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Student Rights & Responsibilities

The Student Conduct Program

Rights & responsibilities

The following student’s rights and responsibilities are granted to all students going through the Student Conduct Program and who have been charged with an alleged violation.

  • The right to be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion by University officials and by all persons involved in the Conduct Review Process
  • The right to be informed by written notice, delivered electronically to their University of Massachusetts Dartmouth email, of the alleged violation(s) and also the date, time, and place of the meeting/hearing.
  • The right to review the documentation and respond to all information and documentation presented at the time of the meeting/hearing.
  • The right to participate in the meeting/hearing or remain silent. If the student chooses to remain silent, the conduct review process will move forward.
  • The right to have the level of responsibility determined based on “preponderance of information” standard, which means it is more likely than not the violation occurred.
  • The right to have an advisor of their choosing present at the meeting/hearing. The student’s advisor may not participate directly in any aspect of the meeting/hearing and may only confer with the student. An advisor will not be allowed to disrupt the meeting/hearing by recess or conference outside the meeting/hearing. A student must notify the Office of Community Standards with the name of the advisor (if student chooses to have one) one (1) business day in advance of the meeting/hearing. An advisor cannot speak, write, submit, or create any materials on behalf of the student.
  • The right to make an impact statement. This can be written ahead of time or within 24 hours after the meeting/hearing. If written in advance, the impact statement can be submitted to the conduct officer after being read during the meeting/hearing. The impact statement should address how this incident impacted them and how the possible outcome may impact them. Student must tell the conduct officer after being read during the meeting/hearing. The impact statement should address how this incident impacted them and how the possible outcome may impact them. Student must tell the conduct officer if they are submitting an impact statement at the time of the meeting/hearing.
  • The right to request for reasonable accommodation(s) necessary to support going through the conduct review process. Student will need to contact the Office of Community Standards two (2) business days in advance and give permission for the Student Accessibility Services to disclose the accommodation necessary for approval of request.
  • The right to present witness statement(s) in conduct meeting/hearings by giving prior notice to the Director of Community Standards and such statements one (1) business day in advance of the meeting/hearing for approval and to be added to case information. Character witness statements will not be accepted.
  • The right to request an appeal on the finding(s) and/or outcomes(s) issued based on the appeal criteria. Appeals may only be granted if one of two specific criteria are met. (See Appeal Process section)