Issue link: https://resources.twc.edu/i/1498874
22 The Washington Center • Code of Conduct Spring 2025 VI. Conduct Hearing Procedures Adherence to the procedures listed below will facilitate clear communication and appropriate action promptly. TWC participants and staff should be familiar with the Code of Conduct to report on and enforce TWC policy. Initial Review or Hearing Incident report: Members of the TWC community and non-affiliate persons may file a report regarding the behavior of a TWC participant. Reports may be submitted to conduct@twc.edu. If the reported information constitutes a potential violation of the Code of Conduct and/or Community Life Expectations, policies and procedures, TWC will pursue the matter through the conduct system, beginning with either an initial review or a hearing. Initial review: The assigned conduct officer/board reviews the report, notifies the involved participants(s) of the report, gathers relevant information, and interviews any witnesses. The conduct officer/board will make every effort to complete the initial review as quickly as possible. The conduct officer/board may elect not to interview a witness who does not have first-hand knowledge of the incident, presents information that is deemed to be unnecessary for the deliberation process, or presents information about the involved participant's character. After the conduct officer/board has gathered all relevant information, the conduct officer/board conducts a hearing or refers the case to another conduct officer/board. Involved participants are required to confirm their attendance at the hearing within 24- hours of receipt of the meeting request. Hearing: The assigned conduct officer/board reviews the incident report(s) and statements presented by the complainant(s), respondent(s), and witness(es). The conduct officer/board may elect not to interview a witness who does not have first-hand knowledge of the incident, presents information that is deemed unnecessary for the deliberation process, or presents information about the involved participant's character. A participant is not entitled to be present for every interview related to the case that the conduct officer/board conducts. The conduct officer/board may conduct the hearing in a participant's absence if the participant does not report for a scheduled hearing, or if the student does not set an appointment for a hearing as directed. In some circumstances, the hearing process may take place over multiple meetings on multiple days. Burden and standard of proof: The participant responding to the reported allegation is presumed not to have violated the Code of Conduct. The standard for determining a violation of the Code of Conduct and Community Life Expectations is preponderance of evidence. There must be persuasive information to establish that the involved participant(s) "more likely than not" violated the Code of Conduct and Community Life Expectations. Deliberation: The conduct officer/board may deliberate in private. Sanctioning for a Conduct violation is based upon the nature of the determined violation and any previous violations of the Code of Conduct and Community Life Expectations. Notice of outcome: The conduct officer/board notifies the student of the hearing outcome in writing no later than five (5) business days after the conclusion of the hearing. If found responsible, sanctions to be applied will be contained within the notice of outcome. The conduct officer/board must notify the student of the option to file a request for an appeal in the notice of outcome*. (*See Appeal Process for more information.) The participant's campus liaison (if applicable) will be notified of the outcome of the conduct process upon its conclusion for instances where the sanctions include probation or higher or when the outcome has potential impact on student success. Incidents of misconduct may also be reflected in a participant's final evaluation or grade. Lastly, incidents of misconduct may affect a participant's financial aid, especially if the incident results in eviction from housing or expulsion from a TWC program. See also Notification of Conduct Violations.