(1) Scheduling and notification. Full hearings are used for allegations which, if substantiated by a preponderance of the evidence, could result in a sanction of suspension or expulsion or that involve felony-level sexual misconduct. Following provision of the notice of allegations to the respondent, as set forth in WAC 172-121-110, the SRR office shall arrange for a preliminary conference.

(2) General provisions.

(a) Hearing authority: The CRO exercises control over hearing proceedings. All procedural questions are subject to the final decision of the CRO.

(b) Closed hearings: All conduct review hearings will be closed. Admission of any person to a conduct review hearing shall be at the discretion of the CRO.

(c) Consolidation of hearings: In the event that one or more students are charged with the same misconduct arising from the same occurrence, the CRO may conduct separate hearings for each student or consolidate the hearings as practical, as long as consolidation does not impinge on the rights of any student.

(3) Appearance.

(a) Failure to appear: In cases where proper notice has been given but the respondent fails to attend a conduct review hearing, the CRO shall decide the case based on the information available, without the respondent's input.

(b) Appearance: The parties will be provided options for reasonable alternative arrangements if they do not wish to be present in the same room as the other student during the hearing. The parties may appear at the conduct review hearing in person, through telephone conference, or through any other practical means of communication, subject to the limits set forth below in (e) of this subsection. If a party does not appear at the hearing, the CRO will decide the case based on the information available.

(c) Advisors: The complainant and the respondent may be assisted by one advisor during conduct review hearings as described in WAC 172-121-105.

(d) Disruption of proceedings: Any person, including the respondent, who disrupts a hearing, may be excluded from the proceedings.

(e) Telephonic appearance. In the interest of fairness and expedience, the CRO may permit any person to appear by telephone, audio tape, written statement, or other means, as appropriate, if the rights of the parties will not be substantially prejudiced by a telephonic appearance as determined by the CRO.

(4) Standard of proof. The CRO shall determine whether the respondent violated the student conduct code, as charged, based on a preponderance of the evidence. A preponderance means, based on the evidence admitted, whether it is more probable than not that the respondent violated the student conduct code.

(5) Preliminary conference. The SRR office or designee will arrange for a preliminary conference with each of the parties separately to advise them about the student conduct process. During the preliminary conference, the SRR office or designee will:

(a) Review the written list of allegations with the respondent;

(b) Inform the respondent who is bringing the complaint against them;

(d) Explain the respondent's rights under the student code;

(e) Explain the conduct review procedures;

(f) Explain the respondent's and complainant's rights and responsibilities in the conduct review process; and

(g) Explain possible penalties under the student conduct code.

(6) Prehearing conference. Following the preliminary conference, the case will be referred to the CRO and the CRO will arrange for a prehearing conference with the parties. The purpose of the prehearing conference is for the CRO to explain what will occur for during the full hearing process, to schedule a date for the full hearing, and to address any preliminary matters or motions. Following the prehearing conference, the CRO shall schedule the hearing and notify the respondent with the date, time, and location of the hearing. The director of SRR shall also notify the complainant of the date, time, and location of the hearing in writing as well as any other details required by RCW 34.05.434. The notice will include information about how to request accommodations or interpreters for any parties or witnesses. The notice of hearing must be served on the respondent and complainant at least seven business days prior to the hearing. The CRO may coordinate with the parties to facilitate scheduling, but is not required to do so.

(7) Evidence.

(a) Evidence: Pertinent records, exhibits and written statements may be accepted as information for consideration by the CRO in accordance with RCW 34.05.452. Any investigation conducted by the university will be admitted into evidence. Evidence, including hearsay evidence, is admissible if in the judgment of the CRO it is the kind of evidence on which reasonably prudent persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of their affairs. The CRO shall exclude evidence that is excludable on constitutional or statutory grounds or on the basis of evidentiary privilege recognized by Washington courts. The CRO may exclude incompetent, irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious material. If not inconsistent with this section, the CRO shall refer to the Washington rules of evidence as guidelines for evidentiary rulings.

(b) The respondent and complainant have the right to view all material presented during the course of the hearing, except a respondent's previous disciplinary history which shall be used solely for the purpose of determining the appropriate sanction.

(c) All testimony of parties and witnesses shall be made under oath or affirmation. Any interpreter shall be proscribed the oath set forth in WAC 10-08-160.

(d) Documentary evidence may be received in the form of copies or excerpts, or by incorporation by reference.

(e) Official notice may be taken of (i) any easily verifiable facts such as dates or weather conditions, (ii) technical or scientific facts within EWU's specialized knowledge, such as enrollment status or class schedules, and (iii) codes or standards that have been adopted by an agency of the United States, of this state or of another state, or by a nationally recognized organization or association. Parties shall be notified either before or during hearing, or by reference in preliminary reports or otherwise, of the material so noticed and the sources thereof, including any staff memoranda and data, and they shall be afforded an opportunity to contest the facts and material so noticed. A party proposing that official notice be taken may be required to produce a copy of the material to be noticed.

(f) All rulings upon objections to the admissibility of evidence shall be made in accordance with the provisions of RCW 34.05.452.

