Overview of the Organizational Conduct Process
We want you to feel confident in the conduct process. When Student Engagement & Leadership, Dean of Students Office, and Office of Student Conduct collaborate to address a complaint, the following interactive process is initiated:
1.
Complaint received and reviewed. If case merits further investigation, a lead judicial officer is assigned and an investigation proceeds. National organizations affiliated with the local organization may be notified and invited to participate in the investigation.
2.
Charge issued. The organization leader receives a charge letter indicating that an investigation is underway. Usually, organization officers and members will be asked to participate in interviews or provide additional evidence.
3.
Administrative action proposed. Based on the outcome of the investigation, charges may be dismissed or upheld. When charges are upheld, the lead judicial officer will work with the Dean of Student Life to determine an appropriate sanction. The organization leader can deny the charges and/or decline the administrative sanction and choose to proceed to an RCOCB Hearing.
4.
Hearing. If an investigation yields evidence that a policy violation is likely to have occurred and the organization leader either denies the charges or declines the administrative sanction, a hearing panel of students is composed to hear evidence from both the University and the organization. The panel makes an independent finding in terms of responsibility and, if applicable, sanctions. In cases where a national organization rescinds its recognition of a local organization, the hearing option is not available; the University will comply with the national organization's determination. (It is important to note that there is no penalty whatsoever for choosing to proceed with a hearing instead of accepting proposed administrative sanctions. The outcome of a hearing is independent and may result in a more or less stringent sanction.)
5.
Appeal. In certain circumstances, an appeal of a hearing body's decision may be submitted to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs within 10 working days.
6.
Sanction. If applicable, a sanction is implemented against the organization, which may range from a letter of University reprimand to rescission of University registration. The sanctioning options available to the board are broad and flexible so that educational sanctions can be implemented when appropriate. On occasion, individual students may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for possible violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
Clery Act
Each year, the campus publishes an Annual Security Report, which includes information about crime prevention and reporting; emergency response and evacuation; emergency notifications; timely warnings; alcohol, drug and weapon policies; sexual violence prevention; and other topics. The report includes statistics that occurred at the UCSB campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property, and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from campus.
To the greatest extent possible, properties related to registered campus organizations and recognized fraternities and sororities are included in the report statistics, for example:
- Formally recognized fraternity and sorority chapter facilities,
- Facilities closely associated with registered campus organizations, and
- Properties in any location where any student group travels for an extended period (more than one night) or where students regularly travel (e.g., an annual overnight trip to the same location).
Additional information, including the Annual Security Report, is available from www.police.ucsb.edu/clery-act.
SEAL Role in the Addressing the Clery Act
The director of SEAL is a member of the Clery Act Compliance Committee and coordinates the department's participation in fulfilling the UCSB's legal obligations to the public.
SEAL helps the campus meet and exceed the requirements of The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy & Campus Crime Statistics Act through three primary strategies:
1.
Integrating risk-reduction education modules into programming for registered campus organizations, including fraternities and sororities.
2.
Helping to inform students (via our website, Shoreline, and E-mail) of the availability of the Annual Security Report when it becomes available each fall.
3.
Reporting all criminal activity alleged to have occurred on covered properties, including: homicide, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, alcohol and drug violations, weapons violations, hate crimes, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. (Reports for this purpose alone do not initiate criminal investigations.)