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Judicial Affairs

The judicial affairs program provides students with a process intended to resolve questions surrounding student conduct.

Any member of the Hope community may request that the judicial system handle a claim of policy violations. Any student who is charged with violating a policy is granted the right to know what the charges are, who brought the charges, a chance to review documentation and the opportunity to present a defense.

If a student is found responsible of violating the policy, the judicial affairs program hopes to create an educational response to the violation and provide the student with the support to avoid similar situations in the future.

The Judicial Process

Once an has been filed, the respondent will meet with the judicial officer or resident director to review the report, plead responsible or not responsible, and choose what type of hearing they prefer. (If the student pleads responsible to a minor violation and it is a first time offense, a hearing may not be required.) The student may choose an administrative hearing or a hearing with the student/faculty judicial board.

If the incident originates through the a law enforcement agency, the college may await a court decision before taking action. Further information in this process is contained in the Student Handbook under policy 18.0, Violations of the Law.

If a not responsible verdict is reached, the process is ended. If a responsible verdict is reached, then appropriate sanctions will be decided. If the student feels that the evidence did not warrant a finding of responsibility, that the sanction is too severe or that their due process was violated, they may appeal the sanction.

For additional questions regarding the judicial process please refer to the Student Handbook or contact Dr. John Jobson, associate dean of students, at (616) 395-7800.