1.     The Hearing is closed.  Only the person(s) directly involved in the incident in question are permitted to attend the entire hearing; there will be no observers. The chair may allow other individuals who have relevant information to appear at a portion of the hearing in order to respond to specific questions from the Board or the persons involved. The Board does not hear character witnesses but will accept up to two letters supporting the character of the accused student.

2.     Formal rules of process, procedure, and/or technical rules of evidence, such as are applied in criminal or civil court, are not used in the Student Conduct Board hearings.

3.     Only information pertinent to the possible violation will be considered by the Board. However, information about other student disciplinary actions or civil or criminal convictions may be introduced at these hearings if, in the discretion of the chair, this information bears directly on the possible violation. The chair shall have discretionary authority to determine whether the Board will receive and consider particular information, and to resolve any procedural questions or disputes arising in the course of a hearing.

4.     Participation in a hearing by telephone, closed circuit television, video conferencing, video or audio recording, written statement or other means may be permitted by the chair to the extent deemed appropriate in his/her sole discretion.

5.     Proceedings are strictly confidential. All persons present at any time during the hearing are expected to maintain confidentiality.

6.     Hearings are recorded. Board members, the accused student, the persons, if any, who initiated the action, and appropriate administrative officers of the College shall be allowed to listen to the recording in a location determined by the Conduct Officer. No person will be given or be allowed to make a copy of the recording, which remains the property of Colby College. Persons given access to the recording will be required to sign an agreement confirming that they will protect the confidentiality of the hearing.

Decisions The Board shall deliberate in private session to determine whether a student is responsible or not responsible for the violation(s) in question. The Board shall base its determination on whether it is more likely than not that the accused student committed each alleged violation. If a student is found responsible by a majority of the Board, the Board will assess appropriate sanctions. The Conduct Officer shall not vote to determine responsibility for a charge, but shall vote in the sanctioning phase of the hearing should the members of the Board be deadlocked in their decision. The deliberations of the Board shall be kept in strict confidence.

The chair shall forward a written decision to the accused student as soon as reasonably possible including, if applicable, sanctions.    The chair may provide a copy of the written decision to the initiating student, if any, if the alleged violations include acts of violence.