(1) An initial decision is subject to review by the president or designee, provided a party files a written request for review with the conduct review officer within ten days of service of the initial decision.
(2) The president or designee shall not participate in any case in which he or she is a complainant or witness, or in which they have direct or personal interest, prejudice, or bias, or in which they have acted previously in an advisory capacity.
(3) During the review, the president or designee shall give all parties an opportunity to file written responses explaining their view of the matter and shall make any inquiries necessary to ascertain whether the sanctions should be modified or whether the proceedings should be referred to the student conduct committee for a formal adjudicative hearing.
(4) The decision on review must be in writing and must include a brief statement of the reasons for the decision and must be served on the parties within twenty days of the initial decision or of the request for review, whichever is later. The decision on review will contain a notice that judicial review may be available. A request for review may be deemed to have been denied if the president or designee does not make a disposition of the matter within twenty days after the request is submitted.
(5) If the president or designee upon review determines that the respondent's conduct may warrant imposition of a disciplinary suspension of more than ten instructional days or expulsion, the matter shall be referred to the student conduct committee for a disciplinary hearing.
(6) In cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct, the president, on the same date as the final decision is served on the respondent, will serve a written notice upon the complainant informing the complainant whether the allegations of sexual misconduct were found to have merit and describing any disciplinary sanctions and/or conditions imposed upon the respondent for the complainant's protection, including suspension or dismissal of the respondent. The notice will also inform the complainant of their appeal rights.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
28B.50.140. WSR 21-20-017, § 132N-126-120, filed 9/23/21, effective 10/24/21.]