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Hearing Resources & More Information

Types of Hearings

There are three types of hearings that a student participating in the formal process can choose between. More information about each of these can be found below.

Administrative Hearing

  • Administrative hearings are conducted by the Independent Hearing Officer, who shall act as the hearing body and make a determination regarding the alleged violation(s).
  • The hearing body is made up of one person, the Independent Hearing Officer, a staff member at the University.
  • The Independent Hearing Officer has the opportunity to ask the student and the Center for Student Conduct any questions based on the information that is presented.
  • The Independent Hearing Officer makes determinations on procedural and evidentiary issues at the hearing.
  • Both the student and the Center for Student Conduct will have an opportunity to present witnesses for questioning, if they’d like.
  • If a student is found responsible, the Independent Hearing Officer will make a recommendation of sanctions to the Dean of Students. The Dean will review and the recommendation and determine whether the recommendation is appropriate.
  • More information about this type of hearing can be found on the Administrative Hearing Outline Handout (PDF).

Panel Hearing

  • These cases are presented to hearing panels comprised of members of the Committee on Student Conduct, which act as the hearing body and make a determination regarding the alleged violation(s).
  • These members are a group of faculty, staff, and students.
  • The hearing body is comprised of 3-5 members of the Committee.
  • The panel members have the opportunity to ask the student and the Center for Student Conduct any questions based on the information that is presented.
  • Panel hearings are convened and managed by the Independent Hearing Officer.
  • The Independent Hearing Officer makes determinations on procedural and evidentiary issues at the hearing.
  • Both the student and the Center for Student Conduct will have an opportunity to present witnesses for questioning, if they’d like.
  • If a student is found responsible, the panel will make a recommendation of sanctions to the Dean of Students. The Dean will review and the recommendation and determine whether the recommendation is appropriate.
  • More information about this type of hearing can be found on the Panel Hearing Outline Handout (PDF).

Sanctioning Hearing

  • Either a Panel Hearing or Administrative Hearing can be adjusted to accommodate a Sanctioning Hearing. The responding student will have the choice between these two options for their Sanctioning Hearing.
  • To qualify for a Sanctioning Hearing, a student must affirmatively accept resposibility for the alleged behavior and policy violations.
  • If a student has requested a hearing, but only disagrees with the sanctions assigned by the Center for Student Conduct, they can request a hearing that is limited to a discussion of the recommended sanctions.
  • A Sanctioning Hearing skips over the Presentation of Information section of the Hearing and proceeds straight to a discussion on appropriate sanctions.
  • The hearing body will make a recommendation of sanctions to the Dean of Students. The Dean will review and the recommendation and determine whether the recommendation is appropriate.
  • More information about this type of hearing can be found on the Sanctioning Hearing Outline Handout (PDF).

Other Resources

Third Parties at a Hearing

  • Students participating in the hearing process are able to have an advisor and support person present with them at the hearing.
  • More information about this can be found on the Third Party Handout (PDF).

Pre-Hearing Procedures

  • After a student decides they want to participate in a formal hearing, there are pre-hearing procedures that occur before the hearing itself.
  • More information about these procedures can be found on the Pre-Hearing Procedures Handout (PDF).

The information found on this page is not a formal part of the UC Berkeley Code of Student Conduct. The information found here should be considered one of many resources available to students when navigating the student conduct process.