I have received a letter from SCRS.
What does it mean?
The letter (Link to
Sample Letter in PDF Format) that you have received states that you have been alleged to
have violated one or more of
Texas A&M University’s Student Rules. It states
which rule may have been violated and a brief description of how the rule
may have been violated. The letter also indicates the time, date, and
location of your student conduct conference. It is imperative that you
attend your student conduct conference.
The letter also states that you can contact the SCRS to set up a
student conduct conference information session with a staff member to discuss the SCRS process and
student conduct conference.
Also included is a bookmark that lists
your
rights as a student who is involved with the SCRS process.
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What is a student conduct conference information session?
The SCRS staff, while not mandatory, encourages a student conduct conference information session. This
meeting will give you an opportunity to review your conduct file, meet with
a staff member to discuss your rights, to talk about the student conduct conference process, to
discuss the range of sanctions that may be imposed, and to have your
questions answered.
At the conclusion of the student conduct conference information session a student will be asked if they
choose to accept responsibility or not accept responsibility for their
charge(s). This information will then be forwarded to the student conduct officer
handling the case and used as a starting point for the student’s conduct
conference.
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What are my rights at SCRS?
A bookmark outlining your rights was included with your initial letter
from SCRS.
A list of your rights is also included here from Texas A&M
University’s Student Rules.
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Where did they get the information that
you charged me with?
SCRS receives reports from Residence Life, the Corps of Cadets,
Athletics, the University Police Department, and the community at large.
To view the specific report(s) used in your case, please make arrangements
to come to our office between 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday. No
appointment is necessary to view your file.
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What will happen during my student conduct conference?
The student conduct conference is a time for you to tell your side of the story. In order
for the student conduct officers to make the best decision possible, they need a
full picture of what happened. This is your time to officially respond to
the charges and the evidence in your case file.
When you arrive for your student conduct conference, you will have the opportunity to review
your conduct file if you have not viewed it prior to the student conduct conference. If you
did not have a student conduct conference information session, the staff member(s) who are adjudicating your
case will meet with you to review the charge(s) against you, briefly review
your rights, the range of sanctions that could be imposed, and to answer any
questions that you may have.
You will then have an opportunity to explain your perspective on the
incident that has been documented. You will have a chance to explain what
you agree with, what you disagree with, and to explain your involvement with
the documented incident. The student conduct officer(s) will then have some
questions for you about the incident documented.
You will also have the opportunity to present any witnesses or additional
supporting information that you have pertaining to the incident. (See
witness FAQ for additional information).
You may accept responsibility or deny responsibility for the charges that
have been assigned to your incident. If you deny responsibility, you may be
found responsible by the student conduct officer(s) for the student rule(s)
violation.
If you accept responsibility or are found responsible for the charges
assigned to you, then you will be issued an appropriate sanction for your
involvement.
Your student conduct officer(s) will then conclude the student conduct conference by explaining that
you will receive a follow up letter (Sample
Decision Letter in PDF Format) from the SCRS office reviewing your
incident, the finding(s) of the student conduct conference, your sanction(s) (if any), and the
appeals process.
The student conduct officer(s) will then answer any last questions that you may
have before concluding the student conduct conference.
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How do you decide if I violated one of the
Student Rules?
Texas A&M University uses a standard of evidence called Preponderance of
Evidence to determine if a violation of the Student Rules has occurred.
Preponderance of Evidence means more likely then not. This is a
different, and less strict, standard of evidence, that is used in the
criminal court system. Our student conduct conferences at Texas A&M University are not criminal
proceedings, nor do they follow the same guidelines as a criminal
proceeding.
Another way to think about Preponderance of Evidence is to ask yourself
the questions: Is it more then 50% likely that a Student Rule violation
occurred?
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If I did violate one or more of the Student
Rules, how will I be punished?
There are several factors that are taken into consideration by the
student conduct officer(s) when deterring what an appropriate sanction for a student
is. The student conduct officer(s) will examine the following:
- The nature of the violation
- Previous conduct history
- Aggravating or mitigating circumstances surrounding the violation
- Your motivation for the behavior
- Similar sanctions that have assigned for similar cases
- The developmental and educational impact of the sanction
Please refer to the
Student Rules,
Section 27 for a complete list of sanctions that may be imposed for a
violation of the Student Rules.
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What’s the worst thing that can happen?
In some instances, students are separated from the university. These
sanctions are suspension, dismissal, and expulsion. Examples of behaviors
that may warrant separation are sexual misconduct, physical abuse, hazing,
harassment, drug use and sales, repeat offenders, and weapons. During your
student conduct conference information session you will discover if separation is a possibility for your
behavior.
