Please note, this list of FAQs is not exhaustive and offers general guidelines of the Community Standards process under the Code of Conduct. Please refer to the Guide to Pride for more detailed information regarding processes under other policies such as Title IX or Prohibited Bias and Discriminatory Harassment, or reach out to the Office of Community Standards with any questions.
Student:
1. What is a referral to Community Standards?
A referral is given to Community Standards after a complaint has been submitted or an incident is observed suggesting that a violation of the University’s policies or Conduct Codes may have occurred. Referrals are generally given by the Department of Public Safety.
2. What should I do if I was referred to Community Standards?
You will receive a communication in your pride email from the Office of Community Standards. This communication will include instructions on how you can schedule an appointment for an informational meeting with the assigned Student Conduct Administrator. Please follow the instructions in a timely manner.
3. How should I prepare for an informational meeting?
The informational meeting is an opportunity for you to meet with the Student Conduct Administrator and share what happened. The best way to prepare is to record any notes about the incident that you wish to share during the informational meeting. We understand that students may experience stress in advance of meeting with us – this is understandable given the nature of these conversations. We ask that you take care of yourself by engaging in stress-reducing activities such as meditation, exercise, deep breathing, among other things…as you prepare for the meeting, and seek support from Student Counseling Services if needed.
4. What will happen during my informational meeting?
During this meeting, the Student Conduct Administrator will share the case file with you, which will include documents related to your involvement in the alleged incident. This may include the actual complaint, Public Safety’s investigative report, emails, texts, pictures, videos, audio, among other things.... You will have an opportunity to share what happened. Student Conduct Administrators serve in neutral roles and our goal is to resolve the complaint with the best possible outcome for all involved as well as the larger Hofstra community. Our goal is to educate and inform students, and we believe engaging in the conduct process is part of your learning experience at Hofstra.
Toward the conclusion of the meeting, you will decide how to respond to the allegation by either accepting responsibility or not accepting responsibility and moving forward with a hearing. You will record your decision by completing an Acknowledgement of Rights form that the Student Conduct Administrators will provide.
If you accept responsibility, then the Office of Community Standards will assign an outcome or sanction that is most appropriate given the nature of the violation, as well as any prior conduct violations you may have had, while keeping our educational approach in mind. You will not have a right to appeal if you accept responsibility. An outcome letter will be sent to your pride email within a timely fashion. Some outcomes may include deadlines for completion. Please make sure you review these deadlines and plan accordingly.
If you request a hearing because you do not accept responsibility of engaging in the alleged violation(s), then the Student Conduct Administrator will review your rights related to a hearing which are noted on the Acknowledgement of Rights form. You will then receive another communication in your pride email about arranging a hearing date.
5. Can I have an advisor?
Accused students may have an advisor of their choice if they’d like. This person can be anyone you trust, as long as there is no conflict of interest — family, professor, friend, among others…. Advisors are not involved in the disciplinary process directly and cannot speak on behalf of the accused student. If you wish to have an advisor, you must complete the Authorization for Advisor form and submit it to the Office of Community Standards at least one (1) business day prior to the scheduled meeting/ hearing date.
6. What is a hearing?
A hearing is pursued when the complaint was not resolved through acceptance of responsibility or an informal resolution. The hearing gives the accused student another chance to share what happened with Hearing Board members, who also serve in neutral roles and are trained to hear such cases.
Accused students may bring witnesses with the approval of the Office of Community Standards. The University will also call witnesses who were involved in the incident. For example, the University may call the Public Safety Officer who observed an incident to testify or tell the Hearing Board what they saw. The Hearing Board will also review the same case file that the accused student reviewed during the informational meeting. The Hearing Board will have the opportunity to ask questions of the accused student as well as of all witnesses.
Upon the conclusion, all parties will leave the room and the Hearing Board will discuss and answer the question: Is it more likely than not (51%) that the accused student violated the University policy(ies) or code(s)? They must decide, after hearing the testimony or statements of all parties, and reviewing the case file, if the accused student is responsible. The Hearing Board may find the accused student responsible and, if so, the Office of Community Standards will issue an appropriate outcome or sanction. The Hearing Board, may otherwise, not find the student responsible and the charge would be dismissed.
A hearing is scheduled based on the availability of all involved parties including the accused student, witnesses and board members.
7. What is the difference between an administrative hearing board and a student hearing board?
An administrative hearing board consists of members who are University administrators. Student hearing board members are current students. All members are trained annually in order to serve in these roles.
8. How should I prepare for my hearing?
You will have the opportunity to review the case file again, prior to the hearing date. This is your chance to take notes so that you can prepare for the hearing. In addition, you may want to:
- Carefully review the Code of Community Standards for the most detailed information regarding the hearing process.
- Review the charges and allegations that appear on the 'Acknowledgement of Rights Form' that you received during your informational meeting as well as any other information or reports that you may have regarding the incident.
- Review the definitions of the Student Conduct Codes that have been alleged against you. The board will determine if your actions meet the definition of the code(s) in question.
