SUNY ESF
Student Rights in the Conduct Process

Students should expect that disciplinary proceedings will be handled fairly. Students charged with any violation of the ESF Code of Student Conduct are granted the following due process rights:

• To receive written notice of the specific charges that indicates the date, time, and place of any meeting or hearing, together with possible sanctions. Proper notification is defined as delivery of information via electronic communication to a student’s College-issued syr.edu email address. Email is the official means of notification used by the College. Other means of notification include delivery of mail to a student’s residence hall mailbox, hand-delivery by a College official, and/or delivery by the U.S. Post Office to a student’s off-campus address of record. Note: Students are responsible for the contents of email or mail for which they have refused receipt.
• To receive a redacted copy of the written report(s) upon written request stating the circumstances and allegations involved.
• To have an advisor of their choosing present at conduct-related meetings and/or hearings. See Advisors for more information.
• To be presumed not responsible and have determination of responsibility following the student conduct process as described in the ESF Student Handbook.
• To continue to attend classes until the student conduct process is completed unless the Dean of Students (or designee), in consultation with the College President (or designee), determines an interim suspension is appropriate.
• To a hearing by an unbiased student conduct officer and/or hearing body that does not have a conflict of interest.
• To object to a conduct body member or student conduct officer. The Dean of Students (or designee) will determine the validity of the objection.
• To not present information against themselves.
• To hear and respond to all information presented against themselves. This includes the right to question all parties involved with the complainant and witnesses.
• To present information and witnesses on their own behalf1.
• To receive written notification of the results of the student conduct conference or hearing no later than five (5) business days after the conference or hearing.
• To appeal the case, if responsibility has been determined and/or if a sanction has been imposed.

¹Respondents requesting to present or question witnesses will be referred to a hearing before the College Hearing Board.