeal to be further explored through review by the appeal officer. In hearing an appeal, the appeal officer, at their discretion, may meet with individuals and review information relevant to the bases of the appeal. In the event of an appeal, outcomes will normally be held in abeyance pending the resolution of the appeal process, except in cases where the university determines there may exist a threat to the safety and welfare of the campus community, in which case outcomes will take immediate effect. Interim measures put in place via the Safety Intervention Protocol are not outcomes and therefore remain in effect per their original terms during the pendency of the appeal.
Appeals will be decided by the appeal officer in a timely manner as circumstances warrant. While an appeal is under review, the appeal officer will update the respondent(s) and complainant(s) as necessary about the anticipated timeline.
The appeal officer has the authority to modify the decision as they deem appropriate for resolution of the matter being appealed, which could entail an increase, decrease or change to the nature of the outcome(s). The appeal officer may also reconvene the initial Community Responsibility Panel/Hearing Officer or remand the matter to a new Community Responsibility Panel/Hearing Officer for review.
Back to Community Standards and Procedures