Responses apply to university student conduct proceedings only. Questions regarding charges in civil or criminal court should be addressed to the district judge, borough police, or student legal services.
An Incident Review Meeting is an informal resolution to allegations of violations of the Code of Student Conduct. An IRM will take place between the accused student and a hearing officer. The outcome is not able to be appealed, but the outcome must be agreed upon by the hearing officer and the accused student.
All student actions reflect upon the IUP community as a whole, regardless of where those actions take place. For that reason, IUP addresses student behavior that occurs both on and off campus.
Although you are not required to attend, you are strongly encouraged to do so. The Office of Student Support and Community Standards schedules your meeting around your class schedule. If you choose not to attend your IRM, you will be found in violation of all of the alleged charges and you will be sanctioned appropriately.
You will be presented with information concerning your alleged policy violation. You will then be given the opportunity to convey what happened during the incident. From this information, the hearing officer will determine if it is more likely than not that you are either in violation or not in violation of the alleged charges. If you are found to be in violation, the hearing officer will seek agreement with you regarding the appropriate sanctions. If you are found not in violation, no sanctions will be applied.
You will meet with the director or a graduate student from the Office of Student Support and Community Standards.
You do not need to bring anything unless you feel it pertains directly to the incident being discussed.
No, but you may bring an advisor to help remind you of details pertaining to the alleged incident and/or to provide moral support. The advisor is allowed to provide private consultation to you, but may not speak to the university official.
You can be suspended as a result of an IRM; but remember, you would have to agree to that being the sanction. Most often, students are suspended in either Administrative Hearings or Board Hearings.
Yes. The university procedures are completely separate from the borough procedures. You should attend both.
The most important preparation is to familiarize yourself with the Code of Student Conduct and Procedures. It can also be helpful to review the incident and any evidence, identify an advisor and inform the OSSCS of your advisor, identify any witnesses and inform the OSSCS of any witnesses, prepare questions for the referring party, and prepare an initial and final statement. If you have question about the process, please contact our office.
Bringing a large number of witnesses does not guarantee a stronger case. Only person(s) who were witness to the actual incident, or to related circumstances, may provide information. It is best to ask one or two eyewitnesses to accompany you. Generally speaking, character witnesses are not permitted to provide information. If you have an addition to the witness list, you should notify the Office of Student Support and Community Standards at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing.
If you do not attend the hearing, the case will be decided based on information presented at the scheduled hearing, and you will be notified in writing of the outcome.
As outlined in the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, dependent students under the age of 21 who are found in violation of the university alcohol or drug policies will have notice sent to their parent(s)/guardian(s). Notifications of outcome are sent to parent(s)/guardian(s) after the student is notified.
Sanctions other than suspension or expulsion are not likely to impact your financial aid or scholarship. Financial aid is very date-specific and is impacted by the date of your last documented attendance at IUP. Please contact Student Financial Services (724-357-2218) to discuss your situation.
It depends on the sanction and your major. Criminology and education majors may be impacted. Talk with your academic advisor about this issue.
The university is concerned with students' decisions affecting others, including the local community.
All accused students have a right to due process. You have the right to know the charges against you and to have the opportunity to respond to these charges. The accused student is presumed not to be in violation unless the information at the hearing indicates that it is more likely than not that the student violated the policy. A past student conduct record may not be used to establish violation of current allegations. However, once the accused student is found in violation of one or more policies, a past student conduct record may be used to determine the appropriate sanctions.
First-hand information related to a specific charge must exist in order for there to be any determination of a student being found in violation of that charge. Rumors or hearsay are able to be considered, but must be corroborated in some way by first-hand information.
If you are found in violation of a charge, the hearing body will determine one or more sanctions. When determining a sanction, your previous involvement in the university student conduct system will be considered. Sanctions are imposed to foster responsibility and developmental growth and to protect the university community. Sanctions include, but are not limited to: a disciplinary warning, an educational task, disciplinary probation, removal from university-owned/operated housing, loss of eligibility for university-owned/operated housing, restitution, suspension, or expulsion.
You may contact your hearing officer or student conduct board chairperson to explain the situation and request an extension. He or she will decide whether to extend your deadline.
You have the opportunity to appeal the decision in writing to the vice president for Student Affairs within five calendar days of receiving the decision. If you are suspended or expelled, a “W” will appear on your academic transcript. No notation of the suspension or expulsion is made on the academic transcript.
Yes. If you would like to appeal a decision, there are three possible reasons for appeal. First: there was a procedural error that likely impacted the hearing outcome. Second: there is new information which could not legitimately be presented at the original hearing. Third: the sanctions imposed are arbitrary and capricious. All appeals must be submitted to the Office of Student Support and Community Standards within five (5) calendar days as determined by the date of the decision letter by using the form on the IUP Student Support and Community Standards website. Please understand there is no guarantee that you will speak with the person reviewing your appeal. It is important that you include everything you wish to convey in your written appeal.
The Office of Student Support and Community Standards maintains student conduct files. Within IUP, university administrators who are involved with student conduct functions have access to a student's conduct file. The university will not release a student's conduct record outside IUP without written consent of the student. The only exceptions to this guideline are those outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
Student conduct files are maintained for seven (7) years following the ending date of the last sanction. For cases of suspension or expulsion, the files may be maintained for a longer period of time. The university reserves the right to retain all student conduct files for longer than seven (7) years, as deemed necessary.
The Honors College and Police Academy will be notified of any student conduct sanction imposed on students in the program. Other academic programs are notified if you are suspended or expelled from the university.
Yes, if the school accepts you upon application.
Yes. You may obtain a copy of your student conduct file by submitting a written request to the Office of Student Support and Community Standards. Please allow one week for your file to be copied and available for you.
The Office of Student Support and Community Standards is in Ruddock Hall, Suite G11. You may reach the OSSCS at 724-357-1264, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-noon and 1:00-4:30 p.m. Summer office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-noon and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
No. You may wear what you want, as long as it does not distract from the proceedings. Of course, it never hurts to be well-groomed and neatly dressed. However, a suit or dress is not required.
No. A university student conduct hearing is less formal, and you will not be sworn in as in a court hearing. In this hearing, you will be asked to tell what you saw or heard truthfully and to the best of your recollection.
Length of a hearing depends on several factors, such as complexity of the case, number of questions, and the number of people involved.