COLLABORATIVE RESOLUTION

The Collaborative Resolution Process is a less formal approach to addressing certain behaviors that are unlikely to alter a student’s status at the college. This process can only be offered or initiated by the Director of Student Conduct or designee. 

The Collaborative Resolution Process seeks to resolve conflict, to restore an individual or groups relationship with the community, and to promote and maintain community trust and civility. This is achieved through dialogue that results in mutually agreed upon outcomes by the college and the student. 

By agreeing to participate in the Collaborative Resolution Process, you have taken responsibility for your actions and are not disputing the facts of what occurred.  Outcomes of the collaborative resolution process do not appear on a student or organization's conduct record unless additional violations occur. 

Collaborative Resolution outcomes are mutually agreed upon decisions and as such do not have the ability to be appealed. 

The Collaborative Resolution Process is reserved for allegations of social misconduct in which:

• the facts of the incident are not in dispute,
• the student(s) or organization(s) involved has accepted responsibility for their/its actions and agrees to amicable and respectful discussion throughout the process,
• and when, based upon the behavior at issue, the likely outcome does not alter a student or organization’s relationship or status with the College. 

Violations likely to alter a student’s status at the college are not eligible for review under the Collaborative Resolution Process.

The success of the Collaborative Resolution Process requires that the meeting(s) include honest and candid dialogue, input from the parties involved, an acknowledgement and understanding of responsibility by the parties involved, and a resolution that is agreed upon by all participants. If the individual(s)/organization(s) are unable to agree on the outcomes of the Collaborative Resolution Process, the matter will be resolved through formal resolution processes. 

JUDICIAL INQUIRY

A judicial inquiry is started when the Dean of Students Office learns that a student or group may have been involved in, or witnessed, a possible violation of the Student Conduct Code.

If a student is asked to attend a judicial inquiry, they must appear when requested. If the student does not attend, a hold may be placed on their records, grades, transcripts, registration, or degree. The inquiry may also continue without them.

When a student is asked to attend, they will be told what the concern is about and reminded to review the student conduct process. The student must answer all questions honestly and completely. Lying or giving false information may be a separate conduct violation. A student can choose not to answer specific questions only if the answer would admit to a violation. If they do refuse to answer, they must explain why.

A student may only bring an Advisor to the inquiry if the hearing officer gives permission.

This inquiry is a fact-finding step in the conduct process and may or may not lead to disciplinary action. The student will be asked questions about the situation. The hearing officer can pause or stop the inquiry to gather more information if needed.

Students can ask to see documents used as evidence against them. However, any names (besides their own) will be removed to protect others’ privacy. Students do not have access to internal notes, emails, or confidential documents.

After gathering the facts, the hearing officer will decide if any disciplinary action is needed. They may end the inquiry or decide on responsibility and assign any educational outcomes. The student will receive a letter with the decision and any outcomes. In some cases, and when legally allowed, a copy may also be sent to the student's parent(s) or guardian(s).

If the student accepts the decision and any outcomes, the case is final and cannot be appealed.

JUDICIAL BOARD HEARINGS

If the student disagrees with the decision and/or sanction(s) from the Judicial Inquiry, they may request a hearing with the Judicial Board. This request must be submitted in writing to the Board Chairperson through the Director of Student Conduct in the Dean of Students Office within three (3) business days of receiving the decision. 

If the request is made on time, the sanction(s) from the Judicial Inquiry will be put on hold until the Judicial Board hearing is complete. The Judicial Board’s decision will replace the original decision and take effect immediately. 

APPEALS

The decision of the Judicial Board may be appealed to the Appeals Board[1], by either party. The written appeal must be sent to the Appeal Board Chairperson via the Director of Student Conduct in the Dean of Students Office, within five (5) Institute business days of receiving the Judicial Board’s decision. The Appeal Board will then meet to discuss the merits of the appeal. Based solely upon the written evidence before it (including the letter of appeal and any material new evidence presented) the Appeal Board will decide one of the following: to uphold the decision of the lower body; to modify the outcome or sanction(s) of the lower body; to refer the case back to the lower body with instructions for further action; or to conduct a hearing. If the Appeal Board decides to conduct a hearing, it will determine what information will be examined or further clarified. The Appeal Board consists of two students, two faculty members, and one staff administrator. Additional information about the Appeal Board, can be found in the Appeal Board Bylaws.

Grounds for Appeals

Grounds for appeal include only: 

• demonstrated procedural error;
• new evidence that could not have been discovered by the accused student prior to the time of the original decision which would be likely to change these results of the previous outcome (“material new evidence”); and/or
• sanctions that are not appropriate for the violations.

