VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

4. All persons interviewed by the panel shall also be informed that the student has only been accused of an infraction and may or may not be guilty and that the interview should in no way be considered as insinuating guilt. The Investigative Panel shall also inform all people interviewed that the interview is confidential and shall have each person interviewed sign an agreement to remain confidential. 5. Upon completion of the Investigation, the Chair shall convene the Executive Committee of the Honor Code Council and the Investigative Panel to determine if a full Honor Code Hearing (HCH) is warranted. A quorum of not less than three members of the Executive Committee and one member of the Investigative Panel shall be present at this meeting. The Executive Committee of the Honor Code Committee may deem any of the following: a. A full Honor Code Hearing is warranted; b. A full Honor Code Hearing is not warranted, but a warning is issued to the student by the HCC that outlines the behaviors and that the behaviors are being viewed as unprofessional or unethical by classmates and that continuing such behaviors shall result in an HCH; or c. The allegation is without evidence to warrant a full Honor Code Hearing. 6. The Campus Dean or the Provost may immediately elevate any severe suspected violation of the VCOM Honor Code to the Professional and Ethical Standards Board at any time. Honor Code Hearing Upon recommendation by the Honor Code Council Executive Committee, a full Honor Code Council will be convened for an Honor Code Hearing. A. Quorum . The members present for the Honor Code Hearing must include the Chair or the Vice Chair and at least seven additional members of the Council. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall serve as the acting chair with all the associated duties for that meeting. B. Receipt . The Chair, upon the vote of the Executive Committee of the Honor Code Council that a hearing is warranted, shall convene an Honor Code Hearing. C. Notifications and Gathering of further evidence. The Chair will: 1. Send a Notification of the hearing date to the accused and any witnesses the panel wishes to include. 2. Collect a written Statement of Defense (SOD) from the accused. 3. Collect written Statements of Response to all questions deemed as evidence for the hearing (prior to the hearing) from all witnesses. 4. Notify the accused of his/her obligation to not converse or interfere with any witnesses or the interference shall be deemed as evidence of guilt. D. The Chair or Vice Chair will open a case by presenting the report from the Investigative Panel. The panel shall be recorded in its entirety by the Recorder and converted into a summary document following the meeting as final minutes. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs shall review the minutes to assure College policy is followed and provide final approval for the minutes. The recording is then destroyed, and the Chair shall sign the minutes, which shall be kept for a period of not less than five years in the office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. E. Deliberations of the Honor Code Council. 1. The Chair will convene the panel and introduce the panel members.

2. The Reporter may make an opening statement summarizing the accusation. 3. The Investigative Panel shall present the facts and written statements collected. 4. The accused may make an opening statement summarizing his/her explanation. 5. Any witnesses deemed necessary by the Investigative Panel shall be called in to present the accusations. 6. There shall be an open time in which all parties present may ask questions to clarify the facts presented. 7. The Reporter shall make a closing statement summarizing the accusation.

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