Summary suspension is a temporary exclusion from specified college premises or denial of access to all activities or privileges for which a respondent might otherwise be eligible, while an investigation and/or formal disciplinary procedures are pending. The conduct review officer may impose a summary suspension if there is probable cause to believe that the respondent has violated any provision of the student code of conduct; presents an immediate danger to the health, safety, or welfare of members of the college community; or poses an ongoing threat of substantial disruption of, or interference with, the operations of the college.
(1) Notice. Any respondent who has been summarily suspended shall be served by the conduct review officer with oral or written notice of the summary suspension. If oral notice is given, a written notification shall be served on the respondent within two business days of the oral notice. The written notification shall be entitled notice of summary suspension and shall include the reasons for imposing the summary suspension, including a description of the conduct giving rise to the summary suspension and reference to the provisions of the student code of conduct or the law allegedly violated; the date, time, and location when the respondent must appear before the conduct review officer for a hearing on the summary suspension; and the conditions, if any, under which the respondent may physically access the campus or communicate with members of the campus community. If the respondent has been trespassed from the campus, a notice against trespass shall be included warning the respondent that their privilege to enter into or remain on college premises has been withdrawn, and that the respondent shall be considered trespassing and subject to arrest for criminal trespass if they enter the college campus other than to meet with the student conduct officer, conduct review officer, or to attend a disciplinary hearing.
(2) Hearing. The conduct review officer (CRO) shall conduct a hearing on the summary suspension as soon as practicable after imposition of the summary suspension. During the summary suspension hearing, the issue before the conduct review officer is whether there is probable cause to believe that the summary suspension should be continued pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings and/or whether the summary suspension should be less restrictive in scope. The respondent shall be afforded an opportunity to explain why summary suspension should not be continued while disciplinary proceedings are pending or why the summary suspension should be less restrictive in scope. If the respondent fails to appear at the designated hearing time, the CRO may order that the summary suspension remain in place pending the conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings. As soon as practicable following the hearing, the CRO shall issue a written decision which shall include a brief explanation for any decision continuing and/or modifying the summary suspension and notice of any right to appeal. To the extent permissible under applicable law, the CRO shall provide a copy of the decision to all persons or offices who may be bound or protected by it.
(3) Sexual misconduct. In cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct outside of the Title IX definition, the complainant shall be notified by the conduct review officer that a summary suspension has been imposed on the same day that the summary suspension notice is served on the respondent. The college will also provide the complainant with timely notice of any subsequent changes to the summary suspension order.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
34.05.250 and
28B.50.140. WSR 22-18-029, § 132T-100-350, filed 8/29/22, effective 9/29/22.]