VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Professional and Ethical Standards Board (PESB)

The Professional and Ethical Standards Board (PESB) shall be convened if the Honor Code Council either determines a Category II or Category III violation of the Honor Code has occurred, or if the Campus Dean or Provost recommends suspension or expulsion. A PESB may also be convened if the Campus Dean or Provost determines a suspected violation warrants a direct referral to the PESB, instead of the Honor Code Council. Upon the initiative of the Campus Dean or at the request of any member of the faculty or administration, the Campus Dean will designate a representative from administration to act on his/her behalf to conduct an investigation. If reasonable probability exists from that investigation that a violation has occurred, the Campus Dean may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student. If a member of the faculty or administration orally requests an initiation of disciplinary proceedings, the oral request must be confirmed in writing within 72 hours. In determining whether disciplinary action is warranted, the Campus Dean and his/her representative from administration may conduct an informal investigation of the matter, which may include, but is not limited to, interviewing the affected student(s). If the Campus Dean determines that disciplinary action is warranted, the PESB shall be convened. Notice of Possible Suspension While Under Review Pending a formal review of the case, if the Campus Dean or his/her representative determines that the presence of the alleged offender would be disruptive to the school or would endanger the institution, patients, or the public, the Campus Dean or representative may suspend the student in question from the institution until all appropriate information is obtained. Choices for Review by the PESB, Three-Person Panel, or Campus Dean When notified of the need for a PESB, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs will notify the student that a student, in lieu of a formal PESB review, may elect to have the matter heard by a Three-person Panel appointed by the Campus Dean or may request that the matter be heard and decided solely by the Campus Dean. The Dean may then accept or not accept the responsibility to hear the case solely by him/herself. If the Dean determines that he or she is not comfortable hearing the case solely, then the student must choose between having the case heard by the three person panel or the full PESB. If the student fails to respond within five calendar days as to their choice for review, the Campus Dean shall decide whether the matter will be reviewed by the PESB or a three-person panel. As the review of a case by the PESB, Three-person Panel, or Campus Dean and the appeals process is an academic proceeding and not a legal proceeding, legal counsel is not allowed in the sessions. If a student believes a legal proceeding is warranted, this must be done through an outside court system. A member of the Professional and Ethical Standards Board must recuse themselves from the presentation, deliberation, and vote about a student with whom they have a conflict of interest by notifying the committee chair. Prior to the student's presentation at the Professional and Ethical Standards Board, if the student identifies a conflict of interest with any member of the committee, that committee member must recuse themselves from the presentation, deliberation, and vote about the student. Notice of Review by the PESB, Three-Person Panel, or Campus Dean The PESB Chair, Chair of the Three-person Panel, or the Campus Dean shall give written notice of alleged misconduct to the alleged offender at least five calendar days prior to the date of the proceedings, unless the student agrees in writing to an earlier date. The notice shall set forth the following information: the time and date of the review and a clear and concise statement of the behavior that is alleged to constitute misconduct. The notice shall state that the student has the right to present testimony and up to four witnesses on their behalf. The notice shall

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