If you are going to have an Administrative Conference, Academic Integrity Review, or University Hearing, you should prepare to present your case. Before the meeting, you should:
- Obtain a Campus Advisor.
- Provide the Office of Student Conduct with the names of your Campus Advisor and support person, if any.
- If you are the accused student, and would like someone (such as a family member or attorney) to have access to information about the case, submit a release form (available at https://bit.ly/RutgersDisciplinaryRelease) to the Office of Student Conduct.
- Contact the Office of Student Conduct (conduct@echo.rutgers.edu) to review the case file.
- Review the investigation report, which is included in the case file.
- Develop a list of evidence that helps to prove your version of events. Provide this list and copies of your evidence to the Office of Student Conduct by the submission deadline.
- Prepare your witnesses and submit your witness list to the Office of Student Conduct by the submission deadline.
- If you plan to make a statement in your defense, prepare a narrative. This is a full, detailed description of the incident in question and your version of events. You will introduce your evidence and witnesses when you present your narrative.
- Anticipate what the opposing party might say and prepare questions for them that will bring out information supporting your case.
- If your case will be heard at a University Hearing, prepare a closing statement (optional). This is a brief summary of the information you have presented and the conclusions you want the board to draw.
- In the event that the accused student is found responsible, the Hearing Board or decision-maker will determine a sanction. Prepare a statement recommending an appropriate sanction. If you are the accused student, you may wish to obtain written statements from character witnesses.* These statements may be introduced during the sanctioning portion of the meeting. If you are the complainant, you may introduce a victim impact statement.
* A character witness provides information about the accused student's background and character.
