Process

Notification

The process of campus adjudication begins once the Office of Student Conduct receives an Incident Report from Residence Services, Kent State University Police, or other municipality. Once the information is entered into the database system, written notification (typically an e-mail to the KSU address, in accordance with Kent State University's Code of Student Conduct, Section 1.E  and Policy Register 9-01.2) will be provided to the accused student to set up an appointment for a Sanction Hearing or Hearing Panel with the Office of Student Conduct, by calling 330-672-4054. Provided with the e-mail will be a text version of the Incident Report as well as links to the Office of Student Conduct website which contains links to the Code of Student Conduct and information about the Judicial Advocate's program.

Note that a Hearing Panel is required where a Student is accused of in circumstances including, but not limited to distribution of controlled substances, hazing, physical violence, sexual misconduct and weapons.

Sanction Hearing

A Hearing Officer conducts the Sanction Hearing. It is called the Sanction Hearing because if the student selects this option, they already admit to responsibility for the violation and the hearing is designed to determine the sanction. Sanction Hearings are digitally recorded .  After a conversation about the information within the Incident Report, the Hearing Officer will levy sanctions, as appropriate. If the Student decides at any time prior to, or during, a Sanction Hearing that they do not accept responsibility, the Student Conduct Convener will schedule a Hearing Panel with the Student.

Hearing Panel

A Hearing Panel consists of an odd number of members (minimally three) of the KSU community. All members of a Hearing Panel must be Hearing Officers. At least one member of the Hearing Panel must be a current KSU student. Hearing Panels are digitally recorded.  The Hearing Panel will ask the Accused Student for information pertaining to the Incident Report as well as any background information. The Hearing Panel will then ask the Complainant for their input regarding the Incident Report as well as background information they have access to.  If witnesses are present, the Hearing Panel will ask them to provide information pertaining to the Incident Report. The Hearing Panel will allow for the accused Student and the Complainants to ask questions of each other, as well as witnesses. The Hearing Panel may ask questions at any time during the hearing. The Hearing Panel will then allow for character references to provide information about the Accused Student.

Once the Hearing Panel has gathered enough information to come a decision, the Student Conduct Convener will have the Accused Student, their guests, and the Complainants wait in the hearing room or lobby while the Hearing Panel goes into deliberation. Deliberation may typically range from 5-30 minutes. The hearing will then be reconvened and the Hearing Panel will supply the findings as well as sanctions (if the student is found responsible). The Student Conduct Convener will supply, to the Student, a Report of Finding, which contains the result of the hearing and details of any sanctions that have been imposed. Hearing Panels are scheduled to last up to one hour, but times may vary on a case to case basis

Appeal

For both a Sanction Hearing and a Hearing Panel, the Student (or the Complainant) may submit an appeal, in writing (e-mail is acceptable), to the Office of Student Conduct within seven calendar days from the conclusion of the hearing. Click here for an appeal form that may be filled out and turned in.

An appeal may be on the basis that:

• The decision was not in accordance with the evidence presented, and/or
• The decision was reached through a procedure not in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct, and/or
• New information is available with may suggest a modification of the decision, and/or
• Sanctions imposed were not appropriate for the conduct violation the Student was found responsible for.

The Appeal Panel is composed of three (3) Kent State faculty or staff members appointed by the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs who are trained by the Director of Student Conduct.  The Appeal Panel will provide a recommendation in writing to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (or designee) within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the appeal.  The Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (or designee) will provide a written decision within seven (7) days of receipt from the Appeal Panel.  The decision will be provided to the accused student and complainant via communication from the Office of Student Conduct. See the Code of Student Conduct for additional information regarding appeals.

Outcomes

If a student accepts responsibility for a campus violation (or is found responsible), the following sanctions may be assigned:

• Academic Reflection
• Alcohol / Substance Abuse Educational Course
• Community Service
• Counseling referral
• Disciplinary Dismissal
• Disciplinary Probation
• Disciplinary Suspension
• Students Involved in Responsible Character Awareness workshop
• Letter of Apology
• Monetary Fine (maximum $200)
• Restitution
• Warning
• Other as deemed appropriate through the disciplinary process

It is the responsibility of the student to fulfill the sanction by the assigned due date. Failure to comply with a sanction may be grounds for further disciplinary charges.

Text-Only version of Student Conduct Flowchart for screen reader users