Due process, insofar as the procedures of the College permit, will be afforded the party charged. Since the College lacks full judicial authority, such as the power to subpoena or place witnesses under oath, a student's due process rights cannot be coextensive with or identical to the rights afforded an accused in a civil or criminal legal proceeding. The procedures outlined below are designed, however, to assure fundamental fairness and to protect students from arbitrary or capricious disciplinary action. All judicial boards and disciplinary authorities of the College shall conduct their proceedings in the spirit of those principles. If exceptional circumstances dictate variation from these procedures, the variation will not invalidate a decision unless it prevented a fair hearing.
A. The Judicial System
The judicial system at Middlebury College consists of three judicial bodies, the Community Judicial Board, the Academic Judicial Board, and the Judicial Appeals Board.
For advice on the judicial system, please consult the Judicial Affairs Officer within the Office of the Dean of the College.
1. Community Judicial Board
a. Jurisdiction
The Community Judicial Board presides over non-academic conduct infractions.
If the Community Judicial Board cannot be convened because the College is in recess for the summer, a student charged with a non-academic disciplinary offense may choose (i) to have the matter heard by the dean of the College, in which event those members of the Community Judicial Board who are on campus will be asked to participate in the deliberations, or (ii) to postpone hearing on the charge until the Community Judicial Board can be convened. A student who chooses to postpone hearing under the provisions of subsection (ii), and who is subsequently convicted of the offense, will not suffer a financial penalty as a consequence of the postponement.
b. Organization
i. Composition
The Community Judicial Board consists of eight members: the dean of the College, one staff member, two faculty members, and four students. Each member has one vote. There will be one alternate member from the Office of the Dean of the College one staff alternate, one faculty alternate, and two student alternates. Alternates will only substitute for absent members of their own constituency.
ii. Selection
The dean of the College serves as the co-chair of the Community Judicial Board. His or her alternate will be a dean from the Office of the Dean of the College. The president of the College will appoint the staff representatives to the board, on the recommendation of the Staff Council. The Faculty Council will appoint the faculty members to the board. The student members will be appointed under the auspices of Community Council in the procedure described below. Those making the appointments are encouraged to consider gender balance in the selection process. First-year students may not serve on the Community Judicial Board. A student who is a member of the Community Council may not serve at the same time on the Community Judicial Board. The Community Council will review the continued eligibility of a student member of the Community Judicial Board who has been convicted of a serious infraction of College rules, and may require the member to resign from the Community Judicial Board.
Early in the spring semester, the Community Council will advertise for applicants to the Community Judicial Board, asking interested students to submit applications. Students serving on the Community Judicial Board may submit nominations. A selection committee comprised of one faculty member and two students from the Community Council, two nonvoting advisory members from the Community Judicial Board, and the Judicial Affairs Officer will select a slate of members. Whenever possible, at least one student member of the Community Judicial Board will have at least one year of prior experience. A student found guilty of a serious infraction of College rules by any College judicial authority will be eligible for membership only after review by the selection committee in consultation with the Dean of the College before the slate is presented to the Community Council. The slate of candidates will be submitted to the Community Council for ratification.
iii. Substitution of Members
If there is a need to convene the Community Judicial Board and regular student members cannot attend a hearing, alternates to the Community Judicial Board will be contacted first when regular members are unavailable. If the alternates are unavailable, student members of the Academic Judicial Board will be asked to serve. If for any reason a member of the Community Judicial Board has a conflict of interest in a particular proceeding, a replacement will be appointed from among the alternate members.
iv. Officers
After the Community Judicial Board has been selected, it will elect from among its members one student co-chair. The other co-chair will be the dean of the College. One of the co-chairs must be present to convene a hearing.
v. Accountability and Changes in Procedure
The Community Judicial Board is accountable to the Community Council and to the faculty, which has historically delegated its disciplinary authority. Reports consisting of an enumeration of cases heard, the nature of the charges, and the disposition, without disclosure of individual names, will be made annually by the co-chairs to the College community. A member of the Community Judicial Board or the dean of the College may recommend changes in rules, procedures, penalties, or any other part of the judicial process. The Community Council or faculty may also initiate such changes. Recommendations should be made jointly to the faculty and Community Council. The Community Council will submit to the faculty for final action a proposal for any changes the Community Council recommends. Final authority for changes rests with the faculty.
