SUNY Potsdam

  RESIDENT ASSISTANT (RA)

  RAs are often the first to respond to incidents in the residence halls. They   are often asked to attend judicial hearings as witnesses to alleged   violations of college policy. During the hearing the RA will be asked to   explain WHO was involved, WHEN and WHERE the incident occurred, WHAT   happened, WHAT was said, and HOW people responded when confronted. In both   incident reports and witness presentations it is vital that the RA provide   the above information as specifically and detailed as possible. The RA may   be asked questions by the board, and others involved.
 

  RESIDENT DIRECTOR (RD)

  The full-time RD staff has several roles in the judicial system. S/he may   respond to incidents, but are always involved in processing incident reports   and forwarding information to the Associate Director of Campus Life for the   purpose of referring charges. They act as Hearing Officers, for the   Administrative Agreement/Waiver of a Hearing process and/or a Hearing Board.   The RD meets with students in their assigned Resident Hall, and in some   cases, with the students in the Hall of the Graduate RD in their particular   Quad. In special circumstances, they may also be assigned "spill-over"   cases. In all cases, when charges are presented against a student, the RD   meets with the student to explain the charges, the judicial system and the   student's rights and responsibilities within the system, as well as the   options available to them. If the student admits responsibility for the   charges, and accepts the sanction (s) offered by the RD, both parties   complete an Administrative Agreement/Waiver of a Hearing form that details   the interaction and agreement between the two parties. An RD cannot   recommend a suspension as a sanction in this setting. RDs may also act as   witnesses, for a Hearing. They may also be asked to explain what they know   about WHO was involved, WHEN and WHERE the incident occurred, WHAT happened,   WHAT was said, and HOW people responded when confronted. In both incident   reports and witness presentations, it is vital that the RD provide the above   information as specifically and detailed as possible. The RD may be asked   questions from the board and others involved in a hearing.
  

  UNIVERSITY POLICE OFFICERS

  University Police Officers respond directly to incidents both in the   residence halls, and in campus or community areas outside the halls. The   documentation from University Police is key information in hearings.   University Police Officers may be asked to attend hearings as witnesses to   the incidents. In cases that happen outside the residence halls, University   Police personnel may be asked to present charges during the hearing as the   College's representative. In such cases, they will be asked to follow the   same procedures described under Resident Director.
 

  THE JUDICIAL HEARING BOARD

  The membership of this board is comprised of one student and two SUNY   Potsdam faculty or staff. The Judicial Hearing Board hears cases involving   violations of the Code occurring both on and off the SUNY Potsdam campus.   This board can impose any of the sanctions, or any combinations of   sanctions, designated in the Code.
 

  THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER

  An Administrative Hearing Officer may be a member of the faculty or the   administration of the College. Cases are assigned to Administrative Hearing   Officers through the office of Student Conduct & Community Standards based   on the preference for adjudication indicated by the student being charged   and/or the particular circumstances of the case. Administrative Hearing   Officers may impose any of the sanctions, or any combination of sanctions,   designated in the Code.

DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL OFFENSE HEARING BOARD AND OFFICERS

  The Discrimination and Sexual Offense (D&SO) Hearing Board and Hearing   Officers are members of the judicial system specially trained to adjudicate   cases dealing with charges of harassment, discrimination, and/or sexual   offense. The D&SO Board consists of one student, one faculty member, and one   administrator who is a member of the Campus Life staff. D&SO Hearing   Officers are members of the faculty or professional staff. D&SO Hearing   Boards and Hearing Officers may impose any of the sanctions, or any   combination of sanctions, designated in the Code.
 

  THE APPELLATE BOARD

  The Appellate Board shall consist of two students, two members of the   faculty, and one administrator. This board may review a case, deny review,   remand to the disciplinary body below with or without instruction, and/or   alter the sanction(s). The Appellate Board may not alter or reverse a   disciplinary agency's decision on grounds other than those outlined in the   Code. The burden of establishing that the standard has been met rests on the   party making the appeal. Furthermore, the Appellate Board may not alter or   reverse the decision of the disciplinary agency on any grounds other than   that specifically cited as the basis of the appeal. This board can impose   any of the sanctions set forth in the Code. The Appellate Board shall have   original and final jurisdiction in interpreting the Code.
  

  DIRECTOR STUDENT CONDUCT & COMMUNITY STANDARDS

  The Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards is responsible for the   implementation of the total judicial process on campus. S/he is responsible   for the training and development of all participants in the adjudication   process. S/he maintains central records of all formal judicial action,   publishes monthly summaries of judicial actions, and is the central resource   for questions regarding any part of the adjudication process. S/he works   closely with Campus Life staff, University Police, the Counseling Center,   the Campus Mediation Center, and other offices involved in assessing and   confronting student behavior and/or helping students identify options   available to them in dealing with inappropriate behavior.