WAC 132W-115-110   Procedures for resolving disciplinary violations.  (1) The dean of student services is responsible for initiating disciplinary proceedings. The dean of student services may delegate this responsibility to members of his/her staff, and he/she may also establish committees or other hearing bodies to advise or act for him/her in disciplinary matters.

     (2) In order that any informality in disciplinary proceedings not mislead a student as to the seriousness of the matter under consideration, the student involved shall be informed at the initial conference or hearing of the sanctions that may be involved.

     (3) Upon initiation of formal disciplinary proceedings, the dean of student services or designee shall provide written notification to the student, either in person or by delivery via regular mail to the student's last known address, specifying the violations with which the student is charged. The dean of student services or designee shall set a time and place for meeting with the student to inform the student of the charges, the evidence supporting the charges, and to allow the student an opportunity to be heard regarding the charges and evidence.

     (4) After considering the evidence in a case and interviewing the student or students involved, the dean of student services or designee may take any of the following actions:

     (a) Terminate the proceeding, exonerating the student or students;

     (b) Dismiss the case after whatever counseling and advice may be appropriate; not subject to the appeal rights provided in this code;

     (c) Dismiss the case after verbally admonishing the student, not subject to the appeal rights provided in this code;

     (d) Direct the parties to make a reasonable attempt to achieve a mediated settlement;

     (e) Impose disciplinary sanctions directly, subject to the student's right of appeal as described in this chapter. The student shall be notified in writing of the action taken except that disciplinary warnings may be given verbally;

     (f) Refer the matter to the academic regulations committee requesting their recommendation for appropriate action. The student shall be notified in writing that the matter has been referred to the academic regulations committee.

     (5) This section shall not be construed as preventing the appropriate official from summarily suspending a student.

     (6) If the dean of student services or his or her designee(s) has cause to believe that any student:

     (a) Has committed a felony; or

     (b) Has violated any provision of this chapter; and

     (c) Presents an imminent danger either to himself or herself, other persons on the college campus or to the educational process; that student shall be summarily suspended and shall be notified by certified and regular mail at the student's last known address, or shall be personally served.

     Summary suspension is appropriate only where (c) of this subsection can be shown, either alone or in conjunction with (a) or (b) of this subsection.

     (7) During the summary suspension period, the suspended student shall not enter campus other than to meet with the dean of student services or to attend the hearing. However, the dean of student services or the college president may grant the student special permission to enter a campus for the express purpose of meeting with faculty, staff, or students in preparation for a probable cause hearing.

     (8) When the president or his/her designee exercises the authority to summarily suspend a student, he/she shall cause notice thereof to be served upon that student by registered or certified mail at the student's last known address, or by causing personal service of such notice upon that student. The notice shall be entitled "notice of summary suspension proceedings" and shall state:

     (a) The charges against the student including reference to the provisions of the student code or the law involved; and

     (b) That the student charged must appear before the designated disciplinary officer at a time specified in the notice for a hearing as to whether probable cause exists to continue the summary suspension. The hearing shall be held as soon as practicable after the summary suspension.

     (9) The summary suspension hearing shall be considered an emergency adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding must be conducted as soon as practicable with the dean of student services or designee presiding. At the summary suspension hearing, the dean of student services shall determine whether there is probable cause to believe that continued suspension is necessary and/or whether some other disciplinary action is appropriate.

     (10) If the dean of student services, following the conclusion of the summary suspension proceedings, finds that there is probable cause to believe that:

     (a) The student against whom specific violations of law or of provisions of this chapter are alleged has committed one or more of such violations; and

     (b) That summary suspension of said student is necessary for the protection of the student, other students or persons on college facilities, college property, the educational process, or to restore order to the campus; and

     (c) Such violation or violations of the law or of provisions of this chapter constitute grounds for disciplinary action, then the dean of student services may, with the written approval of the president, continue to suspend such student from the college and may impose any other disciplinary action as appropriate.

     (11) A student who is suspended or otherwise disciplined pursuant to the above rules shall be provided with a written copy of the dean of student services' findings of fact and conclusions, as expressly concurred in by the president, which constituted probable cause to believe that the conditions for summary suspension existed. The student suspended pursuant to the authority of this rule shall be served a copy of the notice of suspension by personal service or by registered mail to said student's last known address within three working days following the conclusion of the summary suspension hearing. The notice of suspension shall state the duration of the suspension or nature of other disciplinary action and the conditions under which the suspension may be terminated.

     (12) The dean of student services is authorized to enforce the suspension of the summarily suspended student in the event the student has been served pursuant to the notice requirement and fails to appear at the time designated for the summary suspension proceeding.

     (13) Any student aggrieved by an order issued at the summary suspension proceeding may appeal to the academic regulations committee. No such appeal shall be entertained, however, unless:

     (a) The student has first appeared at the student hearing in accordance with subsection (9) of this section;

     (b) The student has been officially notified of the outcome of the hearing;

     (c) Summary suspension or other disciplinary sanction has been upheld; and

     (d) The appeal conforms to the standards set forth in chapter 132W-109 WAC. The academic regulations committee shall, within five working days, conduct a formal hearing in the manner described in chapter 132W-109 WAC



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW. 01-12-015, § 132W-115-110, filed 5/25/01, effective 6/25/01.]