2. Academic Judicial Board
a. Jurisdiction
The Academic Judicial Board has the responsibility to hear and determine all cases transmitted to it by the Judicial Affairs Officer involving academic dishonesty.
If the Academic Judicial Board cannot be convened because the College is in recess for the summer, a student charged with academic dishonesty may choose (i) to have the matter heard by a committee consisting of the administrative co-chair of the Academic Judicial Board and those student and faculty members of the Academic Judicial Board who are on campus, or (ii) to postpone hearing on the charge until the full Academic Judicial Board can be convened. A student who chooses to postpone hearing under the provisions of subsection (ii), and who is subsequently convicted of the offense, will not suffer a financial penalty as a consequence of the postponement.
b. Organization
i. Composition
The Academic Judicial Board consists of seven members: a member of the faculty or the academic administration appointed by the president, two faculty members, and four students. Each member has one vote. There will be one faculty alternate and two student alternates. Alternates will only substitute for absent members of their own constituency.
ii. Selection
The member of the faculty or the academic administration appointed by the president serves as the co-chair of the Academic Judicial Board. The Faculty Council will appoint the faculty members to the board. The student members will be appointed under the auspices of Community Council in the procedure described below. Those making the appointments are encouraged to consider gender balance in the selection process. First-year students may not serve on the Academic Judicial Board. A student who is a member of the Community Council may not serve at the same time on the Academic Judicial Board. The Community Council will review the continued eligibility of a student member of the Academic Judicial Board who has been convicted of a serious infraction of College rules, and may require the member to resign from the Academic Judicial Board.
Early in the spring semester, the Community Council will advertise for applicants to the Academic Judicial Board, asking interested students to submit applications. Students serving on the Academic Judicial Board may submit nominations. A selection committee comprised of one faculty member and two students from the Community Council, two nonvoting advisory members from the Academic Judicial Board, and chaired by a dean from the Office of the Dean of the College will select a slate of members. Whenever possible, at least one student member of the Academic Judicial Board will have at least one year of prior experience. A student found guilty of a serious infraction of College rules by any College judicial authority will be eligible for membership only after review by the selection committee in consultation with the dean of the College before the slate is presented to the Community Council. The slate of candidates will be submitted to the Community Council for ratification.
iii. Substitution of Members
If there is a need to convene the Academic Judicial Board and regular student members cannot attend a hearing, alternates to the Academic Judicial Board will be contacted first when regular members are unavailable. If the alternates are unavailable, student members of the Community Judicial Board will be asked to serve. If for any reason a member of the Academic Judicial Board has a conflict of interest in a particular proceeding, a replacement will be appointed from among the alternate members.
iv. Officers
After the Academic Judicial Board has been selected, it will elect from its members a student co-chair. The other co-chair will be the member of the faculty or the academic administration appointed by the president. Currently the Dean of the College is the co-chair. One of the co-chairs must be present to convene a hearing.
v. Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty Cases
A faculty member who believes a student has plagiarized or engaged in other forms of academic dishonesty shall submit a written statement of the facts supporting the charge to Judicial Affairs Officer, for transmittal to the Academic Judicial Board. The faculty member's statement will serve as the formal presentation of charges to the Academic Judicial Board, and therefore should be sufficiently detailed to enable all parties to prepare for the hearing. Accused students will be provided with photocopies of the charge statement and their allegedly plagiarized or dishonest work in advance of the hearing. Normally, the hearing will be scheduled at least one week after the charge statement has been provided to the student. Shorter deadlines may apply in cases involving seniors at the end of their final term. The faculty member initiating plagiarism or academic dishonesty charges shall be present in person at the hearing to explain the charges and to ask and answer questions. The faculty member and the student charged may each be accompanied by an adviser of his or her choosing from the College community.