The Judicial Board is not considered an appeal-level board. A hearing request to the Judicial Board is not considered an “appeal,” and shall be provided as of right to a party who makes an appropriate and timely request for such hearing. For purposes of clarity, a student who does not accept the initial judicial inquiry decision may not bypass the Judicial Board hearing process and proceed directly to an appeal; rather, the student must first proceed through the Judicial Board hearing process.

Review of Appeal Board Outcome

The decisions of the Appeal Board may be subject to final determination by the Provost, at the written request of either party involved, within five (5) Institute business days of notification of the board's decision. Appeals of Appeals Board decisions are made by either party via the Senior Judicial Administrator in the Dean of Students Office. 

The Provost has discretion in how to conduct the review and may reach a decision based solely on the written materials submitted, including the letter of appeal.

Deviation from Procedures

Deviation from the above listed procedures will not invalidate a decision or proceeding unless it causes significant prejudice to the accused student, which the student must bring to the attention of the applicable panel, committee, or board immediately upon belief that such prejudice occurred.

In determining whether a deviation caused significant prejudice, the applicable panel, committee, or board shall consider whether the course of the proceedings would have been substantially different had the deviation not occurred.

The applicable panel, committee, or board also shall determine whether the accused student gave adequate notice of the alleged procedural event.

TYPES OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR INDIVIDUALS

The primary goal of the Student Conduct System is education. In addition to educational sanctions, the Institution may issue sanctions that affect a student or student organization’s status at the Institute. All sanctions are official sanctions of the Institute. Failure to comply with these sanctions or with specific conditions related to the safety and security of any persons or property while a case is pending may result in further conduct charges. 

Disciplinary action includes, but is not limited to:

• Disciplinary Warning: Issued to students in writing to indicate that their behavior is in violation of Institute regulations and that repetition may bring more serious consequences.
   
• Loss of Privilege(s): Prohibition from some privileged activity (e.g., ability to self-select campus housing, student abroad, join a club/organization, etc.) for a specified period of time.
   
• Disciplinary Probation: A formal warning period which indicates to a student that further policy violations may result in more serious consequences including suspension or expulsion.
   
• Removal from Residential Facilities: The student's room rental agreement is void and they are required to vacate RPI residence facilities permanently or for a specified period of time.
   
• Disciplinary Suspension: The student is separated from the Institute RPI for a specific period of time and is required to leave the Institute. Return to campus may occur only with prior notification and approval of the Dean of Students Office. The student may submit an application for return at the end of the specified suspension time. Return to the Institute, RPIs at the sole discretion of RPI and a student may be required to fulfill specific conditions prior to and following their return.
   
• Expulsion: The student is permanently separated from the Institute without opportunity for readmission at any time. The student is required to leave the Institute within the time determined and cannot be in or on Institute property without the prior notification and approval of the Dean of Students Office.
   
• Educational Outcomes: The primary goal of the Student Conduct System is education. Respective Boards and conduct officers may design sanctions that are specific to an individual case when it is determined that educational value may result, and the interests of the university community are maintained. Examples of educational sanctions include, but are not limited to, community service, community involvement assignments, decision making assignments, civility workshops, monetary restitution, and research and writing assignments.

DISCLOSURE OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Any disciplinary action can be disclosed to federal, state, or local government entity, law enforcement, licensing or certification board, or corporate entity upon request of said agency if and only if: (a) by subpoena or binding order of a court or government agency, (b) a student provides their written consent to the disclosure. or (c) such disclosure is otherwise in compliance with state and federal laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

Transcript Notations

RPI Polytechnic Institute will place a notation on a student’s academic transcript for students who are found responsible for violating the Sexual Misconduct Policy or other university policies and are sanctioned with expulsion or suspension.

If a student facing such charges withdraws from the Institute before the sanction is issued and chooses not to complete the disciplinary process, a transcript notation will still be added.

• Expulsion notations are permanent and will only be removed if the expulsion is officially overturned.
• Suspension notations may be removed after one year following the end of the suspension. To request removal, the student must submit a written appeal to the Vice Provost for Student Experience. The Vice Provost’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
• If the request is denied, students may reapply once per year or until they graduate—whichever comes later.
• Suspension notations will also be removed if the suspension is overturned.

Temporary Records Hold 

Pending resolution of a disciplinary matter, at the discretion of the Dean of Students Office, a student's records, grades, transcript, registration, or awarding of a degree may be withheld until the conclusion of the conduct process. This action may also occur if a period of probation or suspension is imposed, or until a student completes all sanctions associated with a conduct resolution.

[1] The Appeals Board replaces the former Review Board and shall be recognized in all policies where the Review Board is referenced.