Reports
Reports of behavior alleged to violate university policy should be filed with or forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Additional information can be found on the Incident Reporting page.
Interim Measures
Interim measures may be placed on a student by any member of the Dean of Students staff to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the university community or any member of it. In the case of student groups, interim measures may be placed on a student group by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, Housing & Residence Life, a member of the Dean on Call and/or other administrative unit(s).
Interim Measures: includes, but is not limited to, a “no contact” directive, removal of privileges (including access to campus property and/or participation in remote/virtual campus programs), removal from or relocation within the residential community, suspension of activity, and/or suspension from the university. If an interim measure is issued while a disciplinary action is pending, such action may remain in effect until the disciplinary process is resolved.
An interim suspension of a student from the university may be imposed by the Vice Provost/Vice President for Student Affairs, or designee. See the Administrative Action Policy for additional details. Should an interim suspension be issued and resolution of the matter that prompted it not be resolved within two weeks, the interim suspension may convert to an administrative leave of absence.
Participation
The university invites students/student groups to participate fully in all aspects of the conduct process. If a student/ student group elects not to participate in any part of the process (e.g., submitting a written statement or participating in a hearing) or fails to attend their scheduled meeting, the hearing officer/hearing body may proceed without the benefit of that student’s/student group’s input. A student/student group will be held accountable for any outcomes issued as a result of a hearing.
Timeline
In extenuating circumstances, OSCCS has the authority to extend timelines for matters including but not limited to notices, hearings, and decision letters. In the case of such an extension, OSCCS will notify the relevant parties about the extension. Examples of extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to the case's complexity, delays due to holiday or academic breaks, the unavailability of parties or witnesses, inclement weather, medical emergencies, Duke University reading period, Duke University finals period, and other unforeseen circumstances. The phrase “business days” does not include weekends or Duke holidays.
Investigation
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards staff and/or designee(s) will gather information regarding the alleged incident in order to determine the appropriate means of resolution.
Investigations may include interviews, a review of related documents, requests for written statements from any person involved in the alleged incident, and review of material available electronically. Students and student groups are encouraged to be forthright and as specific as possible when offering information related to an investigation, but may choose the extent to which they share information.
Cases may be dropped for insufficient information or referred for an Administrative Conference, Adaptable Resolution, or disciplinary action. In order for a case to be referred for disciplinary action (i.e., an Administrative or Conduct Board Hearing), there must be sufficient information to believe that a policy violation may have occurred and that the alleged student/student group may be responsible.
Relevance
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, the investigator from the Office for Institutional Equity, the hearing officer, or the hearing panel, as appropriate, may exclude and/or redact:
- Information that has no bearing on a fact at issue in the case, is more prejudicial than probative, or is duplicative;
- Medical or mental health information, treatment and/or diagnosis, unless relevant to a fact at issue in the case;
- Sensitive personally identifying information (e.g., social security numbers, contact information, etc.).
Polygraph examinations and/or their results are neither admissible nor considered in any part. of the disciplinary process. Generally, character witnesses are not permitted.