Conduct Processes

When a student is alleged to have violated one of the college’s policies, there are three processes by which a student’s case may be heard:

• Administrative Hearing
• Community Standards Council
• Honor Council

These three processes exist to ensure that there is diversity of thought when addressing alleged misconduct. These three processes exist under the purview of the Director of Community Standards or their designee, and they are authorized by the Dean of Students. The Director of Community Standards may, in their complete discretion, designate which process an alleged violation of student conduct policy be addressed by.

All student conduct processes, while slightly different in nature, abide by the same standard of proof – a preponderance of the evidence, or “more likely than not”- to determine whether a student did or did not violate College policy.

It is critical to keep in mind that a student conduct process is intentionally different from a legal process. The student conduct process is meant to be educational and embraces a philosophy of student development. The student conduct process is not bound by court timelines, external rules of evidence, confrontational discourse, or the burden of proof “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Given that the student conduct process is not the same as the legal or criminal court process, students who participate in one of the College’s conduct processes are not permitted to bring legal counsel into an administrative hearing, Community Standards Council hearing, or Honor Council hearing. Any advice or assistance a student requests from legal counsel must be obtained prior to the conduct process.

Administrative Hearing

When a case is addressed through the Administrative Hearing process, the staff member adjudicating the matter will send the student a charge letter via their Rhodes email address, informing them of the alleged policy violation(s) and sharing the date, time, and location of the hearing. Students typically have three business days to respond to this notification. 

A student may request a written report from the conduct educator for their records. Students also have the opportunity to produce the names of any witnesses who may be important to include in the hearing process.

What does it mean to have an Administrative Hearing?

At the hearing, the student has an opportunity to share their story and address the alleged policy violation(s) they have been charged with.

The hearing process is laid out as follows:

1. The student shares their opening statement.
2. The student reviews the incident report and any supplemental documentation pertaining to the incident.
3. The student provides their narrative about what took place during the incident.
4. The Director of Community Standards asks the student questions relevant to the incident and their narrative of events.
5. The student shares their closing statement.
6. The Director of Community Standards concludes the hearing and deliberates on the outcome.

After the hearing has ended, the student will receive a decision letter via their Rhodes email address, informing them of the outcome, whether or not they have been found responsible, and if they have been found responsible, what the sanctions will be. If the student is dissatisfied with the hearing outcome, they can submit an appeal, and instructions on the right to an appeal are included in the decision letter.

Community Standards Council

The Director of Community Standards reviews all violations of alleged misconduct to determine which procedure is the most appropriate by which to hear the case. In general, violations of College policy that are not academic misconduct and that are not addressed by administrative hearing will be adjudicated by the Community Standards Council.

The Community Standards Council was formed as a student body that would hold their peers accountable while promoting “responsible, sensitive, and mature conduct among students” and also maintaining an educational lens.

The students who serve on the Community Standards Council follow a specific set of guidelines under their constitution.

What does it mean to appear before the Community Standards Council?

Students who are alleged to have violated College policy that warrants Community Standards Council action will receive an email to their Rhodes email address, indicating what the alleged policy violation is.

The President of the Community Standards Council will appoint a member of the Council to investigate the alleged violation. This Council member will interview the alleged student, as well as any other witnesses who may be relevant to the investigation.

If sufficient evidence is found during the investigation to move to a full Community Standards Council hearing, the student will be notified via their Rhodes email address and informed of their rights and given notice as to when the hearing will be held. A member of the Community Standards Council will meet with the student to prepare them for the hearing in advance. A full explanation of the Community Standards Council hearing procedures can be found in the Community Standards Council Constitution under Judicial Procedures.

Honor Council

In general, alleged violations of College policy that pertain to academic misconduct are adjudicated by the Rhodes College Honor Council.

The Honor Council’s purview stems from philosophy behind the Honor Code: “As a member of the Rhodes community, I pledge I will not lie, cheat, or steal, and that I will report any such violation that I may witness.”

The greater Honor System was instituted at Rhodes College well before the turn of the century. Throughout the history of the College, emphasis has been placed on a true spirit of honor and integrity. The Honor System, perpetuated by the students of Rhodes themselves, was one of the institutions brought to Memphis, Tennessee when the College moved here in 1925. The Honor Code is the constitutional document which governs and reflects the Honor System itself. The Honor Code has been revised and changed throughout the years, but the underlying tenets of honor and trust remain unchanged.

The Honor System at Rhodes is a tradition, an inheritance, and an opportunity all in one. It is a tradition because it is and has been a valued possession of Rhodes students since the early days of the College. It is an inheritance because each entering class receives it from the previous class as a gift to be cherished and respected. And above all, it is an opportunity because it allows the fullest possible expression of individual life in harmony with community life.

Within the Honor System, Rhodes students have found a moral ideal by which to guide their actions. This idea is absolute honesty to oneself and to others in all aspects of life. It is not only a guide for college life; it is also a principle which Rhodes students believe to be fundamental in ethical life, both during and after college.

