Preparing for Your Meeting
Before your Community Standards Conference (CSC), there are a few different resources you may want to view ahead of time to help you better understand the student conduct process.
The CSC is the opportunity for the student to review the referral, discuss the reported incident, ask questions, and accept or deny the charges that have been placed against the student.
Students who miss their meeting will be rescheduled for one last attempt. Failure to attend two meetings will result in an outcome being made in the student's absence.
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Before the start of your meeting, our office recommends that you review the Student Code of Conduct.
In particular, you may want to review the following sections:
- Part C: Definition of Terms
- Part D: Prohibited Conduct
- Part E: Community Standards Process
There are rights and responsibilities that accompany the student conduct process. The Rights of the Respondent areattached in the scheduling letter that is sent. CSSR recommends that students read the Rights of the Respondent prior to their CSC.
Additionally, staff will review the Rights of the Respondent with students at the start of their scheduled meeting.
As you prepare to attend your meeting, you may find yourself wanting to have someone be there to support and/or advise you. CSSR recommends that you outreach to an identified advisor or support person as soon as you are able and prior to your scheduled meeting.
Students are permitted to have an advisor and a support person through the student conduct process.
- An advisor is an Ohio University employee or student selected by the student to assist them throughout the student conduct process. The advisor may advise and assist the student in the preparation, accompaniment, and participation in the student conduct process. Advisors may not be a witness to the matter at hand and they may not provide any direct information or testimony at any point in the process. Advisors are not provided as part of the student conduct process, and students wishing to use an advisor are responsible for obtaining one.
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A support person may be any person that is there to support the student through the student conduct process- this can be a family member or friend. A support person is not permitted to participate in the process and cannot speak or ask questions. A support person cannot be an advisor or a witness as well.
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Students are permitted to have legal representation. However, an attorney/lawyer is not able to speak on behalf of the student or ask questions during the student conduct process. Their role is primarily to counsel the student, and to advise the student to speak or not speak during the process.
Students Defending Students (SDS) is a part of the Ohio University Student Senate. They are a group of students who are willing to serve as advisors to students going through the student conduct process. For students looking for assistance, SDS may be a good starting point. SDS are located in Baker 302, their phone is: 740-593-4045, and their email is: studentsdefendingstudents@gmail.com.
CSSR recommends contacting SDS as soon as possible so that they will be better able to assist you before your scheduled meeting.
During your meeting, your assigned hearing officer will ask you questions regarding the referral that CSSR received.
Be prepared to discuss the following:
- Your experience at Ohio University
- The reported incident and what occurred before, during, and afterward
- Personal, professional, and academic goals
Our office knows that there may be stress or uncertainty as you wait for your meeting to occur. Additionally, we know that coming to our physical space may also cause concern.
If you are not located in Athens or wish you have your meeting scheduled to be conducted remotely, please contact Community Standards and Student Responsibility at 740-593-2629 to speak with a staff member. Staff are able to make accommodations for meetings to be conducted remotely though Microsoft Teams via request.