Advisors and Attorneys

From Executive Order 1098, Article III: General Provisions

C. Advisors

Both the Complainant and the Student charged (Alleged) may elect to be accompanied by one (1) advisor of their choice, subject to the limitations set forth in this section, to any meetings, conferences, interviews or hearings.

Any witnesses who are alleged to be victims of the Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, Sexual Misconduct, Domestic or Dating Violence, or Stalking at issue may likewise elect to be accompanied by an Advisor of their choice.

In cases involving Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation based on Gender, including Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking, the Complainant may elect to have a Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocate or an attorney as an Advisor. Likewise, in such matters, the Student charged may elect to have an attorney as an Advisor.

Student conduct proceedings are not meant to be formal court-like trials. Although University-related sanctions may be imposed, the process is intended to provide an opportunity for learning. Whoever is selected as an Advisor is limited to observing and consulting with, and providing support to, the Complainant, witness, or Student charged. An Advisor may not speak on a Student's or Complainant's behalf.

In proceedings that do not involve allegations of Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, Sexual Misconduct, Dating or Domestic Violence, or Stalking, each Campus president determines by Campus directive whether attorneys are permitted to be present in all or some Student conduct proceedings. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the absence of a president's directive, attorneys shall be excluded from acting as an Advisor in disciplinary conferences and hearings.

Notwithstanding any Campus directive, attorneys may attend hearings as Advisors: (a) where there are pending criminal (felony) charges arising out of the same facts that are the subject of the disciplinary proceeding; or (b) where the recommended sanction is expulsion.

The Advisor may not be a person with information relevant to the allegations who may be interviewed or called upon to testify during any related investigation or hearing.

Any person who wishes to have an attorney present at the hearing as an Advisor must notify the Student Conduct Administrator in writing of the attorney's name, address and phone number at least 5 Working Days prior to the hearing.

D. Attorneys

Student conduct proceedings are not meant to be formal court-like trials. Although University-related sanctions may be imposed, the process is intended to provide an opportunity for learning and are an administrative process.

1. Each campus determines by campus directive whether attorneys are permitted to be present in all or some Student conduct proceedings. Any person who has a license (active or inactive) to practice law is considered an attorney for purposes of this Executive Order 1098. The campus' determination regarding the presence of attorneys applies to the Student charged; Complainant; any witnesses who are alleged to be victims of Discrimination, Harassment or Retaliation (including Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking); and the Campus, but not to the hearing officer, who may be an attorney in any case. If the Student charged is permitted to have an attorney present, the Complainant, any alleged victims of Discrimination, Harassment or Retaliation (including Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking), and the Campus shall also be permitted to have an attorney present.

a. Any party may consult attorneys outside of the actual proceedings irrespective of the president's directive.

b. Notwithstanding any Campus directive, attorneys may attend the formal hearing: (a) where there are pending criminal (felony) charges arising out of the same facts that are the subject of the disciplinary proceeding; or (b) where the recommended sanction is expulsion.

2. If authorized by the president's directive, attorneys may participate (if at all) only as advisors, and may not speak on behalf of their clients. Any person who wishes to have an attorney present at the hearing must notify the student conduct administrator in writing of the attorney's name, address and phone number at least five Working Days prior to the hearing.

3. In the absence of a president's directive, attorneys shall be excluded from disciplinary conferences and hearings, subject to the two exceptions set forth in D.1.b, above.