(8) Discovery. Discovery is not permitted under the code, except for requests for documentary information from the university. Either party may request the university to produce relevant documents as long as such request is submitted at least five business days prior to the hearing, absent extenuating circumstances. If the CRO determines the request is not relevant to the present allegation, the CRO may deny the request. The university will provide the requested information prior to the hearing to the extent permitted by state and federal law.

(9) Subpoenas.

(a) Subpoenas shall be issued and enforced, and witness fees paid, as provided in RCW 34.05.446 and 5.56.010.

(b) Every subpoena shall identify the party causing issuance of the subpoena and shall state EWU's name and the title of the proceeding and shall command the person to whom it is directed to attend and give testimony or produce designated books, documents, or things under his or her control.

(i) A subpoena to a person to provide testimony at a hearing shall specify the time and place set for hearing.

(ii) A subpoena duces tecum requesting a person to produce designated books, documents, or things under his or her control shall specify a time and place for producing the books, documents, or things. That time and place may be the time and place set for the hearing, or another reasonably convenient time and place in advance of the hearing.

(c) A subpoena may be served by any suitable person over eighteen years of age, by exhibiting and reading it to the witness, or by giving him or her a copy thereof, or by leaving such copy at the place of his or her abode. When service is made by any other person than an officer authorized to serve process, proof of service shall be made by affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury.

(d) The CRO, upon motion by a party or at his or her own discretion, may (i) quash or modify the subpoena if it is unreasonable and oppressive or (ii) condition denial of the motion upon advancement by the person in whose behalf the subpoena is issued of the reasonable cost of producing the books, papers, documents, or tangible things. Subpoenas may not be used to threaten or intimidate parties or witnesses.

(10) Summary judgment. A motion for summary judgment may be granted and an order issued if the written record shows that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

(11) Witnesses.

(a) The complainant, respondent, investigator, and CRO may present witnesses at full hearings.

(b) The party who wishes to call a witness is responsible for ensuring that the witness is available and present at the time of the hearing. An attorney may subpoena a witness to appear at the hearing. Nonattorneys may request the CRO to subpoena witnesses in accordance with subsection (4) of this section. The CRO has the discretion to deny a request to issue a subpoena or to quash a subpoena issued by an attorney if the subpoena is unreasonable and oppressive.

(c) The CRO may exclude witnesses from the hearing room when they are not testifying. The CRO is not required to take the testimony of all witnesses called by the parties if such testimony may be inappropriate, irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious.

(d) All parties have the right to hear all testimony provided by witnesses during the hearing.

(e) The parties should inform the CRO of any possible need for an interpreter or any accommodation requests at least five business days prior to the hearing. The CRO will comply with WAC 10-08-150.

(12) Questioning:

(a) The complainant, the respondent, and their advisors may ask questions of each other or of any witnesses, except cross-examination questions for another party must be submitted in writing to the CRO. The CRO may ask such questions, but is not required to do so. The CRO may preclude any questions which he/she considers inappropriate, irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious or may require that all questions be submitted to the CRO rather than allowing the parties to directly question witnesses. The CRO will explain to the parties the reason for rejecting any questions and will maintain a record of the questions submitted and rulings made.

(b) The CRO may ask their own questions of any witness called before them.

(13) The CRO may accommodate concerns for personal safety, well-being, or fears of confrontation of any person appearing at the hearing by providing separate facilities, or by permitting participation by telephone, audio tape, video conferencing, or other means, as determined appropriate, subject to subsection (3)(b) of this section.

(14) Deliberations and sanctions. Following the hearing, the CRO will determine whether, by a preponderance of the evidence, the respondent violated the student conduct code based on the evidence presented at the hearing. If a student fails to appear, the CRO shall make a decision based on the information available. If the CRO determines the respondent violated the student conduct code, the CRO shall then decide what sanctions shall be imposed. The CRO may review the respondent's previous disciplinary history for purposes of determining the appropriate sanction. The CRO shall issue a decision including his/her findings, conclusions, and rationale. The decision shall address credibility issues if credibility or witness demeanor was a substantial factor in the CRO's decision. The findings shall be based exclusively on the evidence provided at the hearing. Such decisions should be issued within seven business days from the date of the hearing. The written decision shall also:

(a) Be correctly captioned identifying EWU and the name of the proceeding;

(b) Designate all parties and representatives participating in the proceeding;

(d) Contain appropriate numbered conclusions of law, including citations of statutes and rules relied upon;

(e) Contain an initial or final order disposing of all contested issues;

(f) Contain a statement describing the available posthearing remedies.

(15) Notification to the respondent. The director of SRR shall serve the respondent with a copy of the decision and notice of the right to appeal.

(16) Notification to the complainant. In cases of sexual misconduct, the complainant shall be provided with written notice of:

(a) The university's determination as to whether sexual misconduct occurred;

(b) The complainant's right to appeal;

(c) Any change to the results that occurs prior to the time that such results become final and when such results become final (20 U.S.C. 1092(f));

(d) Information regarding the discipline of the respondent will not be released unless:

(i) The information contained in the record directly relates to the complainant, such as an order requiring the student harasser to not contact the complainant; or

(ii) The misconduct involves a crime of violence or a sexual assault, including rape, relationship violence, domestic violence or stalking as defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 13925(a).

PDFWAC 172-121-122

Full hearing procedures.