March 12, 2016

(Educators)A newly updated guide to help college students wade through the murky waters of campus disciplinary procedures has been released by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

I suggest every current and incoming college student read the guide in order to be prepared for the (hopefully) unlikely accusation of misconduct. The guide includes basic information about one's rights as a college student -- not just in cases involving sexual assault, but also those pertaining to free speech and academic records.

From the guide:

“A common misconception is that due process protections apply only in the context of criminal trials. In fact, these constitutional provisions guarantee that the federal and state governments, respectively, may not deprive any person 'of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.' In the educational context, your interest in your diploma and in the value of a clear academic record establishes a property right, and your interest in your reputation and good name establishes a liberty right.”

The guide explains that, students going through the disciplinary process are "entitled to have (1) notices of the charges against them, (2) an explanation of the evidence against them, and (3) an opportunity to tell their side of the story.