Questions or comments? Contact the dean of students office at deanofstudents@hampshire.edu.
The Community Standards Review Board (the “board” or the “CSRB”) hears alleged violations of community standards involving Hampshire College students and makes determinations regarding matters of fact surrounding specific incidents and matters and makes findings of whether a student, student organization, or athletic team violated community standards and if students are founds responsible, determines accountability measures as part of an individualized accountability and community restoration plan [1]. This determination of accountability measures takes into account, as appropriate, any mitigating, extenuating, and/or aggravating circumstances discovered in the course of the board’s review.
The board is active during the academic year, until the final day of the Hampshire College advising/progress review period each semester. The board is not in session during College breaks and holidays. Complaints referred to the CSRB when the board is not in session, or filed within a timeframe that does not allow them to be heard while the board is in session, may be referred to the Dean of students Office and Office of Community Standards and Student Accountability, for the matter to be addressed and resolved by an administrative hearing or, at the discretion of the Dean of Students Office and Office of Community Standards and Student Accountability, postponed to the next session of the board.
For reports of violation of the Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy [2] and other violations of Community Standards and Policies [3] that are alleged to have occurred as part of the same circumstances as the Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy complaint, a separate investigation process, which may lead to a hearing before a panel made up of members of the CSRB may be convened. For details on investigation and hearing processes through the Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy, please see the policy.
Membership
A CSRB will be composed of three (3) trained board members including one (1) faculty, one (1) student and one (1) staff, availability may determine a different composition for the board. Members are invited to serve one-year terms and at the conclusion of the term may have the option, at the discretion of the Dean of Students Office and Office of Community Standards and Student Accountability to return for service on the board. The CSRB is convened and advised by the senior director of student affairs for student retention and success or the director of student affairs for student retention and success or as designated by the dean of students.
Board members receive training before they are permitted to serve on a CSRB. CSRB members appointed to serve on a CSRB hearing will meet with the senior director or director of student affairs for student retention and success before the scheduled hearing to receive a training refresher and re-review their responsibilities and roles on the CSRB. CSRB members must be in good standing with Hampshire College.
For further information about the CRSB and its membership, please contact the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudent@hampshire.edu [4].
In matters where a student, student organization, or athletic team are referred through the formal resolution process to a CSRB hearing, all participants will abide by procedures set by the board and within the Student Handbook and Resource Guide. Some procedures may vary slightly for cases heard under the Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy.
Listed below is the general process that takes place during a CSRB hearing:
The failure of the student, student organization, or athletic team or the reporting individual to appear at a hearing does not prohibit the board from addressing and resolving the matter and alleged policy violation. The board will review all available information and will then make a determination if sufficient facts exist to resolve the matter/incident. In the case that the board feels sufficient information is available, it will proceed with the hearing as usual. As with all cases, the board may come to a finding of “not responsible” if they cannot determine that it is more likely than not that community standards were was violated by the students, student organization, or athletic team.
The findings and the accountability and community restoration plan [1] determined by the board will be decided upon in an executive session of the board following a hearing. A majority agreement of board members present for a hearing is required in the board’s determination of findings and sanctions based on a preponderance of the evidence. standard. The findings, outcome, and accountability and community restoration plan [1], if applicable, are to be communicated in writing by the Office of Community Standards and Student Accountability on behalf of the board members to the student, student organization, or athletic team within three (3) working days after the conclusion of the hearing. In rare circumstances, as deemed appropriate by the CSRB advisor, the hearing board may make a request to the CSRB advisor and the Dean of Students Office for additional time to finalize their decision.
Responsibilities of the Reporting Party
The reporting party is not required to attend a hearing; however the board may dismiss a case if they feel there is insufficient information to determine an outcome without the reporting party appearing. The reporting party must be truthful. The reporting party is subject to referral to the Formal Conduct Process [6] if they knowingly lie to the board.
Rights of the Complainant
In addition to the rights and responsibilities in conduct meetings and hearings [7] listed for reporting party in the formal conduct process section, complainants in CRB hearings have the following rights:
The board shall not permit the consideration of statements by witnesses not available for questioning, but this may be waived for good cause if the board hearing the case, by majority vote, determines that admission of such a statement enables of a thorough review of the matter, allows the case to be adjudicated in a fair and equitable manner, and will not cause undue prejudice to either party.
Responsibilities of the Respondent
A respondent is not required to attend a hearing; however a decision will still be made regardless of whether or not the respondent is present. The respondent must be truthful. The respondent is subject to referral for a community standards violation if they knowingly lie to the board.
Rights of the Respondent
The board shall not permit the consideration of statements by witnesses not available for questioning, but this may be waived for good cause if the board hearing the case, by majority vote, determines that admission of such a statement enables of a thorough review of the matter, allows the case to be adjudicated in a fair and equitable manner, and will not cause undue prejudice to either party.
Links
[1] https://handbook.hampshire.edu/node/48
[2] https://handbook.hampshire.edu/node/40
[3] https://handbook.hampshire.edu/node/3
[4] mailto:deanofstudent@hampshire.edu
[5] https://handbook.hampshire.edu/node/208
[6] https://handbook.hampshire.edu/node/45
[7] https://handbook.hampshire.edu/node/114
[8] https://handbook.hampshire.edu/node/115