RSO Conduct Process

This page is designed to be an overview of the RSO conduct process. Students and RSOs should thoroughly review details about the process, which can be found in the Student Code of Conduct.

To report a violation, please contact the WW Dean of Students Office or Department of Student Engagement.

The Student Code of Conduct administrative hearing process is an educational, administrative process and applies the preponderance of evidence standard, which indicates that it is more likely than not that an incident did, or did not, occur. The process does not apply the rules of evidence, the rules of civil or criminal procedure, or the standards of the legal system.

A conduct officer has the responsibility to receive and, where appropriate, investigate complaints arising out of a claim that the Student Code of Conduct may have been violated. After receiving a complaint, a determination will be made regarding filing charges.

Each student or registered student organization (RSO) charged with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct will be scheduled for an administrative hearing conference. During the administrative hearing conference, the respondent student or respondent RSO representative will review their Embry-Riddle Rights and Responsibilities and the Student Code of Conduct Process and will accept or deny responsibility for the charge(s) in question.

If the respondent student/respondent RSO accepts responsibility for the charge(s), the conduct officer will briefly discuss the case and corrective action, then provide appropriate sanction(s).

If the respondent student/respondent RSO does not accept responsibility for the charges, the conduct officer will determine whether, or not, the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding of responsibility.

  • If yes, at a later date, the conduct officer will notify the respondent student/respondent RSO of their determination and the assigned sanction(s).
  • If no, at a later date, the conduct officer will notify the respondent student/respondent RSO of the completed review and their determination. The matter will then be closed with no further action taken.

The sanctions imposed will depend on the severity of the violation(s), the potential impact of the violation on the community, and/or the respondent student’s/respondent RSO’s prior disciplinary record. Evidence presented at an administrative hearing may warrant further investigation and/or disciplinary action.

RSO Rights During the Conduct Process:

1. To have a meeting, sometimes known as a “hearing” with a Conduct Officer designated by the university to hear the case.

2. To be heard and to provide a response. Respondents should be aware that a solicited or unsolicited admission of responsibility for a Student Code of Conduct or policy violation(s) may be used by conduct officers when considering disciplinary action. Any individual may be considered an agent of the university, including faculty, staff, campus safety officers, Resident Advisors, and/or student employees, and agents are obligated to report information if it's shared with them.

3. To be considered “not responsible” for any violation(s) until responsibility is established.

4. To receive notice of an initial conduct meeting with the Conduct Officer. This notice will include a brief summary of the alleged incident, the specific Standard(s) of Conduct that were allegedly violated, and a time and place when the meeting will be held. Worldwide students’ notification will require the student to provide three available dates/time for the conduct meeting.

5. To be informed of the evidence available to the university.

6. To select a support person of their choosing to accompany them throughout the conduct proceeding. The support person may be an SGA-related advisors/support persons, friend, mentor, family member, attorney, or any other supporter, who has not been involved in the case. If planning to bring a support person, please notify the Conduct Officer at least one business day prior to your scheduled meeting. Support persons, including attorneys, are not permitted to speak on behalf of the respondent to participate directly in the student conduct process, unless authorized by the conduct officer.

  • Support persons are expected to refrain from interference with the conduct proceeding. Any support person who fails to adhere to these expectations during any part of the proceeding will be warned. If the support person continues to disrupt or otherwise disrespect the limits of the support person role, the Conduct Officer has the discretion to ask the support person to leave the meeting and/or proceeding. When a support person is removed, the proceeding will continue without the support person present. The support person’s future role in the process will be at the discretion of the Conduct Officer.

7. To receive reasonable accommodation when requested. All decisions about reasonable accommodation are made by the Conduct Officer and are at the discretion of the university.

8. To be informed of the outcome of the proceeding, including whether the student has been found “not responsible” or “responsible” for any policy violations, and if found responsible, the sanction(s) that are issued.

9. To request an appeal of the finding of “responsible” and/or the sanction(s) issued.

RSO Conduct Process Overview

  • A student or registered student organization who has been charged with a Student Code of Conduct violation, will have the opportunity to participate in an administrative hearing held by a conduct officer.
  • Initial Meeting: The conduct officer will meet with the student to:
    • Review Rights and Responsibilities
    • Provide a summary of the alleged incident
    • Review the specific Standard(s) of Conduct the student is alleged to have violated
    • Discuss the incident with the student
    • Provide the student an opportunity to respond, including an opportunity to provide any information that the student wishes to be considered
  • At the conclusion of the initial meeting, the Conduct Officer may elect to (a) pause the proceeding in order to conduct further investigation, or (b) proceed with making a finding of “responsible” or “not responsible” and determining appropriate sanction(s) accordingly (see next section, “Outcomes”).

RSO Conduct Outcomes

Conduct outcomes are made up of two different pieces: findings and sanctions.

  • Findings -After the conduct officer has completed an initial meeting with the student, and/or any additional investigation, they will make a decision about whether the student is “responsible” or “not responsible” for violating each incident of prohibited conduct as charged.
  • Sanctions - Student conduct sanctions are an educational intervention imposed for violation(s) of the Student Code of Conduct. Examples of sanctions are provided in the list below and are not inclusive of all options. More than one sanction may be imposed for any single violation when deemed appropriate. Typically, punitive outcomes are combined with educational and intervention strategies.

E: wwdseoff@erau.edu
P: ​​​​​​​1-888-292-5727

Department of Student Engagement

1 Aerospace Boulevard
Daytona Beach, Flor, 32119