Faculty Handbook 2020-2021

SUNY College of Optometry

Faculty Handbook 2020-21

The student conduct officer will present the evidence discovered during the investigation process that includes, but is not limited to, calling witnesses and reading statements by witnesses who are not present at the hearing. The respondent will have an opportunity to ask questions of witnesses and, later, present his or her own arguments and evidence. Evidence will be weighed by the preponderance of the evidence standard to determine the outcome of the hearing. Legal rules of evidence are not applicable during the hearing. Hearing officers may ask follow up questions or follow up with new lines of questioning. Note: The Standard Operating Procedure for Conducting a Formal Hearing, adopted by the College judicial committee 1) provides a detailed outline of the hearing process; 2) describes the composition of the judicial committee and the term length of its members; and 3) outlines key sections of the written decision report that is written by the judicial committee. (14) Decisions The judicial committee shall issue a written decision report to the VPAA and issue a copy to the VPAIP (SCO), within 30 working days after the hearing. The report shall include the rationale for the decision along with any sanctions to be imposed against the respondent. Suspension from the College and/or expulsion from the College for academic misconduct may be placed on the student’s transcript, at the discretion of the judicial committee. (15) Notice of Decision to the Respondent The Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) shall review the written decision report and send notification, within 10 working days of receiving it from the judicial committee, via certified mail, to the respondent’s address on file with the college registrar. (16) Case Appeals The respondent may seek an appeal within 15 working days of delivery of the written decision via certified mail. The appeal must be in writing and submitted to the VPAA who will consider granting an appeal in his/ her discretion based on the following: If a respondent fails to appear, the hearing will proceed without the respondent.

• New compelling evidence not discovered prior to the hearing • The decision was not supported by the evidence • Other compelling reason presented by the respondent seeking the appeal

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