Student Conduct FAQ
Crafton Hills College is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive learning environment. The student conduct process is designed to address reported violations of the Standards of Student Conduct while providing students with notice of the allegations and a meaningful opportunity to respond.
The following FAQs provide general information for students about the student conduct process. Individual cases may vary depending on the circumstances.
Student Conduct Process
If you receive a notice regarding an alleged violation, it will generally identify the alleged conduct, the applicable policy or policies, possible sanctions or responsive actions, and instructions for contacting the College Conduct Officer.
Under AP 5520, a student who receives an initial notice is generally required to contact the College Conduct Officer within seven (7) calendar days of the initial notification to schedule the required meeting or hearing. Failure to respond does not automatically stop the conduct process; the matter may proceed without the student's input.
The College Conduct Officer investigates reports to determine whether there is sufficient information to find that a violation of the Standards of Student Conduct occurred. Students are provided an opportunity to respond to the allegations and provide relevant information as part of the process.
Explain the alleged violation(s) and applicable Standards of Student Conduct;
Discuss the incident or concern that was reported;
Ask questions about what occurred;
Give you an opportunity to respond to the allegations;
Review relevant information or evidence;
Allow you to provide information you believe should be considered; and
Explain possible next steps in the student conduct process.
The purpose is to gather relevant information and provide you with an opportunity to be heard before a determination is made.
Not participating does not automatically mean you are responsible. A determination must still be made based on the information available.
Student Rights and Participation
Yes. An important part of the student conduct process is providing the student with
an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The College Conduct Officer will make reasonable efforts to provide you with an opportunity
to respond to the accusation and provide relevant information concerning the incident.
Students may seek to review records relating to their investigation or its outcome. AP 5520 directs students seeking access to these records to the District's student records and privacy procedures under BP 5040. The District is not necessarily required to provide copies if the student's right to inspect the records can otherwise be provided.
Contact the Student Conduct Office if you would like information about requesting access to records related to your case.
Students may not audio-record, video-record, or otherwise record an investigation, interview, or meeting conducted as part of the Student Conduct process. This includes investigative meetings and Administrative Conferences with the College Conduct Officer. AP 5520 does allow students to audio-record a hearing at their own expense. A hearing is different from a regular meeting with the Student Conduct Officer. Hearings are more formal proceedings that follow specific procedures outlined in AP 5520.
Yes. Relevant witnesses may be considered as part of an investigation. Witness testimony or statements must relate directly to the alleged violation.
If you believe a witness has relevant information, notify the Student Conduct Office as early as possible. AP 5520 provides specific requirements concerning witnesses, including advance notice requirements in certain proceedings.
Student conduct investigations, meetings, and hearings are treated as private proceedings.
Information may be shared with appropriate District employees, law enforcement, or
other individuals when permitted or required by law and generally on a need-to-know
basis.
Although the College will endeavor to honor requests for confidentiality when appropriate,
complete confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed.
Findings and Decisions
The College Conduct Officer considers the information gathered during the investigation before making the determination.
If a student is found responsible, appropriate sanctions or other responsive actions may be imposed.
Sanctions
Sanctions are determined based on the circumstances of the case and the applicable provisions of AP 5520. Possible sanctions and responsive actions include, but are not limited to:
- Verbal or written reprimand/warning
- Disciplinary probation
- Community service
- Educational or reflective assignments
- Online education or training
- Restitution
- No-contact orders
- Restrictions from District facilities, activities, or events
- Administrative withdrawal from a class
- Short-term removal from class
- Short-term or long-term suspension; and
- Expulsion.
Expulsion is permanent removal from the District and ultimately involves action by the District Board of Trustees.
Disciplinary probation is written notice that a student has violated the Standards of Student Conduct and must comply with specified conditions for a designated period.
A subsequent conduct violation or failure to comply with the conditions of probation may result in additional disciplinary action.
Yes, under certain circumstances. A faculty member may remove a student from class for good cause for up to two class meetings. For online courses, access to course content may be removed for a comparable period. Additional disciplinary action may also be considered through the student conduct process.
Administrative withdrawal from a class may also be imposed through the conduct process when appropriate under AP 5520.
Students are expected to comply with sanctions and other requirements imposed through the student conduct process. Failure to comply may lead to additional action. AP 5520 also permits a hold on student records in certain circumstances, including failure to comply with required meetings, appointments, or sanctions.
Appeals
AP 5520 permits students to appeal eligible findings and sanctions. An appeal is not a new investigation or a complete rehearing of the case. Instead, an appeal considers whether one or more specific grounds for appeal have been established.
A written appeal must generally be submitted to the College Conduct Officer's office within seven (7) calendar days of notification of the outcome, finding, and sanctions.
The appeal may be submitted as permitted by AP 5520, including by email, U.S. mail, or personal delivery. An appeal received after the seven-calendar-day deadline is considered untimely and generally results in waiver of the right to appeal. Document Library
Under AP 5520, an appeal must be based on one or more of the following:
Excessive Sanction: The sanction is excessive in relation to the violation for which
the student was found responsible.
Substantive Procedural Error
A significant procedural error materially affected the College Conduct Officer's consideration of the evidence.
New Evidence
New information has become available that could be sufficient to change the decision and that the student did not know about, or could not reasonably have obtained, during the initial review.
The student must clearly identify the applicable ground or grounds and provide detailed information supporting the appeal.
If the appeal proceeds to an appeal hearing, the College will provide information about the date, time, location, applicable procedures, and any requirements for submitting information or identifying witnesses.
AP 5520 states that reasonable efforts should be made to schedule an appeal hearing generally no sooner than 14 calendar days and no later than 30 calendar days after the written appeal request is submitted, although circumstances outside the College Conduct Officer's control may require a different timeline.
Yes. A student may have an advisor accompany them to an appeal hearing. The advisor's role is supportive and they may not present the student's case or respond on the student's behalf.
AP 5520 requires the student to provide the College Conduct Office with the advisor's name at least seven calendar days before the appeal hearing. Separate advance-notice requirements apply when a student chooses to have an attorney present.
Interim Actions and Safety
An interim action is a temporary measure that may be imposed while a conduct matter is being investigated when necessary to protect the safety and security of the District community or prevent substantial disruption to campus operations.
Examples may include an interim suspension, no-contact order, restricted access to District facilities, or restrictions involving District events. Interim actions are not, by themselves, a final determination that a student is responsible for the alleged conduct.
For emergencies or situations involving an imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, please call 911.
For non-emergency questions concerning the student conduct process, contact the Crafton Hills College Student Conduct Office.
Email: studentconduct@craftonhills.edu
Phone: 909-389-3207
Student Conduct Website: Crafton Hills College Student Conduct