Yes.

A responding student and/or complainant may elect to be accompanied and counseled by one support person at a College administrative hearing. A support person must be a member of the Springfield College community.

A support person will not be allowed to question witnesses, object to statements or procedures, or to present arguments, and their role shall be limited to quietly and unobtrusively advising only the responding student in whispers or by written note. Any conduct of a support person in violation of these conditions in the opinion of the hearing officer, may result in the immediate removal of that support person, and the continuation of the administrative hearing without the presence of that support person.

Parents, guardians, attorneys, and/or family members of a student, regardless of their relationship with the College, are not permitted to be present at any administrative hearing; however, with the consent of the student, the hearing officer will meet the with parents, guardians, and/or family members to discuss the process and case. Additionally, students and employees who are witnesses to an incident or are involved in the same student conduct matter, cannot serve as a support person.

An administrative hearing may not be postponed or rescheduled based on the availability of a support person.

If a student plans on bringing a support person, they must notify the Office of Community Standards at least 24 hours in advance of their scheduled hearing.

Click HERE to start the process.

If you have a documented disability that significantly impacts your ability to participate in an administrative hearing, you may request a reasonable accommodation to facilitate participation.

The Academic Success Center's Disability and Accessibility Services (DAS) will make a determination regarding the request, will notify the appropriate parties, and will assist in the coordination of auxiliary aids and services, as needed.

Click HERE to make start the process.

Are you a student who?

• Identifies as a non-substance user?

• Is interested in meeting students who identify as non-substance users?

• Is interested in activities that don't involve substances?

• If this describes you - sign up to receive INFORMATION about meeting other students like you!

Contact Community Standards at communitystandards@springfieldcollege.edu or 413-748-3922/3212 with any questions.

Medical Amnesty is when a Springfield College student seeks assistance (by calling the Department of Public Safety or residence life staff member) on behalf of a student, guest, or visitor in need. Medical Amnesty will likewise be granted amnesty provided:

• The caller is a Springfield College student and

• The caller remains with the Springfield College student, guest, or visitor in need until a Public Safety Officer and/or campus official arrives.

This policy applies only to those students who are actively seeking emergency medical assistance in connection with a medical emergency and does not apply to individuals experiencing an alcohol or drug-related medical emergency who are found by employees of the College (e.g., Public Safety, Resident Assistants, other Residence Life staff members, etc.), or where the reporting student(s) did not stay with them. Please note that a Springfield College student who requires medical or staff assistance due to being dangerously intoxicated and/or under the influence of drugs on more than one occasion may be subject to disciplinary action. Students involved in an alcohol and/or drug-related emergency for which amnesty is granted are subject to mandatory educational or developmental interventions. A Springfield College student who summons assistance for a student, guest, or visitor in need will receive amnesty on an ongoing basis consistent with the terms of this policy. The College’s response to these incidents is independent of any action taken by local law enforcement.

You can appeal the outcome of your administrative hearing.

Every student has the right to ask for reconsideration of a decision determined by any Hearing Officer. Appeals are confined to a review of the case file based on one or more of the pertinent grounds for appeal described below. Appeals are not intended to re-hear the allegations or to constitute a denovo review of the case.

Absent clear and material error, appeals determinations are intended to be deferential to the original hearing officer. Findings should be revised by the appeal officer only when returning the case for reconsideration by the original hearing officer or granting a new hearing would be insufficient, impractical, or unnecessary. Sanctions will be revised by the appeal officer only if there is a compelling justification to do so.

• Error in the charge and/or hearing process that would change the outcome (e.g., substantiated bias, material deviation from established procedures, etc.); or

• New information that could not have been discovered prior to the hearing through the exercise of reasonable diligence and that would change the outcome. A summary of this new evidence and its potential impact must be included in the written appeal.

Follow this link to begin the appeal process.

If you received a Spirit, Mind, and Body Sanction you can find the link above - click on Spirit, Mind, or Body.

Community Standards provide students with reflective and developmental opportunities to educate the whole person in spirit, mind, and body to promote student accountability and individualized success. Choose one of the spirit, mind, or body sanctions to fulfill your sanction. Please be mindful of its due date, which can be found in your outcome letter from your hearing officer.

Community Standards staff includes the Director of Community Standards, the Graduate Associate (GA) in Community Standards, all Residence Life staff, and other Campus Life and Community Engagement trained staff.

An administrative hearing is an opportunity for you to share your side of an incident that resulted in an alleged violation.

The purpose of the administrative hearing will be to:

• hear about the incident from the student’s perspective;

• share what information we have received;

• answer the student's questions about the process;

• explain the College’s standard of proof;

• review possible sanctions, and how the hearing officer will notify the student of their decision (the outcome of your hearing) decision letter;

• and discuss future decision-making.