Suffolk Law Student Handbook

STUDENT DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE

Filing of Allegations 1. 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 2. 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. 3. 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 4. 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.

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