Administrative Hearing Process

Sanctions • Transcript Notations • Post-Hearing Process •
Options in Case of Sexual Assault or Harassment

In hearings conducted by the Student Conduct Board and by administrative hearing officers, the panel or hearing officer:

• Reads the charge to the respondent and asks the respondent to indicate whether s/he is responsible or not responsible for the misconduct in question
• Asks for a full statement from both the complainant and respondent describing the incident and giving the incident and giving relevant background
• Hears statements from witnesses
• Questions the complainant, respondent, and witnesses.

The complainant and respondent have the opportunity to respond to all statements and information presented to the panel or hearing officer. In most cases, the respondent will be present when the complainant presents his/ her statement and is questioned by members of the panel or the hearing officer. However, the Associate Dean of Student Life may direct that the complainant appear outside the presence of the respondent for good cause.

The complainant and respondent may bring their parents or another individual to provide personal support. Legal counsel representing any participant is not permitted in the hearing.
In private session, the hearing panel or administrative hearing officer:

• Makes a determination of the responsibility or non-responsibility of the respondent for the misconduct charged;
• Determines a sanction, when there has been a finding of responsibility;
• Students are given five days’ notice of the hearing except in the case of a senior. In order for the student to participate in graduation, the hearing, administrative or Conduct Board, must take place before graduation.

Sanctions [Top]
The following sanctions may be imposed singly or in combination by a hearing panel or administrative hearing officer. The university, in its sole discretion, may impose any sanction or combination of sanctions, up to and including expulsion, for any violation of university policy or the student conduct code. In imposing sanctions, the nature and circumstances of the offense, the student’s prior record, and other factors deemed pertinent may be considered.

1. Disciplinary Warning:
The student receives written notice that continuation or repetition of conduct that has been judged wrongful or inappropriate, within a period of time stated in the warning, will be cause for more serious disciplinary action. A letter of warning creates a disciplinary file in the Office of the Dean of Student Life that exists until the student leaves the university by graduation or transfer.

2. Disciplinary Probation:
The student is notified that s/he is no longer in good conduct standing with the university and that further violation of university regulations during the probation will likely result in disciplinary separation. A file is maintained in the Office of the Dean of Student Life. Students on disciplinary probation are generally ineligible to represent the university in intercollegiate activities, hold elected or appointed office or campus committee chairpersonship, or pledge a fraternity or sorority for a set period of time as set forth in the notice of the probation.

3. Disciplinary Suspension:
A student must withdraw from the university for a specified length of time. Suspension from academic course work includes exclusion from all academic privileges and co-curricular activities. A file is maintained in the Office of the Dean of Student Life and a copy of the notification letter is filed in the student’s academic records. A notation on the student’s permanent record may also be ordered. Parents will be notified of suspension.

4. Additional Sanctions in Cases of Warning, Probation, or Suspension:
As part of either disciplinary warning or disciplinary probation, the following conditions may be applied:

• Restitution
• Fines
• Compensatory services
• Restitution services
• Rehabilitative and/or educational activities
• Exclusion from specific aspects of community life such as participation in commencement exercises or entry into residence halls.

5. Expulsion:
An individual’s status as a student of the university is terminated.

6. Separation from the Residence Halls:
Students residing in University housing face an additional potential sanction of expulsion from housing. If they are found to have committed any of the following acts of misconduct:

• Knowingly or recklessly endangering the health or safety of other residents of university
  housing.
• Any activity involving firecrackers, explosives, or firearms; any act of arson within university housing.
• Throwing or dropping items from the
  buildings.
• Threatening, harassing, or abusing any member of the residential community.
• Distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs.
• Serious violations of the university’s alcohol policy.
• Intentionally or recklessly destroying, damaging, disabling, or stealing university property.
• Repeated violations of housing regulations.
  If a student is removed from housing they will not receive a refund.

7. Off-campus and Community Violations and Sanctions:
As set forth in the student conduct code, students residing in housing off-campus may be sanctioned for engaging in conduct that impinges on the rights of other students, neighbors, and community members. Violations of restrictions on noise, the hosting of events, trash disposal, maintaining yard and premises, underage drinking, distribution/ sale of alcohol, and other offenses that impact or may impact negatively on the community will result in sanctions as follows: for a first offense, at a minimum, a written warning; for a second offense, at a minimum, university probation, a fine and parental notification; for a third offense, suspension and possible expulsion. As is the case with any violation of the student conduct code, any violation, even a first offense, can be punished with sanctions up to and including expulsion, depending on the nature and circumstances of the violation, the prior record of the student, and other factors deemed pertinent.

Transcript Notations [Top]
Hearing panels and officers may order the entry of a notation explaining disciplinary action on the transcript of a student found responsible for misconduct. Hearing officials also may permit the student to appeal to the Dean of Student Life for removal of the notation after a specified period of time and upon completion of sanctions and fulfillment of other specified conditions.

Post-Hearing Process [Top]
Both the complainant and respondent are informed of the outcome of the hearing. The respondent is given written notification of the decision. The requirements of confidentiality of student records are observed. An appeal process is available for findings and/or sanctions, on limited grounds, to the complainant and the respondent.

Options in Cases of Sexual Assault or Sexual Harassment [Top]
Cases involving charges of sexual harassment or sexual assault shall be heard by the Dean of Student Life, unless, with the agreement of the complainant, the Dean deems the case appropriate for disposition by the board. Persons who believe they have been sexually abused or assaulted by Johns Hopkins students are encouraged to contact the Office of the Dean of Student Life. Referrals to support services will be made and the disciplinary process for sexual assault complaints will be explained for those who wish to consider initiating a complaint. Students may bring complaints about acts of sexual harassment committed by Johns Hopkins students to the Office of the Dean of Student Life for disciplinary action. Students also may bring complaints of sexual harassment committed by faculty, staff or students to heads of departments, the dean or director of a division.

Interim Suspension [Top]
The Dean of Student Life or Associate Dean of Student Life reserves the right to suspend a student when his or her behavior indicates that his/her continued presence on campus constitutes a danger to the normal operation of the institution, or to the safety of himself or herself or others, or to the property of the University or of others. The suspension shall continue until the completion of disciplinary proceedings or until the behavior giving rise to the suspension is resolved.

For More Information [Top]
The Associate Dean of Student Life in the Office of the Dean of Student Life is available to provide students with more information about any aspect of the Student Conduct System.