vi. Accountability and Changes in Procedure
The Academic Judicial Board is accountable to the Community Council and to the faculty, which has historically delegated its disciplinary authority. Reports consisting of an enumeration of cases heard, the nature of the charges, and the disposition, without disclosure of individual names, will be made annually by the co-chairs to the College community. A member of the Academic Judicial Board or the dean of the College may recommend changes in rules, procedures, penalties, or any other part of the judicial process. The Community Council or faculty may also initiate such changes. Recommendations should be made jointly to the faculty and Community Council. The Community Council will submit to the faculty for final action a proposal for any changes the Community Council recommends. Final authority for changes rests with the faculty.
3. Judicial Appeals Board
a. Jurisdiction
The Judicial Appeals Board has jurisdiction, as specified in Section D., Appeals Procedures, below, to hear appeals from decisions of the Community Judicial Board and the Academic Judicial Board.
b. Organization
i. Composition
The Judicial Appeals Board consists of five members, each having one vote. There will be a member of the academic administration, appointed by the president, who serves as co-chair; two voting faculty members and one alternate faculty member selected by the Faculty Council; and two students selected according to the procedure specified below.
ii. Selection of Student Members
When the Judicial Appeals Board has been directed to hear an appeal, two students will serve on the board for that case. At the judicial training session at the beginning of the year, three students from the Community Judicial Board will be selected to serve as regular and alternate members of the Judicial Appeals Board for cases involving the Academic Judicial Board. Three students from the Academic Judicial Board will be elected to serve as regular and alternate members of the Judicial Appeals Board for cases involving the Community Judicial Board. One of the student members will co-chair the appeal along with the co-chair from the academic administration.
iii. Substitution of Members
If there is a need to convene the Judicial Appeals Board and regular members cannot attend a hearing, alternates to the Judicial Appeals Board will be contacted first when regular members are unavailable. If there is a need to convene the Judicial Appeals Board when both regular and alternate members are unavailable, the co-chair who is a member of the academic administration may appoint substitute members. Priority will be given to students and faculty with judicial experience. If for any reason a member of the Judicial Appeals Board has a conflict of interest in a particular proceeding, a replacement will be appointed from among the alternate members.
B. Hearing Procedures
The following procedures apply to hearings before the Community Judicial Board, the Academic Judicial Board, and the Judicial Appeals Board, except as otherwise specifically provided.
1. Judicial Charges
For the purposes of judicial charges, a case will only be considered during the time that the student charged is a Middlebury College matriculant, and before the student graduates. That is, a student may be charged for a violation that occurs after s/he arrives for orientation and up until the time the student receives a diploma, or withdraws from the College. A student may not withdraw with the expectation of returning to the College while a disciplinary matter is pending. Normally, the student who wishes to withdraw with a pending disciplinary matter must resign his place at Middlebury and give up any opportunity to return to the College. Under extraordinary circumstances, students may be granted permission to withdraw from the College with a pending disciplinary matter. Such permission will be granted by the Judicial Affairs Officer (after appropriate consultation) following a review of the case and a consideration of the College’s best interests. If a student does withdraw from the College before resolution of a pending disciplinary matter, notation thereof will be made in the student's permanent file. Should the student be readmitted to the College, the disciplinary matter must be resolved either before the student's return, or immediately upon the student's return.
[revised text approved by faculty vote and updated December 2007]
All judicial charges are transmitted to the accused student through the Judicial Affairs Officer. Charges may be initiated against an individual, group, or organization by one or more of the Commons deans, the dean of the College, or by any individual, organization, department, or office of the College.