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If I’ve had previous discipline, is
this going to make it worse for me?
Your previous disciplinary record is not considered in determining
whether or not you have violated a student rule. Previous discipline is only
considered once you have been found responsible or accept responsibility for
a rule violation. You may receive a harsher sanction if you have had
previous discipline.
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Can I have someone with me during my student conduct conference?
Students are permitted to have one advisor present with them during their
student conduct conference. This advisor may be anyone of the students choosing (friend,
faculty member, parent, attorney, clergy). However, this advisor is not
permitted to represent or speak for the student during the student conduct conference. They may
provide advice to the student, but under no circumstances will they be
permitted to speak for the student during the student conduct conference.
Students are also required to sign a release form that permits another
individual to be present during their student conduct conference.
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Can I bring witnesses?
Students are permitted to present witnesses during their student conduct conference. Your
student conduct officer(s) will allow you do this during your student conduct conference. You may ask
your witnesses to either make a statement on your behalf or to answer
questions that you ask them about your incident. Your student conduct officer(s) may
then ask your witnesses questions based on the statements that they make
during your student conduct conference. We ask that you present character witnesses in writing.
You will be required to complete a release form that permits another
individual to be present during their student conduct conference prior to being
able to present witnesses.
Your witnesses will also be required to complete a Witness Participation
form prior to being called into the student conduct conference. All forms will be available in
our office.
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Who will know about the incident that I have
been involved with?
As a student you are protected by the
Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99). FERPA is a federal
law that protects the privacy of student education records. You may discuss
your case with anyone. The university is restricted to discussing the case
with you, those you designate that we can communicate with, and those with
an educational need to know.
You may choose to sign a waiver that will release your student conduct
file to those of your choosing. This is done by completing a FERPA form and
is done when you wish to have an advisor or witness present during your
student conduct conference or when you wish to have someone contact the SCRS office to discuss
your case.
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Should I just lie my way through this?
As a student at Texas A&M University you are expected to adhere to the
Aggie Code of Honor. Lying rarely makes a situation better. If you choose to
lie to a university official, you risk being charged with
Texas A&M
University Student Rule 24.3.14 Furnishing false information.
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I know others that have done the same
thing I did, but they didn’t get caught. What about them?
The focus of your student conduct conference is YOU and YOUR behavior. Remember the old
saying, "If everyone jumps off a bridge, would you?"
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What if I do not agree with the outcome of my
student conduct conference?
You can appeal our decisions on three factors: inappropriate finding,
unjust sanction, and due process. The appeals process information will be
shared with you during your student conduct conference information session and student conduct conference.
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What happens during the appeal?
An appeal conference gives the student another opportunity to explain their
involvement in an incident. A student may file an appeal based on one (or
more) of these three factors:
- Appeal based on finding of being responsible
- Appeal based on severity of the sanction assigned
- Appeal based on violation of due process rights
During an appeal conference, the burden of proof will be on the student to
explain why the decision reached during the original student conduct conference was not an
appropriate one. Both the student and the original student conduct officer(s) will
have an opportunity to present their information and to answer questions
from the appeal’s panel.
At the conclusion of the conference, the panel will deliberate and may
either uphold the original findings or sanctions, or the panel may modify
the findings or sanctions. A student’s sanction will not be increased during
an appeal conference.
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What happens if I have a pending
Student Conduct Services student conduct conference and a pending criminal citation in the
Bryan or College Station criminal court system?
You will need to resolve both issues separately. Students have a separate
relationship to the University that is different from their responsibilities
as citizens. The student conduct conference at the SCRS office will only
resolve conflicts with the Student Rules. For more information on various
legal proceedings, please visit our Student Legal Services
area.
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What if I don’t show up or respond to the
letter?
A decision may be made in your absence based on the contents of your
disciplinary file. You may also be charged with a violation of
TAMU Student
Rule 24.3.18 Failure to appear for a university disciplinary proceeding.
Typically, we will place a block on your registration and mandate that you
attend your student conduct conference before you will be allowed to register for future
semesters.
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What do I do if I have class during the
time my student conduct conference is scheduled?
The Student Conflict Resolution Services office will provide an official
university excuse for any class absences. We do our best to avoid scheduling
student conduct conferences during class times; however, at times it becomes necessary. If you
are missing a test, please contact our office as soon as possible to inquire
about the possibility of rescheduling the student conduct conference.
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Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Please contact the SCRS Office at (979) 847-7272 or in person at Cain
Hall, Room C315. You may also contact us via email at scrs@tamu.edu.
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