The informal resolution process is a method by which Hampshire College reviews and addresses alleged violations of one or more community standards and/or College policies. The informal resolution process is typically reserved for matters that include, but are not limited to:
- Residence Life policy violations
- Alcohol and Other Drug Policy violations
- Matters involving student organizations or athletic teams
- Standards for Student Accountability violations that would not result in a possible separation of a student from Hampshire College (such as suspension or expulsion)
The College and its appointed community standards administrators are given the discretion to determine if an alleged community standards violation is processed through the informal or formal resolution process. The Dean of Students Office and Office of Community Standards and Student Accountability may elect to refer the matter immediately through the formal resolution process. Students referred through the informal resolution process also have the right and ability to request that the matter be reviewed and addressed utilizing the formal resolution process versus the informal resolution process if they so wish. A student, students, student organization, or athletic team who have been offered informal resolution may at any time in the process request that the matter be referred to the formal resolution process to be addressed through an administrative hearing or community standards review board (CSRB). Reported violations of the sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking policy will follow a process outlined in that policy.
INFORMAL RESOLUTION PROCEDURE
Informal resolution consists of students meeting one-on-one with an appointed community standards administrator. Throughout both the informal and formal resolution process, students can have a support person present in either meeting format if they wish. The one-on-one meeting will review the matter and determine if a student is responsible for an alleged community standards violation. Students found responsible will be assigned an accountability and community restoration plan if warranted.
In an informal resolution meeting, the following information will be discussed and reviewed to determine if a student is responsible for a community standards violation:
- Review of the community standards process and student rights and responsibilities in the process, which includes the student(s), student organization, or athletic team being presented, the option to have the matter reviewed and addressed through the formal resolution process versus the informal resolution process.
- Summary of the reports and information submitted to the Dean of Students Office and Office of Community Standards and Student Accountability about the incident and/or matter being addressed and the alleged community standards policy violations that are being reviewed and discussed at the informal resolution meeting.
- Opportunity to engage in dialogue related to the student(s), student organization, or athletic team involvement and recollection in the alleged policy violation and/or incident/matter being discussed at the informal resolution meeting. During this discussion, student(s), student organizations, and athletic teams will be allowed to share whether the information is an accurate portrayal of what occurred and share their perceptions and perspectives, as well as present new information that may not be in the reports or readily available to the community standards administrator.
Based on the information presented, reviewed, and discussed at the informal resolution meeting, the appointed community standards administrator will decide whether a student, student organization or athletic team is responsible for violating one or more community standards and College policies. If found responsible, the student(s), student organization, or athletic team will be provided the opportunity to acknowledge and accept responsibility for the policy violation. Suppose the student(s), student organization, or athletic team declines to accept responsibility. In that case, the appointed community standards administrator has the discretion to find them responsible based on the information available to them at the time of the informal resolution meeting.
In matters where a responsible finding is determined, the student(s), student organization, or athletic team will be assigned an accountability and community restoration plan consisting of one or more accountability measures. The accountability and community restoration plan is discussed and issued at the informal resolution meeting or within two (2) to three (3) working days if the matter requires additional review or more time to determine accountability measures that align with the specific policy violation. In situations where a decision cannot be rendered in the informal resolution meeting, the student(s), student organization, or athletic team will attend an additional meeting to discuss and review their assigned accountability and community restoration plan. Student(s), student organizations, or athletic teams will be notified verbally and in writing of the findings and outcomes of the informal resolution process. Written notification will be emailed within two (2) to three (3) working days of the informal resolution meeting unless notified otherwise by the appointed community standards administrator.
Student(s), student organizations, or athletic teams who do not schedule a hearing or fail to show up to their scheduled informal resolution meeting, will have the matter reviewed and resolved in their absence. In this circumstance, the outcome of the informal resolution process will be communicated in writing by email within two (2) to three (3) days of the scheduled meeting.
Student(s), student organizations, and athletic teams who accept responsibility or are found responsible have the right and ability to submit an appeal within five (5) working days from the date they received formal notification by email per the appeals process.
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