Judicial charges are conveyed by the Judicial Affairs Officer on behalf of the College. (Example: disrespect of College official; students fighting). Sexual assault and harassment charges are an exception. The survivor of the reported assault and/or harassment will decide whether or not to file a complaint with the College and have a judicial hearing. In the unusual circumstance in which a dean determines there is significant risk to members of the College community, however, the dean may be obligated to pursue action to protect the community.
If charges come directly to the Community Judicial Board, the Board will inform the Judicial Affairs Officer, so that the dean may transmit the charges to the party charged. A statement transmitting the charges shall be prepared by the Judicial Affairs Officer. The Judicial Affairs Officer's statement transmitting the charges will indicate the identity of the accusing party and the names of any witnesses requested by either the dean or the accusing party to attend the proceedings.
Accused students will be provided with photocopies of the charge statement and their allegedly plagiarized or dishonest work in advance of the hearing.
1a. Disposition without hearing.
Upon receiving written notification of the charges, the accused student has the option of petitioning the Judicial Affairs Officer for a final disposition of the charges. The Judicial Affairs Officer will review the petition. Students who take full responsibility for the charges, and in cases where other parties are not impacted, will have the opportunity for a disposition without hearing. After reviewing the case, consulting with other administrators, and considering the best interests of the College, the Judicial Affairs Officer will determine a final disposition of the charges, as well as any sanctions that would accompany an acknowledgement of guilt. The student will not have the opportunity to reject the disposition. In circumstances where the Judicial affairs Officer (after appropriate consultation) determines that a final disposition of the charges is not in the best interests of the College, the petition will be rejected and the case will go forward to a hearing.
[revised text approved by faculty vote and updated December 2007]
2. Administration of hearings.
A college official, who usually is the Judicial Affairs Officer, serves as secretary to the judicial board hearing a case, and the Judicial Appeals Board if an appeal is granted. The secretary assists in scheduling, provides required notices to the parties, witnesses, and board members, gathers exhibits and provides copies to parties and board members as appropriate, and otherwise performs administrative functions for the board. The secretary does not participate in deliberations of the board, but may be present during deliberations to assist with administrative tasks. If an appeal is taken from a finding of guilt, the secretary may submit a written response to the student's statement of grounds for the appeal, as provided in Section III D 2.
3. Notification of Hearing
Notification in writing will be given to the party charged, the party making the charge, and any known witnesses called by the Judicial Affairs Officer. Notification will include the time and place of the hearing and must be given at least two working days (defined to mean days on which College offices are open, whether or not classes are in session) in advance of the hearing, and not more than one week after the formal transmission of the charge, except where exigent circumstances require otherwise.
4. Attendance at Hearings
The party making the charge, the party charged, and all witnesses named in the letter of transmission are expected to be present at the time and place of the scheduled hearing. Failure to appear at a scheduled hearing after proper notice may subject a student to disciplinary penalties up to and including suspension. Judicial proceedings take precedence over academic and nonacademic activities, and students shall be excused from other obligations to participate in the proceedings. Should a student who has been properly charged and notified of a scheduled hearing fail to appear, the hearing may proceed and the penalties may be imposed as if the accused student were present.
5. Disqualification
Any member of a judicial body who has a conflict of interest in a particular proceeding is disqualified from sitting on that case. If a member of the Community Judicial Board, the Academic Judicial Board, or the Judicial Appeals Board is disqualified, normally an alternate member from the same constituency will be selected to participate. If the dean of the College is disqualified from sitting on the Community Judicial Board in a particular proceeding, and an alternate dean from the Office of the Dean of of the College is not available, the administrative co-chair of the Judicial Appeals Board shall appoint a member of the administration to fulfill the duties of the representative from the Office of the Dean of the College. If the faculty or administrative co-chair is disqualified from sitting on the Academic Judicial Board or the Judicial Appeals Board in a particular proceeding, the dean of the faculty shall appoint a member of the academic administration to perform the duties of the administrative co-chair in that case.
