(1) Code of student rights and responsibilities proceedings may be instituted and carried out without regard to any criminal or civil litigation or external processes with which the student may be involved. Issuance of a determination of responsibility or required resolution and sanction(s) by the student conduct official or appeal panel will not be subject to change because criminal charges or civil litigation from the same facts resulting in an allegation of violation of the code were dismissed, reduced, or resolved in favor of or against the respondent.

(2) If a respondent charged with misconduct under this code has been charged with a crime for the same act or closely related acts by federal, state, or local authorities, or if it appears that such criminal charge is under consideration, the respondent may petition the senior college official or designee to postpone action on the complaint until there has been a disposition of the criminal charge or of the consideration of filing such charge. The senior college official or designee has the discretion to grant or deny the request.

(3) When a respondent is charged by federal, state, or local authorities with a violation of law, the college will not request or agree to special consideration for the individual because of their status as a student. If the alleged criminal offense is also being addressed under the code, the college may advise off-campus authorities of the existence of the code and how such matters are typically handled within the college community.