This page is designed to be an overview of the RSO conduct process.
Details about the process can be found in the Student Handbook.
To report a violation, please contact the
Dean of Students Office or Department of Student Engagement.
When the University receives a report of an alleged RSO violation, it first reviews the report's information to make decisions about how to best move forward.
The initial conduct meeting is a chance for the Conduct Officer to talk the the RSO Representative about the alleged violation(s) and how the conduct process will move forward.
At this point, the RSO will work with the Conduct Officer to gather information about the alleged violation(s). This may happen via the Collaborative Process or Formal Process.
Outcomes are the conclusion of the conduct process and include both a finding of responsibility and any assigned sanctions. Outcomes may be appealed if certain criteria are met.
To be considered not responsible for any violation(s) until responsibility is established.
To be represented in the conduct process by a student leader of the RSO's choosing, known as the RSO Representative.
To receive written notice of the specific section(s) of the Standards of Conduct in which violation(s) may have occurred, a summary of the alleged violation(s), and a time and place when the conduct meeting will be held.
To understand the specific Standard(s) of Conduct that the RSO allegedly violated.
To attend a conduct meeting with a Conduct Officer regarding the alleged violation(s).
To select a conduct advisor of their choosing to accompany the RSO throughout the conduct process.
To present relevant evidence and witnesses to be considered.
To be silent in the conduct process, preferably by notifying the Conduct Officer of their decision to not participate.
To be informed of the outcome in writing, including the finding(s) and sanction(s).
To receive reasonable accommodations when requested.
To request an appeal of the finding(s) and/or sanction(s) made by the Conduct Officer.
At the RSO's initial conduct meeting, their conduct officer will go over their options for the investigation portion of the process. In most instances RSOs will have the option to begin with a Collaborative Process, but always have the ability to choose a Formal Process if they prefer.
During a Collaborative Process, the RSO investigates the allegations and submits a written investigative report to the conduct officer to review. The RSO is in charge of suggesting appropriate findings and sanctions which, if appropriate, will become the official outcome.
During a Formal Process, the conduct officer gathers any relevant information and determines the case outcome.
Conduct outcomes are made up of two different pieces: findings and sanctions.
A finding is a determination of whether or not the RSO was responsible for the policy violation. Each alleged violation receives its own finding (i.e. an RSO could be found responsible for some violations, but not others).
Sanctions are actions assigned to RSOs with one or more responsible findings. They are determined by the severity of the violation, impact of the violation, past RSO conduct issues, and applicability of the Responsible Action Policy. Example sanctions are the restriction of certain privileges, mandatory education programming, required changes to RSO operations, or removal of the RSO's campus recognition.
