When a report alleging student misconduct comes to the Office of Admissions and Student Services the student is immediately notified of the allegations. If the student does not respond within twenty-four hours, he or she may be immediately suspended. The Dean of Students will conduct an initial investigation by taking written and oral statements from the complainant (person making the allegations) and any witnesses. The student who is charged with the misconduct will be given a summary of the allegations and the names of the complainant and witnesses. The student will also be given a chance to present his or her case to the Dean of Students. Once all sides have been heard, the Dean of Students will make a determination about the allegations. If the student is found guilty the Dean of Students will outline an appropriate remediation. In cases of major ethical violations the Dean of Students may opt out of making an initial determination about guilt or innocence and may instead send the matter directly to the SPC.
If the Dean of Students makes a determination about the incident and the student accepts the findings, then he or she will sign a statement acknowledging acceptance of the findings and agreement to abide by the remediation. If the student is not satisfied with the findings, then the student has the option of having the case heard by the SPC. If the student poses a threat to the college community, the Dean of Students may temporarily suspend the student from attending classes until the issue is resolved.