Reports to the Dean of Studies regarding possible infractions can come from several sources, namely faculty, students, staff, and administrators.

A. The Honor Process Carried Out By Faculty

1. The student is informed of the details of the charge and is shown supporting evidence.
2. The instructor may impose a sanction if the student accepts the charge.
3. The instructor may impose a sanction in consultation with the Dean of Studies- OR- as instructors have complete authority over grading, the instructor may impose a sanction involving grades without consulting the Dean of Studies.
4. The instructor will forward a letter detailing the facts of the case and the agreed-upon sanction to the Dean of Studies.
5. The Dean of Studies may suggest that appropriate counseling or assistance be provided to the student.
6. If the student admits guilt but disputes the sanction imposed by the instructor, the student may appeal the sanction to the Dean of Studies, who may at his or her discretion modify the sanction of the instructor. If the Dean upholds the decision of the instructor, the student may then appeal the sanction to the Honor Board.

Any and all appeals following the admission of guilt are restricted to the sanction imposed.

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B. The Honor Process Initiated Through the Dean of Studies

If the instructor chooses initially to refer the case to the Dean of Studies or if the student disputes the facts of the case as presented by the instructor:

1. The instructor will submit evidence in support of the allegation to the Dean of Studies.
2. The Dean of Studies will contact the accused student and arrange a meeting, preferably with the Class Dean, at which time the student is shown the evidence and given an opportunity to respond to it.
3. If the student accepts the charge, thereby admitting guilt, the Dean instructs the student that she may accept a sanction determined by the Dean, or she may choose to have her case heard by the Honor Board.
   • Dean’s Discipline: Penalties include, but are not limited to:
     • disciplinary warning
     • disciplinary probation
     • suspension (with possibility of readmission)
     • expulsion (without possibility of readmission)
   • If the Dean believes that the level of dishonesty requires suspension or expulsion, he or she normally consults with the Board before coming to a final judgment.
   • In addition, counseling may be required. This is consistent with the goals of the Honor Board of remediation and support.
4. Following Dean’s Discipline, the Dean confirms the decision in writing and reviews options for appeal with the student.
   • A letter detailing the DeanˇZZs actions is also forwarded to the individual who brought the charge
5. If the student either disputes the charge or contests the Dean’s Discipline, the Honor Board is convened for a hearing. However, if the student accepts the charge and the Dean’s Discipline, a hearing is not necessary.
   • Again, if the student is contesting Dean’s Discipline, she may only appeal the severity of the sanction, and not the validity of the charge once guilt is admitted.

C. Honor Board Hearings

1. Arranging a Hearing

   Once a student contests a charge or Dean’s Discipline, the Dean informs the Honor Board that a hearing will be required. The Board in consultation with the Dean sets a date for the hearing, and the accused student is notified by mail of the date, time, and location of the hearing. The hearing may take place no sooner than ten days after the date of the letter unless all parties agree that an early hearing shall be scheduled.

2. Pre-Hearing Procedures
   1. Responsibilities of the Dean of Studies

      At least one week prior to the scheduled hearing, the Dean of Studies (or Class Dean) must inform the student of her rights pertaining to the hearing, including the right to call witnesses and the right to obtain an adviser from the Barnard community. The student must also be informed about the general procedure of the hearing and her options for appeal.

      In addition, the Dean forwards any relevant documentation to the members of the Honor Board and to the accused student. The studentˇZZs name and address do not appear on any documents. The student must be provided with a list of the names of the current members of the Honor Board. If the student has any concern about whether a particular Honor Board member should hear the case, she may express that concern to the Dean. Based on this information, the Dean may request the Board to exclude that member from the hearing.

   2. Responsibilities of the Honor Board

      Before conducting a hearing, the Board receives material from the Dean detailing the charge and relevant evidence. All details of the case must be kept in the strictest confidence. The evidence is reviewed by Board members prior to the hearing, and the review serves as the basis for questioning during the hearing. The Board also decides who will be summoned to testify and informs potential witnesses of the hearing. (Character witnesses are usually not allowed to testify during the hearing; however, they may submit letters on behalf of the accused student.)

