Howard Community College

74 complainants are not included. • An opportunity to respond to the evidence and to call appropriate and relevant witnesses. • A right to be accompanied by a person of their choosing, as defined in this code. Commentary: The conference procedure is designed to reduce unnecessary proceduralism and contentiousness in student conduct proceedings. A student conduct conference will normally consist of an informal, non-adversarial meeting between the respondent and the vice president of student services or designee. Complainants would not be required to participate, unless questioning was necessary to resolve a dispositive factual issue. Documentary evidence and written statements could be relied upon, so long as the respondent was given access to them in advance, and allowed to respond to them at the conference. Respondents would also be allowed to call relevant witnesses. The vice president of student services or designee may impose institutional sanctions based on presented evidence in the absence of the respondent. This type of student conduct action may be imposed for offenses that may result in penalties less than suspension or expulsion. INTERIM SUSPENSION The vice president of student services or designee may suspend a student from the college for an interim period pending student conduct or criminal proceedings, or medical evaluation. The interim suspension will become immediately effective without prior notice whenever there is evidence that the continued presence of the student at the college poses a substantial and immediate threat to self or to others, or to the stability and continuance of normal college functions. A student placed on interim suspension who is unable to complete course work for the semester in which the interim suspension was issued will be given a "W" grade. A student suspended on an interim basis will be given a prompt opportunity to appear personally before the vice president of student services or designee in order to discuss the following issues: • The reliability of the information concerning the student's conduct, including the matter of their identity. • Whether the conduct and surrounding circumstances reasonably indicate that the continued presence of the student on college premises poses a substantial and immediate threat to self, to others, or the stability and continuance of normal college functions. STUDENT CONDUCT HEARING In the event that a student conduct hearing is necessary, the vice president of student services or designee will contact the chairperson of the student conduct committee within seven business days to initiate the student conduct process. The chairperson of the student conduct committee will confer with committee members, set a hearing date, and notify the respondent and committee members in writing. The notification will include the specific violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Student Conduct Committee Membership The student conduct committee will be identified at the beginning of each semester at the request of the vice president of student services or designee. The committee is a pool of faculty, staff,

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