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General
Policies,
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FAQS for Filing an Allegation of Student Misconduct
1. How do I file an Allegation of Student Misconduct? If you are a victim or witness of student misconduct and wish to file an allegation, you should go to the Office of Judicial Affairs located in 135 Boucke or contact Judicial Affairs by phone at (814) 863-0342. 2. Can someone accompany me to my meetings with my Judicial Affairs designee, like a parent, friend, or advocate? Yes, we encourage someone to accompany you in order to help you feel more comfortable. 3. What happens after I file an allegationt? How will I next be contacted? After an allegation is filed the University discipline process will begin. You will be contacted by a Judicial Affairs staff member who will either inform you of the outcome of the accused student’s Disciplinary Conference or your options if the result of the conference was a Hearing. 4. Will I have to face the person I am accusing? In the case of an Administrative or University Hearing Board hearing, the accused student does have a right to ask questions of his/her accuser. However, there are a variety of options that would allow the accused student the opportunity to ask questions while at the same time providing an atmosphere that feels as safe and comfortable as possible to the complaining witness. For example, by using a partition to separate you from the accused student, you would still be able to provide testimony and answer questions without having to actually see the accused student. It is also possible for you to provide testimony and answer questions from an off-site location via the telephone or other electronic means. You may also choose to be questioned by and provide answers to the accused through a third party during the hearing. The JA Designee handling the case will work with you to address any concerns that you might have 5.What should I wear? When you meet with you Judicial Affairs designee it is acceptable to wear your everyday clothes. 6. Who can I talk to about the case? You may talk to anyone you wish about the case. However, we recommend that when talking about your case you are discreet with whom, when, and where you discuss it. A JA Designee will be assigned to the case, and you may always speak to them about it. The JA Designee will also have a listing of resources for you including Counseling and Psychological Services, Center for Women Students, and the Centre County Women’s Resource Center. 7. What do I do if I'am not satisfied with the outcome of the case? Can I appeal the decision made? Depending on how the case was resolved will determine your appeal options. For cases that are resolved through either a Disciplinary Conference or Administrative Hearing, you may not appeal the decision. If the case is resolved through the University Hearing Board, you may appeal the decision based on the following reasons: 1) stated procedures were not followed that affected the hearing outcome, 2) new evidence is presented that was not available during the time of the original hearing and the information is relevant to establish that the accused student may be responsible for any misconduct, and/or 3) the sanction(s) imposed was outside the University’s sanction range for such violations and/or not justified by the nature of the offense. 8. What are some fo t he possible sanctions the accused student could receive? The accused student can receive a variety of sanctions or educational assignments based upon the severity of the offense, whether he/she has prior violations, and the impact the violation had on the Penn State Community, whether that be the safety of others or the overall view of the Penn State Community. 9. What will be on my transcript or discipline record at the end of the process? Nothing will appear on your transcript because you are the complainant/victim and you are not being charged with a violation of the Code of Conduct. 10. What should I do if the information I give towards the case would incriminate me? The Office of Judicial Affairs responds to reports made regarding possible violations of the Code of Conduct. If while making an allegation you self report that you were involved in a violation of the Code of Conduct, Judicial Affairs would not respond to that information since the allegation you are making is against another student. However, if we were to receive a report that does accuse you of violating the Code of Conduct, then you may be charged.
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Updated October 17, 2007