6. Quorum
Community Judicial Board hearings may be conducted with fewer than eight, but no fewer than six, members, at least three of whom must be students. If eight members are present, seven votes are needed for a finding of guilt. If seven members are present, six votes are needed for a finding of guilt. If six members are present, five votes are needed for a finding of guilt. In the event of a finding of guilt, sanctions shall be determined by majority vote.
Academic Judicial Board hearings may be conducted with fewer than seven, but no fewer than six, members present. If seven members are present, six votes are needed for a finding of guilt. If six members are present, five votes are needed for a finding of guilt. In the event of a finding of guilt, sanctions shall be determined by majority vote.
Judicial Appeals Board hearings may be conducted with fewer than five, but no fewer than four, members, at least two of whom are students, present. If five members are present, four votes are needed for a finding of guilt. If four members are present, three votes are needed for a finding of guilt. In the event of a finding of guilt, sanctions shall be determined by majority vote.
7. Audio recording
All judicial hearings will be audio recorded. The recording is the property of the College. In the event of an appeal, the recording will be available for the consideration of the appeal, as well as to the student bringing the appeal. Copies made for the student bringing the appeal must be returned once the appeal is filed and may not be used for other purposes. The recording, in cases in which students are found guilty, will be retained for the duration of the statute of limitations and then destroyed. All other recordings are destroyed at the end of the academic year.
8. Participation in Judicial Proceedings
Normally, participation in or attendance at judicial hearings shall be limited to students, faculty members, and employees of Middlebury College. When others are involved in a case or can offer testimony that is directly relevant, a judicial body may permit those individuals to participate in a hearing.
A student bringing a charge against another student involving sexual assault or harassment may request to participate in the hearing through use of the College's interactive television facilities. A request to participate from one of the College's interactive television sites must be made sufficiently in advance of the hearing to allow appropriate arrangements to be made for use of the facilities. All other procedures for student judicial hearings will remain the same, whether participation is by videoconferencing or by common presence in the hearing room.
9. Expectations
Honesty is expected on the part of all members of the community who testify. Failure to be truthful in all testimony before a judicial body may itself be grounds for disciplinary action.
10. Advisers and Character Witnesses
The party charged and the party originating the charge may each bring an adviser who is a member of the College community. The advisers may be consulted by their advisees during the hearing, but, unless specifically invited, may not otherwise participate in the proceedings. In addition, either party may bring one character witness. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, each student shall provide the chair with the names of persons serving as adviser and/or witnesses. The names will be shared with the person charged and the person bringing the charge.
11. Independent Expertise
If the case involves a technical matter that falls outside the expertise of the members of the body, the chair may invite an appropriate faculty and/or student adviser without voting privileges to assist the body during the hearing.
12. Rights of the Party Charged
The party charged has the right to be present throughout the hearing and to hear adverse testimony. In no case should a judicial authority consider evidence against a student unless the source, author, and content of any statement or other evidence has been identified to the student, and the student has been given the opportunity to rebut the statement or respond to the evidence. All written evidence intended to be introduced at the hearing must be provided to the chair of the judicial authority prior to the commencement of the hearing. The judicial authority reserves the right not to consider written evidence not provided in advance. Sanctions may only be imposed for the specific charge of which the student has been notified in writing.
13. Evidence Rulings
Formal rules of evidence do not apply in College judicial proceedings. The chair of the judicial body shall make rulings on evidentiary or procedural questions that arise in hearings. A decision of the chair may be modified by a majority vote.
14. Burden of Proof
The burden of proof rests with the party bringing the charge.
15. Basis of Decision
In reaching a determination of guilty or not guilty, the judicial authority shall base its decision only on evidence introduced at the hearing of that case. Findings of guilty or not guilty will be made on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence. If there is a determination of guilt, prior conduct and judicial history may be taken into account in determining a penalty.
