Chestnut Hill College governs its student body through its Student Code of Conduct, located in the Student Handbook. The College seeks to uphold traditional Catholic values while simultaneously creating and promoting a safe and secure academic environment. Students who fail to uphold the Student Code of Conduct will be under suspicion of committing an infraction. Once potential violations or infractions are reported, the student will be subject to the College's disciplinary process.
Chestnut Hill College Judicial Hearing Process
Throughout the College judicial hearing process, students accused of violations will be known as "the respondent" while the party bringing the accusations forward will be known as "the complainant." Respondents will be notified of their hearings at least 48 hours prior to the hearing and are expected to attend. There are two types of hearings that a respondent can face: an Administrative Hearing or a Community Standards Board Hearing.
Administrative Hearing
At an Administrative hearing, both parties will be made aware of documentation and evidence for both sides. Both the complainant and the respondent will be able to present information and witnesses. The Administrative Hearing will be brief and handled by an officer designated by the Vice President for Student Life. Administrative Hearings are typically employed for cases of minor violations. The Administrative Hearing officer that will conduct the hearing depends on the nature and severity of the offense.
Community Standards Board Hearing
At hearings, the Community Standards Board will consist of 1 non-voting chair, and, at a minimum, 3 voting board members. The board members themselves will consist of members of the College Community selected from a pool of individuals that simply applied for the position. The Community Standards Board will hear out the more serious cases. The hearings themselves will have the same processes and procedures as an Administrative hearing. Even though the Community Standards Board deals with higher level violations, the Board itself cannot assign sanctions of suspension or expulsion. Instead, the Board makes a recommendation to the President of the College who holds the sole power to suspend or expel a student, and the President will make the final decision.
The College keeps hearings limited to students and College personnel. Students can still receive help with an attorney behind the scenes. Advice from an attorney will help students understand the situation they are in, and also provide keen insight into methods of presenting and arguing the evidence and the overall case in their favor. Students will also feel more confident after having received counsel from an attorney.
Chestnut Hill College Appeals
Should the hearing result in an unfavorable outcome, respondents are entitled to an appeal. Appeals must be made within 3 business days of the receipt of the notification of the hearing decision. The grounds for appeal are improper or inadequate procedure, or a disproportionate penalty. Appeals must be addressed to the Vice President for Student Life. Appeals will be reviewed by the College Appeal's Board, which will consist of faculty, staff, and administrators that have been selected for appellate positions by the College president. Decisions of appeal will be sent to the student within 10 business days. There is only one stage of appeals.
If you or your student is currently facing disciplinary action from Chestnut Hill College, contact the LLF Law Firm today.
