Student Judiciary Process for Academic Cases

 The Student Judiciary arbitrates serious concerns of academic misconduct. The Associate Dean completes a citation form that states the charge and explains the student’s rights. The Associate Dean then sends that form to the chair of the Student Judiciary, who will determine a date, time, and location for a hearing. If cited to appear before the Student Judiciary, a student may not withdraw from the College prior to the completion of the judiciary process.

Ordinarily, the instructor is asked to appear at the hearing to discuss the evidence and how conclusions were reached, and the Student Judiciary will ask about the assignment. All of this occurs in the presence of the accused who is asked how they plead at the beginning of the hearing, and is then asked to comment, respond, explain, and make a closing statement. The Associate Dean is also asked to make a closing statement. The accused student and the Associate Dean must be present to receive the final decision. At the time the decision is rendered, the Student Judiciary shall provide both a concise written statement of the basis for its finding and information about the appeals process.

The final responsibility for determining the student's grade in the course rests with the instructor, except in cases in which the Student Judiciary recommends a lowering of the grade for punitive reasons. In cases where a student is suspended as a result of a Student Judiciary recommendation, the grade of "U" shall be recorded for that course.

In all cases brought before the Student Judiciary, the following procedures are observed:
A. The student shall receive a written citation of the charge of misconduct at least 48 hours before a judicial hearing.
B. The accused party and the person(s) bringing the charge shall have the right to obtain advice from anyone chosen from among students, faculty, and administrators at Centre College.
C. The accused party and the person(s) bringing the charge shall have the right to hear all testimony, to call witnesses, to question every person who testifies, and to produce evidence. Persons who testify at a hearing, except for the accused and the person(s) bringing the charge, cannot be present for testimony other than their own.
D. No person can be required to give testimony that would be self-incriminating.
E. Only the accused may decide to permit the presence of spectators at a hearing.
F. The hearing, except for the Judiciary’s private deliberations, will be recorded for the benefit of the Board of Review and the student in case of an appeal. The recording will be deleted if the accused does not appeal.
G. The accused may appeal the decision of the Student Judiciary to the Board of Review through the office of the Dean of the College, in writing with reasons specified and within 48 hours of the Judiciary's decision. If the student does not appeal, the recommendation of the Student Judiciary stands.
A decision of the Student Judiciary may be appealed by the accused student only if they believe that: (i) proper procedures were not followed; (ii) they received inordinate punishment; or (iii) they were denied a fair hearing. Appeals must be written to the Board of Review and hand-delivered to the office of the Dean of the College within 48 hours of the Judiciary’s decision.

For cases involving academic integrity, the Board of Review consists of the Dean of the College, the Dean of Student Life, and one member of the Student Judiciary who did not participate in the original hearing. The Board will not retry the case nor hear new evidence. If new evidence has appeared that could materially affect the decision, the case should be sent back to the Student Judiciary. In the absence of an appeal, all Student Judiciary recommendations are implemented by the instructor and Associate Dean.