16. Hearings
All hearings are confidential, except that the judicial body may, at the advance request of a student charged and with the consent of the person bringing the charge, open a hearing to all members of the College community, subject to space limitations consonant with conducting a judicial hearing. If the judicial process is disrupted during an open meeting, the judicial body may close the meeting to the general community. In this event the party charged and the party bringing the charge may each select two members of the College community as observers. The party charged may, with the consent of the party bringing the charge, permit a continuation of coverage by the College press.
17. Confidential Deliberations
All deliberations of judicial bodies are confidential.
18. Decision
Within two working days of the close of deliberations, the judicial body will provide a written statement of its decision. The Judicial Affairs Officer will normally give written notification of the decision to each party charged within two working days of receipt of a decision. Failure to meet the time limitations in this section will not invalidate a decision. Decision in cases involving alleged sexual assault will be reported as required by law.
19. Record of Proceedings
If a judicial proceeding results in a finding of not guilty, all records of the proceeding will be destroyed.
C. Sanctions
Penalties for violations of conduct regulations are recorded in the student's file. Penalties are not reflected on the academic transcript, except that the dates of enrollment at Middlebury College are a part of the transcript record.
1. General Nonacademic Offenses
Penalties that may be imposed on a student by a judicial body after conviction for a nonacademic offense include but are not limited to the following:
a. Fines or restitution: Fines or restitution are commensurate with the nature of the offense. The monetary cost of the harm done may be taken into account in assessment of a fine or an order of restitution.
b. Warnings: Warnings are an informal College discipline and are not part of the student's permanent record. Students who receive warnings can answer negatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. The letter of warning remains in a student's file until graduation, when it is removed. Warnings are taken into account in determining future judicial penalties and serve to make further violations of College regulations more serious.
c. Reprimands: Reprimands are also an informal College discipline and are not part of the student's permanent record. Parents or guardians are informed when students are reprimanded. Students who receive reprimands can answer negatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. A letter of reprimand remains in a student's file until graduation, when it is removed. Reprimands are taken into account in determining future judicial penalties and serve to make further violations of College regulations more serious.
d. Disciplinary Probation: Disciplinary probation is an official College discipline and is a permanent part of the student's record. Students who receive disciplinary probation must answer affirmatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. Disciplinary probation extends for a stated period which may be as long as the rest of the student's College career. While on probation, further infractions of College rules, even minor infractions, may result in suspension. Parents or guardians are informed when students are placed on disciplinary probation.
e. Suspension: Suspension is an official College discipline and is a permanent part of the student's file. Students who receive a suspension must answer affirmatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. Suspended students must leave campus and are prohibited from participating in all College activities or using College facilities during the stated period of the suspension. In cases of suspension from the College, no refund of the comprehensive fee is made. Parents or guardians are informed when students are suspended. For international students, an outcome of suspension may affect the student's immigration status. Such students may wish to contact the international student adviser to discuss the situation.
Suspension may be:
i. temporary, for a finite period less than a full academic term;
ii. definite, for a stated period of at least one academic term; or
iii. indefinite for very serious offenses. (A student suspended indefinitely may be readmitted only by special action of the Administration Committee.)
f. Expulsion: For particularly serious offenses, students may be permanently dismissed from the College. In cases where the penalty is expulsion, final appeal is to the president, who may reduce the penalty, if warranted, after consultation with the body that conducted the deliberations and after a review of the proceedings. In cases of expulsion from the College, no refund of the comprehensive fee is made. Parents or guardians are informed when students are expelled.
g. A sanction of suspension or expulsion is ordinarily stayed pending the outcome of any appeal authorized by the Handbook. However, if the judicial authority which imposed the sanction of suspension or expulsion makes a finding that imminent danger to one or more members of the College community may exist, suspension or expulsion will take effect immediately regardless of the pendency of an appeal.
