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Student Conduct Process

In accordance with the Students' Bill of Rights, reporting individuals shall have the following rights relative to the Student Conduct Process:

• To request that student conduct charges be filed against the accused. Conduct proceedings are governed by the procedures set forth in the SUNY Cortland Code of Student Conduct as well as federal and New York State law, including the due process provisions of the United States and New York State Constitutions.

Throughout conduct proceedings, the respondent and the reporting individual will have:

  • The same opportunity to be accompanied by an advisor of their choice who may assist and advise the parties throughout the conduct process and any related hearings or meetings. Participation of the advisor in any proceeding is governed by federal law and the Student Code of Conduct;
  • The right to a prompt response to any complaint and to have their complaint investigated and adjudicated in an impartial, timely, and thorough manner by individuals who receive annual training in conducting investigations of sexual violence, the effects of trauma, impartiality, the rights of the respondent, including the right to a presumption that the respondent is "not responsible" until a finding of responsibility is made,and other issues related to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking;
  • The right to an investigation and process conducted in a manner that recognizes the legal and policy requirements of due process (including fairness, impartiality, and a meaningful opportunity to be heard) and is not conducted by individuals with a conflict of interest;
  • The right to receive advance written or electronic notice of the date, time, and location of any meeting or hearing they are required to or are eligible to attend. Accused individuals will also be told the factual allegations concerning the violation, a reference to the specific code of conduct provisions alleged to have been violated, and possible sanctions;
  • The right to have a conduct process run concurrently with a criminal justice investigation and proceeding, except for temporary delays as requested by external municipal entities while law enforcement gathers evidence. Temporary delays should not last more than 10 days except when law enforcement specifically requests and justifies a longer delay;
  • The right to offer evidence during an investigation and to review available relevant evidence in the case file (or otherwise held by SUNY Cortland);
  • The right to present evidence and testimony at a hearing, where appropriate;
  • The right to a range of options for providing testimony via alternative arrangements, including telephone/videoconferencing or testifying with a room partition;
  • The right to exclude prior sexual history  with persons other than the other party in the conduct process or their own mental health diagnosis or treatment from admittance in college disciplinary stage that determines responsibility. Past findings of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault may be admissible in the disciplinary stage that determines sanction;
  • The right to ask questions of the decision maker and via the decision maker indirectly request responses from other parties and any other witnesses present;
  • The right to make an impact statement during the point of the proceeding where the decision maker is deliberating on appropriate sanctions;
  • The right to simultaneous (among the parties) written or electronic notification of the outcome of a conduct proceeding, including the decision, any sanction(s), and the rationale for the decision and any sanctions;
  • The right to written or electronic notice about the sanction(s) that may be imposed on the accused based upon the outcome of the conduct proceeding. For students found responsible for sexual assault, the available sanctions are suspension with additional requirements and permanent dismissal;
  • Access to at least one level of appeal of a determination before a panel, which may include one or more students, that is fair and impartial and does not include individuals with a conflict of interest;
  • The right to have access to a full and fair record of a student conduct hearing, which shall be preserved and maintained for at least five years; For more information, contact the SUNY Cortland Student Conduct Office, 607-753-4725, Corey Union, Room 409-B;
  • The right to choose whether to disclose or discuss the outcome of a conduct hearing;
  • The right to have all information obtained during the course of the conduct or judicial process be protected from public release until the appeals panel makes a final determination unless otherwise required by law.

Policy for Alcohol and/or Drug Use Amnesty in Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Cases

The Policy for Alcohol and/or Drug Use Amnesty in Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Cases states that the health and safety of every student at the State University of New York and its State-operated and community colleges is of utmost importance. SUNY Cortland recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that violence, including but not limited to domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. SUNY Cortland strongly encourages students to report incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault to institution officials. A bystander acting in good faith or a reporting individual acting in good faith that discloses any incident of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault to SUNY Cortland officials or law enforcement will not be subject to SUNY Cortland's code of conduct action for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the commission of the domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault.