How Hearings Work

Hearings are held in four circumstances:

  1. If a student is accused of a violation, they may request a hearing panel review the case;
  2. If an instructor proposes a sanction of suspension or expulsion, then a hearing must be held even if the student accepts responsibility for the violation;
  3. If a student already has a First Violation on record, a hearing must be held even if the student accepts responsibility for the violation because the panel will determine the appropriate sanction(s) after reviewing all previous violations; or
  4. If a student does not respond to efforts from both the instructor or the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution to fill out the Student Response portion of the Incident Report.

Hearings are scheduled by the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution at times when the student does not have class. Instructors are invited and encouraged to attend the hearing but are not required to do so. Instructors may attend the hearing in person, via phone, or via video chat. Instructors are notified of the hearing by email.

Students are notified of the hearing via the University’s conduct records system, Maxient. Students will receive an email to their Marymount email account from a University staff member or office which provides a link to “Pick Up Letter.” Once the student clicks on the link, the student will be prompted to use their credentials to log into the Marymount Portal. The letter will then display as an Adobe PDF document. Email notifications will bear the name of a Marymount University employee or office followed by “(via Maxient)” and will use the email address: notifications@maxient.com. These are official University letters, and the University expects that you will retrieve and carefully review them.

A hearing panel consists of two (2) faculty members, one (1) student panelist, and a Hearing Chair who does not vote. A hearing may be held with only two (2) voting members. Panel members are faculty and students who volunteer to serve and have been through panelist training.  Typically the Academic Integrity Coordinator serves as the Hearing Chair.

Prior to the hearing date, the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution sends relevant documents to panelists, the student, and the instructor to review before the hearing. Typically these documents are emailed two (2) business days before the hearing. While both instructor and student may present additional documents at the hearing, it is preferable to circulate them in advance. Please note: as a neutral party, the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution does not request additional evidence from either party. It is the responsibility of the instructor and the student to gather any necessary documentation that they wish to present at the hearing. Students should work with their instructor to gather any relevant materials pertinent to the violation.

For more information see Section 5: Procedures of the Academic Integrity Code.