2. Academic Offenses
Students found guilty of academic offenses, including violations of the honor code, plagiarism, and other violations of the standards of academic integrity expected of Middlebury College students, are subject to the penalties listed below.
Plagiarism, cheating, or any other violation of the Undergraduate Honor System is normally punishable by suspension. In 1997, the faculty reaffirmed its commitment to suspension as the normal outcome for violations of the standards of academic integrity. Recognizing that suspension can be of any length, the judicial body is responsible for choosing the most appropriate length for suspensions.
By vote of the judicial body in which they are found guilty, students found guilty of plagiarism or honor code violations will normally fail the course in which the offense occurred.
On rare occasions, if compelling reasons exist for not suspending a student found guilty of academic dishonesty, the judicial body may issue no less than a reprimand and invoke either of the following penalties: a 0 or an F on the piece of work, or a 0 or an F in the course.
Penalties for academic offenses:
a. Reprimand: Reprimands are an informal College discipline and are not part of the student's permanent record. Parents or guardians are informed when students are reprimanded. Students who receive reprimands can answer negatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. A letter of reprimand remains in a student's file until graduation, when it is removed. Reprimands are taken into account in determining future judicial penalties and serve to make further violations of College regulations more serious.
b. Disciplinary academic probation. Disciplinary academic probation is an official College discipline and is a permanent part of the student's record. Students who receive disciplinary academic probation must answer affirmatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. Disciplinary academic probation extends for the rest of the student's College career. A student found guilty of academic dishonesty while on disciplinary academic probation will be suspended. Parents or guardians are informed when students are placed on disciplinary academic probation.
c. Suspension.
Suspension may be:
i. temporary, for a finite period less than a full academic term;
ii. definite, for a stated period of at least one academic term; or
iii. indefinite for very serious offenses.
Students who receive definite suspensions need to apply for readmission through the Administration Committee. A student suspended indefinitely may be readmitted only by special action of the Administration Committee. Readmission is not guaranteed under indefinite suspensions.
Suspension is an official College discipline and is a permanent part of the student's file. Students who receive a suspension must answer affirmatively if they are asked if they have been subject to College discipline. Parents or guardians are informed when students are suspended.
Suspended students must leave campus and are prohibited from participating in all College activities or using College facilities during the stated period of the suspension. In cases of suspension from the College, no refund of the comprehensive fee is made. Parents or guardians are informed when students are suspended. For international students, an outcome of suspension may affect the student's immigration status. Such students may wish to contact the international student adviser to discuss the situation.
If a student has been found guilty of violating the honor code and the suspension is not invoked until the end of the semester, no opportunity may be granted to make up or otherwise fulfill the requirements of the course in question, although the student may complete all other courses in which he or she is concurrently enrolled. In this case, the course grade will be recorded as an F.
A student suspended for plagiarism, academic dishonesty, or a violation of the honor code normally may not transfer to Middlebury course credits earned at other institutions during the period of suspension. However, this part of the sanction may be modified if compelling reasons warrant such action.
d. Expulsion:
For particularly serious or repeated academic offenses, students may be permanently dismissed from the College. In cases where the penalty is expulsion, final appeal is to the president, who may reduce the penalty, if warranted, after consultation with the body that conducted the deliberations and after a review of the proceedings. In cases of expulsion from the College, no refund of the comprehensive fee is made. Parents or guardians are informed when students are expelled.
3. Voluntary Withdrawal
If a student withdraws from the College before resolution of a pending disciplinary matter or from a course pending imposition of an academic penalty, notation thereof will be made in the student's permanent file. Should the student be readmitted to the College, the disciplinary matter must be resolved either before the student's return, or immediately upon the student's return.
4. Reporting on Disciplinary Actions
The outcomes of all disciplinary proceedings shall be reported in general terms to the community at least once each year. Such reporting will be done in a way that ensures the confidentiality of the proceedings and does not reveal the identities of involved individuals.