- Think about what you want to say in your opening and closing statements. Some students speak freely without preparation of a formal statement but, if you feel more comfortable or if you want to ensure that you don't forget any important points, you may use an outline or bring a written statement(s) to read to the board.
- If you are calling witnesses to speak on your behalf, remember that you must submit a Witness Request Form at least two (2) business days in advance of the hearing. The Office of Community Standards will contact these individuals to ensure that they qualify to serve as witnesses. (Witnesses must be students, faculty, or staff — non-students are not authorized to serve as witnesses. They must have been present or have firsthand, direct knowledge of the incident in question. No character witnesses are permitted.)
- Consider each of the witnesses who will be present and determine if there are any specific questions that you will want to ask them.
- Determine if you plan to have an advisor for the hearing. You are required to provide the Office of Community Standards with notification of your intention to have an advisor. Notification must be submitted on an Authorization for Advisor Form at least one (1) business day prior to the hearing.
9. What should I expect at my hearing?
- Arrive on time and notify the staff/panel that you are present. Remember if you do not attend your hearing, it will proceed in your absence and a decision will be rendered.
- Bring any notes/statements that you may have. Remember that no documents, pictures. or other physical evidence can be submitted during the hearing without prior approval from the Office of Community Standards.
- Do not bring any cell phones or other electronic devices that have the capability of recording as these items are not allowed in the hearing.
- Present your opening statement — an explanation of what happened in your own words and how you are responding to the charge(s) outlined. You can read this statement; no need to memorize.
- Take advantage of your opportunity to question all witnesses, particularly those who might have presented testimony in conflict with yours.
- Present your closing statement — whatever information you want the board to consider as they prepare to begin their deliberations. You may read this statement as well.
The usual format of a hearing is as follows:
- Cases are introduced, allegation(s) read, and the appropriate oaths issued by the chairperson or designated representative of the Administrative or Student Hearing Board.
- Opening statement by the student charged.
- Questions for the student charged from members of the board.
- Statement(s)/report(s) from witness(es) on behalf of the University.
- Questions for University witness(es) from members of the board.
- Questions for University witness(es) from student charged.
- Statement(s) from witnesses on behalf of the charged student. (No character witnesses are allowed. The acceptance and validity of witnesses and written statements are to be determined by the hearing officer. The University reserves the right to call appropriate University members to serve as witnesses and/or to offer relevant testimony to the case.)
- Questions for student’s witness(es) from members of the board.
- Questions for student’s witness(es) from student charged.
- Final questions for the student charged from members of the board.
- Closing statement from the student charged.
10. What is a group hearing?
The University has the right to schedule a group hearing if an incident involves multiple accused students. During a group hearing, the same format as noted above is followed with the exception of allowing each accused student to share their opening and closing statements in private.
11. When will I learn the outcome of my hearing?
The Office of Community Standards will notify you of the hearing outcome via your Hofstra Pride email — notification is typically made within 5-7 business days after the hearing.
11a. Can I appeal my outcome from my conduct case?
Students who accept responsibility waive their right to appeal the outcome.
Students found responsible through a hearing can appeal within seven (7) calendar days of receiving their decision letter only on the following grounds:
- There is substantive new evidence that was not previously available or known before the hearing; or
- There is reason to believe that the procedural rights of the accused student have been violated in a way that affected the decision.
11b. How can I appeal my outcome?
If you believe you have grounds to appeal the outcome of your conduct case, then you must submit a written petition for appeal, through your pride email, to the Dean of Students supporting one or more of the above grounds. A request on either of these grounds must clearly explain, in detail, the basis for the appeal. The appeal should be based on documentation and should be limited to an inquiry of the issue or issues raised in the complaint. The Dean of Students or designee will decide if there is sufficient documentation to modify or uphold the original sanction. These decisions are final. In situations where new evidence is introduced, the Dean of Students or designee can decide to reopen the case with the original hearing board. Based on the new evidence heard, the original hearing board can uphold or modify its finding.
12. Why was I fined for failure to comply?
A $100 fine for failure to comply is typically given to students for not responding to emails as directed, not completing an assigned sanction, or not following the policies as outlined by the Office of Residence Life.
13. How can I submit a report against another student(s)?
There are different ways to submit a report based on your concerns.
- Bias Motivated Incidents: https://www.hofstra.edu/equity-inclusion/online-reporting.html
- Residence Life: contact your Residence Director for matters involving housing.
- Title IX (discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual misconduct): https://www.hofstra.edu/title-ix/online-reporting.html
- Procedures against employees or other non-students: Nondiscrimination Policy- https://shorturl.at/jnY26
If you are unsure about the type of concern, then you may contact the Dean of Student’s Office at 516-463-6913, deanofstudents@hofstra.edu, or visit room 243 of the Mack Student Center. You may also submit a report by visiting Public Safety, who will assist in your report submission. The matter will then be investigated and or forwarded to the appropriate office to manage accordingly.