Section 495A-121-063 - Appeals of disciplinary actionFor complaints involving alleged violations of Title IX refer to chapter 495A-115 WAC. For other disciplinary actions:
(1) The respondent may appeal a disciplinary action by filing a written notice of appeal with the conduct review officer within ten days of service of the student conduct officer's decision. Failure to timely file a notice of appeal constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal, and the student conduct officer's decision is deemed final.(2) The notice of appeal must include a brief statement explaining why the respondent is seeking review.(3) The parties to an appeal are the respondent and the conduct review officer.(4) A respondent who appeals a disciplinary action within the ten days of service or whose case is referred to the student/faculty disciplinary committee has a right to a prompt, fair, and impartial hearing as provided for in these procedures.(5) On appeal the college bears the burden of establishing the evidentiary facts underlying the imposition of a disciplinary sanction by a preponderance of the evidence.(6) Imposition of disciplinary action for violation of the student conduct code will be delayed pending appeal, unless the respondent has been summarily suspended.(7) The student/faculty disciplinary committee shall hear appeals from:(a) The imposition of disciplinary suspensions in excess of ten days;(c) Discipline cases referred to the committee by the student conduct officer, the conduct review officer, or the president.(8) Student conduct appeals from the imposition of the following disciplinary sanctions shall be reviewed through a brief adjudicative proceeding: (a) Suspensions of ten days or less;(b) Disciplinary probation;(c) Written reprimands; and(d) Any conditions or terms imposed in conjunction with one of the foregoing disciplinary actions.(9) Except as provided elsewhere in these rules, disciplinary warnings and dismissals of disciplinary actions are final action and are not subject to appeal.(10) Brief adjudicative proceedings and the initial hearing shall be conducted by a conduct review officer. The conduct review officer will not participate in any case in which: (a) The individual is involved as a complainant or witness;(b) There is direct or personal interest, prejudice, or bias; or(c) The conduct review officer has taken previous actions in an advisory capacity.(11) The parties to a brief adjudicative proceeding are the respondent and the college, represented by the student conduct officer. Before taking action, the conduct review officer will conduct an informal hearing and provide the party:(a) An opportunity to be informed of the college's view of the matter; and(b) An opportunity to explain the party's view of the matter.(12) The conduct review officer will service an initial decision upon both the respondent and the student conduct officer within ten days of the completion of the informal hearing. The initial decision contains a brief written statement of the reasons for the decision and information about how to seek administrative review of the initial decision. If no request for review is filed within ten days of service of the initial decision, the initial decision is deemed the final decision.(13) If upon review the conduct review officer determines that the respondent's conduct may warrant imposition of a disciplinary suspension of more than ten days or dismissal, the matter will be referred to the student/faculty disciplinary committee for a disciplinary hearing.(14) An initial decision from the brief adjudica-tive proceeding is subject to review by the president provided a party files a written request for review with the conduct review officer within ten days of service of the initial decision.(15) The president will not participate in any case in which:(a) They were involved as a complainant or witness;(b) There is direct or personal interest, prejudice or bias; or(c) Previous actions have been taken in an advisory capacity.(16) During the review, the president will give each party an opportunity to file written responses explaining their view of the matter and will make any inquiries necessary to ascertain whether the sanctions should be modified or whether the proceedings should be referred to the student/faculty disciplinary committee for a formal adjudicative hearing.(17) The decision on review must be in writing, must include a brief statement of the reason for the decision, and must be served on the parties within twenty calendar 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. If the president does not make a disposition of the matter within twenty calendar days after the request is submitted, a request for review is deemed denied.(18) If upon review the president determines that the imposed sanctions are insufficient and that the respondent's conduct may warrant imposition of a heightened disciplinary suspension of more than ten days or dismissal, the matter will be referred to the student/faculty disciplinary committee for a disciplinary hearing.Wash. Admin. Code § 495A-121-063
Amended by WSR 19-14-073, Filed 6/30/2019, effective 7/31/2019Amended by WSR 20-24-107, Filed 12/1/2020, effective 1/1/2021Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140(10). 00-11-147, § 495A-121-063, filed 5/24/00, effective 6/24/00.