The Role of an Advisor in Hearings and Meetings
Any student suspected of violating the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities has the right to an advisor to accompany them to meetings or hearings with the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability (OSAA).
An advisor is someone whom a student may choose to accompany them to meetings or a hearing with Student Advocacy and Accountability. This person can be a friend, parent, family member, attorney, or anyone whom the student would like to have present. Students choosing to have an advisor present must understand the role the advisor has in the student conduct process:
- To include an advisor in a meeting or hearing, the student should notify the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability. Students should email their assigned Conduct Officer the name and contact information of the person they would like to have serve as their advisor, or that they would like to request to be assigned an advisor through the OSAA.
- A student may change their advisor. The advisor supports the student through the conduct process; therefore, a student may choose to change their advisor at any point during the process or proceed without an advisor. OSAA staff will work with the student to help the process of changing their advisor if requested.
- An advisor cannot provide testimony or be a witness during a meeting or hearing. An advisor serves as a support person for the student.
- All communication to OSAA must come from the student. OSAA staff will not meet or communicate solely with an advisor.
- No student allegedly involved in the same conduct matter as the accused student, nor any witness for the accused student can serve as an advisor. If the advisor is directly involved with the conduct matter or if their involvement may be a conflict of interest, OSAA staff or a hearing officer may dismiss the advisor from a meeting or hearing.
- Advisors may be dismissed from any conduct meetings or hearings if they disrupt the process or proceeding. The student disciplinary process is designed to be educational. When an advisor is disruptive, it interrupts the student’s educational experience and rights.
- The role of the advisor is the same whether or not the advisor is an attorney. The university conduct process is an educational endeavor, not a legal proceeding.
- All participants shall adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Student Disciplinary Procedures.