When Responding Students Are Notified (2023 Charter)

How the Process Begins

Conduct procedures begin when a formal concern is filed with the Office of Community Standards (OCS) alleging that a Stanford student has violated the Honor Code, Fundamental Standard, or other applicable university student conduct policies.

Notification

The notification from OCS will include a formal letter with the level of review and next steps in the process. The three levels of review: 

Alternative Resolution is generally only offered for first-time violations. It can result in educational and support sanctions, but does not include probation or suspension. A Responding Student (RS) must accept responsibility for the violation in order to use this option.

Mid-Level Review is for subsequent violations of lesser severity, those for which Alternative Resolution is not offered, or when a RS contests allegations for which Alternative Resolution was offered. It can result in sanctions including probation or suspension of up to one quarter.

High-Level Review is for violations of greater severity, and can result in sanctions up to expulsion from the University.

The RS will also have access to a Google drive with all information submitted by the Reporting Party (RP) regarding the nature of the concern and evidence submitted.

Begin by reviewing the concern and the Student Student Conduct Charter of 2023.

Meeting with a Conduct Advisor

A Conduct Advisor (CA) will meet with the RS to explain to the RS their level of review and rights and responsibilities throughout the process. The RS will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the process during this meeting. This meeting is also when the CA offers to provide the RS with a Conduct Counselor (CC) and additional support resources as necessary.

Response and Documentation Consideration

Because memories can fade, a good first step is for the RS to write down everything they can recall about the incident described in the concern. 

For Honor Code concerns, the RS should keep all work from the class (e.g., notes, research, other work, exams, etc.).  Write down everything they can remember about how, when, where, and with whom they completed the work in question, if applicable. Include information about potential witnesses (e.g., if the concern is about an in-class exam, try to remember seating arrangements, who sat nearby, etc.).

Accepting Responsibility or Contesting the Allegations 

Upon notification of the concern, the RS may choose to either 1) accept responsibility for the alleged violation, 2) write a statement to ask the RP for withdrawal or 3) formally contest the concern. If the RS accepts responsibility, sanctions will be assigned and the case will be closed. If the RS writes a statement for withdrawal, the CA provides the statement to the RP who may choose to withdraw the concern. If the RP does not withdraw the concern, the RS can still choose to accept responsibility or formally contest the concern. If the RS contests the allegation, a Conduct Investigator (CI) is assigned to proceed with an investigation.

Common Concerns

Adviser(s) and Support Person(s)

All parties (RS, RP, and witnesses) have a right to have a person of their choice (e.g., friend, family member, attorney, etc.) accompany them throughout the OCS process (i.e., to join RSs at any meetings or hearings).

Confidentiality

The OCS is committed to maintaining students' confidentiality in the conduct process. One of the rights of the RS is "to be assured that their identity and the circumstances of allegations against them will be kept confidential, except in specific circumstances identified in the Bylaws or required by law” (Section V(B)(A)(2)). Likewise and to the extent possible, OCS protects the privacy of individuals who have brought forward a concern. Students with specific questions about the policies regarding confidentiality should talk with a CA.