Administrative Conferences

At Newberry College, we care about the safety, health, and well-being of members of our community. Join us in caring for our community. If you are aware of any information that should be reported, please use the link below.

Administrative Conferences & Hearings

There are two formats for hearings. The first, and most common, is an individual one-on-one administrative conference. If a student doesn’t agree with the outcome, they can choose to have their case heard by the Student Conduct Hearing Board.

What Will Happen at the Conference or Hearing

Administrative conferences and hearings are designed to help address the report of an alleged policy violation in a way that is fair and educational. All documentation related to your case will be shared during your administrative conference.  If you would like a copy of the incident summary in advance, please contact the office at StudentConduct@newberry.edu or 803.321.5205.

Contesting a Hearing

If you disagree with the decision in your hearing, you can elect to have your case reheard by a panel of your peers.

Conduct Administrative Council

Purpose

To determine if a Student Code of Conduct violation occurred and if so, what sanctions are appropriate.

Process

You will meet with the conduct administrator for 30-60 minutes in the Office of Student Conduct. This is typically an informal, information-gathering meeting. Students who do not agree with the outcome of this process can choose to move forward with the Hearing Board process. 

If you do not attend your meeting, a registration hold can be placed on your account and the case will be heard without your participation.

Interim Actions

Interim actions can be taken when there is a reasonable belief, based on the information available at the time, that a student or student organization poses a threat to health, safety, or property. Under these circumstances, the Office of Student Conduct may create a separation between the student or student organization and the College until the time in which both the student or organization and the College can gather additional information to make a final determination in a conduct hearing. A final decision, which may reinstate the student or result in more ongoing separation statuses, will be made during a Conduct Administrative Conference or Hearing. Every effort will be made to conduct the hearing within the shortest amount of time possible in order to both reduce the stress of displacement on the student while preserving due process and fairness. Interim actions for student organizations do not affect housing or academic progress, so will not result in the same need to expedite.

Judicial Hearing Board

Purpose

If you disagree with the findings of your administrative conference, or feel your case would be more fairly heard by a panel of your peers, you may choose to have a hearing with the Student Conduct Hearing Board.

Process

Typically, you will meet with a panel of students, staff and faculty members for one to four hours in the Office of Student Conduct's conference room.

Organizational Administrative Conference

Purpose

To determine if a group is collectively responsible for a Student Code of Conduct violation.

Process

An organization representative will meet with a conduct administrator for 30-60 minutes in the Office of Student Conduct. If your organization is accused of violating the Code of Conduct, this hearing is frequently the next step. One advisor may attend in support of the group. Organizations who do not agree with the outcome of this process can choose to have their representative move forward with the Hearing Board process. 

As a guiding principle, groups will be held responsible for the acts of members when those acts grow out of, or are in any way related to, group life.

Sanctions

Code of Conduct sanctions vary, depending on:

• the nature and severity of your actions

• any previous violations or disciplinary actions

• any unusual circumstances surrounding the incident

• the rationale of your actions

• the outcome or sanctions in similar, previous cases

• harm to others and community impact

Other Consequences

You may face outcomes beyond educational sanctions as a result of your incident. Penalties range from educational intervention to suspension, with combinations of penalties possible. For most first offenses, sanctions are designed to be educational in nature and to help students learn from mistakes.

Contact

The Rev. Dr. Carl Wells
Associate Dean for Community Building & Campus Life
803.321.5205
Carl.Wells@newberry.edu