A-to-Z Index

Frequently Asked Questions


  1. Can my parent serve as a character witness or attorney at my hearing?

    An accused student's parents can act as a character witness but not as a lawyer for their son or daughter.


  2. How long will the hearing take?

    A Judicial Council Hearing can last as short as a half hour or could last as long as several hours. Once the witnesses have provided information to the board they are free to leave unless the board requests they remain. However, the accused student is asked to remain through the entirety of the hearing.


  3. When will I know the Council's Decision?

    The Council will notify you of their decision at the conclusion of your Judicial Council Hearing.


  4. What does the Council know about my previous case history?

    The Council will not have access to your previous case history unless they find you responsible for the judicial charge(s). At that time they will use your previous case history to determine the appropriate judicial sanction(s) for you.


  5. What if my witness can't be there for the hearing?

    Your witness may submit a written statement in lieu of being present at the council hearing. You can either bring 7 copies of this statement to your hearing or you can provide it to the Judicial Coordinator 48 hours prior to your hearing.


  6. Who will be on the Judicial Council?

    For a minor board, there will be 3 student board members and a non-voting faculty/staff chair. For a major board, there will be 3 student & 3 faculty/staff board members and a non-voting faculty/staff chair. All of the board members have been trained by the Office of Judicial Affairs on our policies and procedures.


  7. Who should I contact with questions about the council hearing process?

    You can contact the Judicial Council Coordinator or the Associate Director for Council at 540-568-6218.


  8. Can Judicial Council give me more sanctions than I received from my first hearing officer?

    Yes. When you go to council you are stating that you want your case re-heard. The council members will not know what your first hearing officer gave you as a sanction. Therefore, they could do the same thing the original hearing officer did, less sanctioning, or more sanctioning. It is important to consider this when going to council; you will NOT be able to revert back to the original hearing officer’s decision once you have gone through the council process.