WILKES UNIVERSITY

following proceedings held by civil or criminal authorities. Students are held
accountable for behavior occurring off campus when such behavior adversely affects the
interests of the University or its objectives as an educational institution. In all student
conduct hearings, regardless of the adjudicating body, the standard of proof is by a
“preponderance of the evidence,” which means the evidence is sufficient to determine
that the proposition is “more likely to be true than not.”
Response to Conduct Violations
Students who come to Wilkes join the academic community of the University as well as
the community of Wilkes-Barre. We all share the obligation to be cognizant of our
responsibilities as members of these communities. Any behavior that is contrary to the
regulations of these two communities — or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania — may
result in sanctions. Sanctions are imposed in an attempt to help members of these
communities recognize that their actions must reflect acceptable norms that have been
established and recognized.
The authority to investigate and adjudicate alleged conduct violations rests primarily
with the Office of Student Affairs. Other agents of the University also have jurisdiction
to hear and decide on actions that are counter to the guidelines set forth in the Student
Handbook.
Meetings concerned with conduct violations will be held as soon as possible after an
offense is reported and investigated. An educational conference will be held with the
accused student no later than 10 days following notification of an infraction unless
special circumstances require a delay in the process. A delay of a hearing beyond 10
days must be approved by the Vice President of Student Affairs. In most cases, students
will have a preliminary discussion with a member of the Student Affairs staff to review
the charges and procedures. If an accused student accepts responsibilities for the
pending charges and agrees with the sanction(s) imposed then the process concludes. If
an accused students does not take responsibility for the pending charges and/or does
not agree with the appropriateness of the sanction(s), a hearing will be arranged with
the Associate Dean, Office of Residence Life, or the Student Affairs Council to determine
the outcome relative to guilt and sanctioning. Pending a hearing, a student’s status will
not ordinarily be altered and his/her right to be a full member of the University
community will be intact.
Cases involving sexual misconduct, as determined by the Associate Dean of Student
Affairs, will follow a different process (see APPENDIX C)
When a student’s continued presence on the campus is deemed a disruption to the
University community the Dean of Students may request interim suspension from a
member of the President’s Cabinet of the University. During the period of interim
suspension the student is not permitted on campus until the date of the Student Affairs
Council hearing. This meeting will occur as quickly as reasonably possible following the
invoking of the interim suspension.
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