Suffolk Law Student Handbook

STUDENT DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE

Filing of Allegations

All allegations of student misconduct shall be filed with the Dean of Students. The Dean

of Students may request the allegations be filed in writing. Upon receipt of such

allegations, the Dean of Students shall, within a period not to exceed fourteen days absent

good cause, refer the matter to the Chair or, if there are co-Chairs, a co-Chair (hereinafter

both referred to as Chair) of the Faculty Administrative Committee. If, however, the

Dean of Students reasonably believes that the allegations, even if true, would not

constitute sanctionable conduct, then the Dean of Students shall consult with an academic

associate dean regarding the matter. If the academic associate dean agrees with the Dean

of Students, then the Dean of Students shall not refer the matter to the Chair and shall

take no further action. If the academic associate dean disagrees, then the matter shall be

referred to the Chair. Upon referring the matter to the Chair, the Dean of Students shall

notify the Assistant Dean for Academic Services of the filing of the allegations.

Initial Review and Issuance of Complaint

Upon receipt of the allegations from the Dean of Students, the Chair shall initially review

the matter after which he or she, in the exercise of his or her sole discretion, shall either

(a) refer the matter to a Fact Finding Subcommittee (hereinafter Subcommittee), or (b)

dismiss the matter. If the Chair refers the matter to the Subcommittee, the Chair shall

issue a Complaint of Student Misconduct to the student informing him/her of the

allegations and that the matter has been referred to the Subcommittee. The Chair also

shall provide a copy of the Complaint to the Subcommittee and to the Assistant Dean for

Academic Services.

The Chair may dismiss the matter

sua sponte

if he or she finds it to be meritless or

insubstantial. If the Chair does so, he or she shall provide a written summary of the

allegations and reasons for dismissal to all members of the Faculty Administrative

Committee, the Dean, Academic Associate Deans, Dean of Students, and Assistant Dean

for Academic Services. If, within a reasonable period of time as set by the chair but not

less than fourteen days, any two people within the group described in the previous

sentence request further investigation, then the Chair shall refer the matter to the

Subcommittee and issue a Complaint of Student Misconduct to the student and forward a

copy of such Complaint to the Subcommittee and to the Assistant Dean for Academic

Services.

Fact Finding Subcommittee

The Fact Finding Subcommittee shall consist of five members of the Faculty

Administrative Committee as selected by the Chair. The Chair shall designate one of

those five members to serve as chairperson of the Subcommittee.