The objective of the Honor System is the spiritual, moral, and intellectual development of the individual student, which is promoted and encourage by the freedom and responsibility the student gains by virtue of living within the Honor System. Students are personally responsible for their work, their actions, and their word. Because these actions take place in a larger community, students have a responsibility to that community. Students must protect their freedom by encouraging adherence to the Honor Code and by reporting any violations of which they are aware. In order to preserve an atmosphere of honor and trust at Rhodes, it is necessary for the Honor Council to act upon any cases of dishonesty in connection with academic life. All members of the Rhodes community must fulfill their responsibilities to the Honor System. This process of cooperation is vital to Rhodes College’s success.

The students who serve on the Honor Council follow a specific set of guidelines under their constitution. 

What does it mean to appear before the Honor Council?

Students who are alleged to have violated the College’s academic misconduct policy will receive an email to their Rhodes email address, indicating what the alleged policy violation is.

The President of the Honor Council will appoint a member of the Council to investigate the alleged violation. This Council member will interview the alleged student, as well as any other witnesses who may be relevant to the investigation.

If sufficient evidence is found during the investigation to move to a full Honor Council hearing, the student will be notified via their Rhodes email address and informed of their rights and given notice as to when the hearing will be held. A member of the Honor Council will meet with the student to prepare them for the hearing in advance. A full explanation of the Honor Council hearing procedures can be found in the Honor Council Constitution under Judicial Procedures.

Appeals Process 

Students have the right to submit an appeal following the outcome of their adjudication process. Appeals must be made in writing and should be directed to the Dean of Students or another appropriate appellate officer who will be named in the decision letter. 

The appeal letter must be written by the student, and not another individual or party. This letter must specify the basis for the appeal. Appeals will be considered based on the supporting documents provided by the student, and may be requested on one of three grounds: 

1. The student believes that hearing procedure was not followed. 

2. The student believes the sanctions imposed were inappropriate for the violation of College policy; 

3. The student has new and relevant information, sufficient to alter the decision, that was unknown or unavailable to them at the time of the original hearing 

Attempted appeals that are not based on any of the grounds listed above may be dismissed without further meeting or action. 

Students have four (4) business days from the date their decision letter was sent to submit an appeal. 

The appellate officer/committee may determine that, in addition to the documentation received, interviews are warranted to gather more information about the appeal.  

After reviewing the appeal documentation/information, the appellate officer/committee may either: 

• Administrative: uphold the original decision and/or sanction, or may choose to render a new decision and/or sanction.  
• Community Standards Council: sustain the decision of the Council or recommend that the Council reconsider its decision or sanction(s). 
• Honor Council Council: sustain the decision of the Honor Council or return the case to the Honor Council for reconsideration with remarks and suggestions. 

An appeal may not result in a more severe sanction for the accused student. 

The decision of the appellate officer is final the Administrative Hearing process is final. The decision of the Community Standards Council after recommendation of reconsideration from the CSC Appeal Committee is final. The decision of the Honor Council after recommendation of reconsideration from the Faculty Appeal Committee is final.  

If a student elects to file an appeal, pending a decision from the appellate officer/committee, the student may continue to attend their courses and participate in College life as usual, unless they are under interim removal from campus. Additional limitations on personal contact and/or participation in College-related events or activities may be imposed while the appeal is pending. 

Interim measures 

In some circumstances, it may be necessary to remove a student, student organization, club, or team from an educational, residential, or College-sanctioned setting pending the outcome of a student conduct investigation or administrative hearing. This process may be initiated by the Vice President for Student Life or their designee. These interim measures are called an interim administrative hold. 

An interim administrative hold may be used for a definite period of time only: 

1. To preserve the safety and well-being of members of the College community or preservation of College property; 

2. To preserve the student’s own physical or emotional safety and well-being; 

3. If the student poses a threat of disruption or of interference with the function of the College 

During an interim administrative hold, a student may be denied access to the residence halls and/or to campus (including classes) and/or all other College activities and privileges for which the student might otherwise be eligible. Student organizations, clubs, or teams will be denied privileges for which that organization, club, or team might otherwise be eligible. The conditions of the interim administrative hold will be outlined for the student in a letter they receive to their Rhodes email address. 

An interim administrative hold may be appealed to the Vice President for Student Life or their designee by the date stated in the hold letter. 

Important Information Regarding Student Conduct and Legal Counsel

Legal counsel retained by an Accused student or any other person participating in the hearing shall not attend any conduct hearing (Administrative, Honor Council, or Community Standards Council).  Any advice or assistance requested of legal counsel by a student must be obtained prior to the hearing.  Rhodes College reserves the right to admit legal counsel in a conduct hearing at its sole discretion.  

A student that is the subject of a pending College investigation may be ineligible to graduate from the College until the investigation is resolved.