(1) Upon the failure of any party to attend or participate in a hearing, the committee may either (a) proceed with the hearing and issuance of its order or (b) serve an order of default in accordance with RCW 34.05.440.

(2) The hearing will ordinarily be open to the public, as further provided in RCW 34.05.449. However, if the respondent requests that some or all of it be closed, pursuant to WAC 132F-108-070 and 132F-108-080 or otherwise, the chair shall determine any extent to which the hearing will be closed. If any person disrupts the proceedings, the chair may exclude that person from the hearing room.

(3) The chair shall cause the hearing to be recorded by a method that he/she selects, in accordance with RCW 34.05.449. That recording, or a copy, shall be made available to the respondent upon request. The chair shall assure maintenance of the proceeding record that is required by RCW 34.05.476, which shall also be available upon request for inspection and copying by the respondent. Other recording shall also be permitted, in accordance with WAC 10-08-190.

(4) The chair shall preside at the hearing and decide procedural questions that arise during the hearing, except as overridden by majority vote of the committee.

(5) The vice president for student services (unless represented by an attorney) shall present the case for disciplinary action. The facts justifying any such action must be established by a preponderance of the evidence.

(6) All testimony shall be given under oath or affirmation. Evidence shall be admitted or excluded in accordance with RCW 34.05.452.