D. Appeals Procedures
Appeals are conducted by different College officers and governing committees than those who reached the initial judgment.
1. Appeals from the Academic Judicial Board and the Community Judicial Board.
a. A student found guilty by the Academic Judicial Board or the Community Judicial Board of an infraction of College rules has the right of appeal to the dean of the faculty on one or more of the following grounds:
i. discovery of significant new factual material not available to the body with original jurisdiction; however, deliberate omissions from testimony are not grounds for an appeal;
ii. violation of stated procedures when the violation prevented fundamental fairness. Determination that a material procedural error has occurred may result in a rehearing of the case using correct procedures, but a procedural error is not itself a factor in reducing the penalty when the appeal upholds a conviction. Immaterial procedural errors will not be grounds for a rehearing;
iii. discovery of significant mitigating circumstances, not fully considered by the body with original jurisdiction, which would justify reduction in a penalty.
b. The dean of the faculty, in consultation with a faculty member and a student member of the Community Council (designated at the beginning of the year), may
i. refer the matter to the Judicial Appeals Board for full or limited rehearing, if newly discovered factual material or procedural error is found; it is the responsibility of the dean of the faculty, in consultation with the faculty member and student member to determine which aspects of the case merit a rehearing, and to direct the Judicial Appeals Board accordingly.
[revised text approved by faculty vote and updated December 2007]
ii. refer the matter to the Judicial Appeals Board for limited rehearing, consisting of review of the recording and written materials submitted, if significant new mitigating circumstances are present; or
iii. deny the appeal.
c. Finality
Decision by the Judicial Appeals Board on an appeal, or denial of an appeal by the dean of the faculty, is final, except in cases where the penalty is expulsion, in which case a convicted student may appeal to the president.
2. Procedures
a. A student found guilty by the Academic Judicial Board or the Community Judicial Board may appeal the decision by giving written notice of appeal to the dean of the faculty within two working days of receipt of official notice of the decision. Within two working days of filing notice of appeal, the student will give the dean a written statement of the grounds for appeal, including an outline of the supporting evidence, and the names of those members of the College community whom the student requests to have present if a full rehearing is held.
b. The dean of the faculty shall provide a copy of the written statement setting forth grounds for the appeal to the secretary of the judicial body that heard the matter, with a request that the secretary deliver to the dean the records from the student's case. The secretary shall provide the records, and may, within three days of receipt of a copy of the student's appeal, submit to the dean a written response to the appeal. If such written response is received, the Dean of the Faculty shall provide a copy to the appealing student, and permit the student to submit a written reply within two days.
c. The Dean of the Faculty, in consultation with a faculty and a student member of the Community Council, will make a determination whether rehearing will be granted. Notification of the dean's decision will be given to the student within seven days of receipt by the dean of the complete records in the case, but failure to meet this notification deadline will not invalidate a decision.
d. Upon notice from the Dean of the Faculty that full or limited rehearing has been granted, the administrative co-chair of the Judicial Appeals Board will convene the Judicial Appeals Board. Should questions arise about procedural matters, the appeals authority may ask the chair of the judicial authority from which the case originated to provide clarifying information about the procedures followed in the hearing. Notice will be given to those involved of the date, time, and place of rehearing, which shall be held within seven days of the notice that the rehearing has been granted, absent exigent circumstances.
e. For periods of the academic year when the College is not in regular session, dates for addressing judicial matters will be scheduled at the discretion of the dean or administrator handing the hearing.
3. Finality
For all appeals,
a. If rehearing is not granted, the original decision stands, to take effect as of the date specified in the decision letter.
b. All penalties are suspended during an appeal, except in emergency circumstances as discussed above.
c. The board hearing an appeal may reverse the decision or mitigate a penalty, but may not increase a penalty.
d. Decisions by an appeal board are final, except in cases where the penalty is expulsion, in which case a convicted student may appeal to the president.