3. Hearing Protocol

   A quorum, consisting of five voting members, is needed for a hearing, and the majority of Board members present must agree on a decision. In the unusual circumstances that five current members are unavailable, students or faculty who served on the Board in the recent past are called upon to constitute a quorum. Hearings are limited to members of (or participating alternates to) the Board, those summoned to appear, the Officer of Record, and any others designated by the Board. The Officer of Record, designated by the Dean of Studies, maintains a record of the hearing.

   The accused student is allowed the counsel of an adviser, who must be a member of the Barnard faculty, administration, staff, or student body. The adviser may be present throughout the student’s appearance to provide support and counsel, but the adviser may not address the Board. If the adviser wishes to give testimony, it must be submitted in writing. All testimony at hearings is audio-recorded to document the evidence relevant to a case. The Board may use the recording to come to a decision or determine a sanction, or the recording may be forwarded to the Judicial Council in case of an appeal. For a period of seven business days after the issuance of the Board’s decision, any involved party may listen to the recordings in the office of the Dean of Studies.

   Although there is considerable flexibility in hearing procedures, the following paradigm has been used in the past.

   • At the outset of the hearing, the Chair of the Honor Board reviews the charge and related evidence, to ensure that all participants are clear on the procedure.
   • The Board then begins to hear testimony from witnesses. Typically, the person who is bringing the charge is heard first.
   • Other witnesses, including those testifying on behalf of the accused student, are then asked to testify.
   • Finally, the accused student, who may be accompanied by her adviser from the Barnard community, is asked to testify.
   • After all witnesses have been heard, they may be recalled at the discretion of the Board.

4. Honor Board Determinations

   The evidence is considered after all witnesses have appeared, and the majority of Board members present must agree on a decision. The Officer of Record votes only in the event of a tie. If a student is found to be guilty, the Board will decide and determine the appropriate penalty within five business days of the end of the hearing.

   Each case is considered individually. At a minimum, a student found guilty of any violation of the Honor Code will be placed on disciplinary warning.

   Other penalties include, but are not limited to:

   • disciplinary probation
   • disciplinary probation
   • suspension with the possibility of readmission
   • expulsion

   If a disciplinary warning is issued, further violations will likely lead to disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion. With the exception of a student’s appeal of Dean’s discipline, the Board may consult the Dean of Studies to determine an appropriate sanction.

   Any student who receives disciplinary action becomes ineligible to run for or continue in any elected office for at least one year. This penalty is suspended only during the period of appeal. The graduation date of a student who receives disciplinary action in her senior year is delayed if the end of the probationary period designated follows her completion of degree requirements.

5. Post-Hearing Procedures

   The Officer of Record notifies the student and relevant parties by mail within five business days of the Board’s determination. Only if the student is suspended or expelled do her parents receive a copy of the letter. The Dean places a copy of the letter in a confidential file in the Office of the Dean of Studies.

   If a student admits to or is found guilty of any violation of the Honor Code, a record of the violation is kept in a confidential file in the Office of the Dean of Studies for ten years from the student’s date of graduation. Support of applications for graduate study or employment may be affected by a record of a student’s violation of the Honor Code. Although information on disciplinary action is not volunteered, a direct question from a school or employer regarding a violation will be answered truthfully.

D. Appeals

1. Grounds for appeals

   An appeal to the Judicial Council must be submitted in writing to the Dean of Studies. Students may appeal for two reasons:

   • The student may appeal if she feels that she has not been afforded due process (e.g., she was not informed of her rights, allowed to call witnesses, or allowed representation from the Barnard community).
   • She may only appeal the appropriateness of the sanction. The President will consider only appeals of suspension or expulsion.

2. Timing

   Dean’s disciplinary action may be appealed to the Honor Board within seven business days of the date of issue. Decisions of the Honor Board may be appealed to the Judicial Council within seven business days of the date of issue. If the appeal involves suspension or expulsion, the Judicial Council must review the case. Cases that do not involve suspension or expulsion may be appealed to the Judicial Council, but the Council may decline to review such cases. Decisions of the Judicial Council involving suspension or expulsion may be appealed to the President within five business days of the date of issue. Decisions of the Judicial Council not involving suspension or expulsion may not be appealed.

Nota Bene: These guidelines are subject to amendment from time to time at the discretion of the Honor Board and without prior notice.

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