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Judicial Affairs Home

University Hearing Board

Hearing Board Application Process
Hearing Board Requirements
Responsibilities of the Hearing Board
Hearing Board Conduct Standards

Resources

Hearing Board Application
Hearing Board Continuing Education
Training Manual & Reference Guide
Information on the Rape Shield Law
Hearing Board Frequently Asked Questions

The University Hearing Board is a panel of three students and two faculty members. Their function is to investigate the issues raised in the University Hearing and to determine whether the student charged is responsible for the conduct alleged. Hearing Board members play an active role in listening to all testimony and evidence presented, and they have an opportunity to question all witnesses to gain a better understanding of the issues related to the allegations. If the members of the Hearing Board decide, through deliberation, that the student is responsible for the allegation(s), they then deliberate once again to determine their recommendation for an appropriate sanction.

The Hearing Board for a given case is chosen from the Hearing Board pool from the respondent's campus, which is comprised of faculty and student representatives.

Hearing Board Application Process

Board member selection is usually conducted once a year (although it may occur twice depending on the specific needs of each campus). The selection process generally consists of two phases: in the first phase, interested students complete an application detailing their interests and qualifications, and answering questions relevant to their potential role as a board member. In the second phase, a certain number of students, based on the merit of their application, are invited to participate in a training and selection workshop. The workshop is designed to educate students about the campus judicial process, providing them with insight as to its educational goals and allowing them to participate in a series of exercises and discussions. At the same time, these interactive sessions allow the Judicial Affairs staff to assess the candidates' potential for being an effective hearing board member. Based on the application and participation in the workshop, selection is finalized. All candidates receive notice of their status through campus mail and e-mail.

Training for the 2007-08 academic year is concluded, but if you would like to be notified of future training dates, send an email to judaff@rci.rutgers.edu.

For more information on the Hearing Board, see the Hearing Board Frequently Asked Questions, or contact Student Judicial Affairs at judaff@rci.rutgers.edu or at 732-932-9414.

Hearing Board Requirements

Once trained and appointed, members of the University Hearing Board must fulfill the following requirements in order to remain members in good standing:

New Brunswick/Piscataway Board Members
1. Complete the "Sanctioning" continuing education workshop
2. Participate in the Judicial Affairs discussion listserv
3. Participate in at least three (3) activities each academic year. Activities include:

. Serving on a hearing
. Serving on an appeal
. Attending a continuing education workshop
. Completing an online workshop
. Giving an academic integrity presentation
. Volunteering at a Judicial Affairs event (Involvement Fair, training for new board members, etc.)
. Serving on the Publications or Web Resources Committees

4. Complete the academic integrity presentation training
5. Give at least one academic integrity presentation during the Spring 2008 semester

Camden and Newark Board Members
1. Complete the "Sanctioning" continuing education workshop
2. Participate in the Judicial Affairs discussion listserv
3. Participate in at least two (2) activities each academic year. Activities include:

. Serving on a hearing
. Serving on an appeal
. Attending a continuing education workshop
. Completing an online workshop
. Giving an academic integrity presentation
. Volunteering at a Judicial Affairs event (Involvement Fair, training for new board members, etc.)

Responsibilities of the Hearing Board

1. To remain objective. If a Board member, for any reason, believes that s/he cannot be fair, that Board member should notify Student Judicial Affairs as soon as possible prior to the hearing. If the bias or lack of impartiality is discovered or realized on the date of the hearing, the Hearing Officer should be so advised.

2. To take the proceedings and the duties of the Hearing Board seriously. All parties in a hearing consider the matter of great consequence and so must the Board. The Board is expected to always act in a professional manner.

3. To do his/her part in facilitating the timely processing of a case. A Board member should only miss a hearing for which s/he is scheduled in the event of an emergency. S/he should make every effort to notify Student Judicial Affairs prior to the scheduled hearing date. Similarly, a Board member should arrive on time for the preliminary meeting before the hearing and after any breaks during the hearing.

4. To attend any in-service training which may be required.

5. To play an active part in the hearing by listening carefully to the presented testimony and asking any necessary questions to further elicit facts.

6. To treat other board members with respect, particularly during the determination of findings and sanctioning phases, as opinions often differ.

7. To have a clear understanding of the Code of Student Conduct and the Code of Student Conduct Training Manual.

8. To be aware of the philosophical and educational goals behind the judicial process.

9. To display a willingness to speak openly and freely and tactfully challenge the opinions of others.

10. To refrain from treating the Hearing Board as a political forum for other agendas.

11. To behave in a professional manner.

12. To take advantage of opportunities to volunteer.

13. To uphold time commitments.

14. To maintain a positive relationship with Student Judicial Affairs.

15. To disclose any relationship with a hearing participant, no matter how insignificant.

16. To understand the distinction between a University Hearing and a court of law.

17. To treat all participants with dignity and respect.

18. To remember that Hearing Board members represent not just themselves, but the entire Rutgers community.

Hearing Board Conduct Standards

The following are examples of misconduct that may require a review of a Hearing Board member's eligibility to remain an active member. This list is not exhaustive; it merely serves as a guide by which Student Judicial Affairs may evaluate potential misconduct.

1. Failure to attend a hearing for which the board member is scheduled without reasonable cause and adequate notice.

2. Conduct during a hearing that a reasonable board member would consider blatantly inappropriate.

3. Committing a violation of the University Code of Student Conduct.

4. Committing a violation of Residence Life Policy that Rutgers Residence Life and Student Judicial Affairs would consider damaging to the reputation of the University Hearing Board.

5. Failure to maintain confidentiality.*

6. Intentional failure to disclose any relationship a Hearing Board member has with a hearing participant.

* Violation of confidentiality is defined as discussing any element of a hearing beyond the general nature of the charge with any outside party not involved in the hearing itself. This shall include discussing case information, as well as disclosing information or opinions shared in deliberations with any party, other than administrators in the Office of Student Judicial Affairs.