College Community Standards Board

The College Community Standards Board ensures that students uphold the standards for student ethics and conduct outlined in the Student Handbook. The board hears cases of alleged infractions of non-academic rules and makes decisions about the outcomes of cases. Academic infractions are handled by the Academic Integrity Board.

About the Board

The Community Standards Board is a group composed of faculty, staff, and/or students responsible for adjudicating, through formal processes, alleged college policy violations. The board hears cases in teams of 5 members constituting a hearing board. Every hearing board is advised by a member of the student affairs staff. The Community Standards Board uses the code of student conduct and the policies of the college to evaluate the cases before it. The hearing panelists shall deliberate and reach a consensus on the decision of more likely or not to be responsible for each separate violation the responding party has been brought before the board for. Thus, the burden of proof is more likely than not to be responsible for committing a violation.

The code of student conduct expects that each student's behavior and actions will contribute to a community characterized by individual integrity, respect, and a concern for the implications and repercussions of student behavior. Students are encouraged to be familiar with the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, and should be aware that this list does not constitute an exhaustive or complete list of prohibited conduct.

Summarized from the Smith College Student Handbook – Code of Social Conduct

Panel Composition

The Community Standards Board (full panel) will consist of five (5) voting members and will include at least three (3) students. The Community Standards Board (administrative panel) will consist of three (3) voting members and will include at least one (1) student.

A non-voting board chair will be appointed by the dean of the college (or their designee) to guide the hearing and ensure that this policy is followed.

Panelist Selection

The non-voting chair will coordinate the nomination and selection process for all panelists. The Dean of the College (or their designee) will approve and appoint all panelists. In the event of resignation from the panel, the non-voting chair will solicit a replacement from the group from which the representative came (faculty, staff, or student) and submit to the Dean of the College for appointment.

Faculty and Staff

Nominations will be accepted annually, for up to three-year terms.

Students

Nominations will normally be accepted each spring for the following year, and student positions will be open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and Ada Comstock Scholars. To serve in the panel pool, students must:

  • Have completed at least one full semester at the college
  • Be enrolled and in good standing, including not on academic or disciplinary probation
  • Have completed 32 hours of academic credit with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5
  • Have no active sanction and/or record of misconduct during the semester(s) in which a student wishes to serve on the panel. A serious history of misconduct could disqualify a student for service
  • Complete an application and submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, staff member, or administrator from within the college community

Call for Panelists

The application for Community Standards Board panelists is currently closed. For questions about the community standards board, or the application process, students are encouraged to contact the chair of the community standards board.

Questions? Email studentaffairs@smith.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

This information is presented to assist students with questions they may have about the College Community Standards Board and judicial process. It is designed to answer general questions. Students should consult the Student Handbook for more definitive information. In all cases, the Student Handbook and similar college publications are the authoritative source for college policies.

The College Community Standards Board is comprised of faculty, staff, and students who uphold the policies, regulations, and ethical standards of the Smith College community. There are three types of hearings, Community Standards Full Board Hearing, Administrative Board Hearing, and Administrative Settlement. The College Community Standards Board upholds all non-academic college policies, particularly those involving student conduct. Therefore, the board deals with all violations of nonacademic policies and regulations.

A student appears before the board because they may have violated a college policy. A list of behaviors considered violations of college policy can be found in the Student Handbook's Code of Student Conduct. (This list is not exhaustive.)

Anyone can file a complaint against a student. Usually, Campus Safety and/or a residence life staff member will bring complaints before the board. A student may also bring another student before the board if the student believes a violation of college policy has occurred.

No, the Community Standards Board reserves the right to RECOMMEND the suspension, dismissal or permanent separation of a student. However, only the dean of the college can ultimately make that decision.

A full hearing panel consists of five panelists and one non-voting chair. An administrative hearing panel consists of three panelists and one non-voting chair. The person bringing the complaint (the reporting party) to the board has the opportunity to present her/his version of events to the board, present witnesses, and be questioned. After that, the subject of the complaint (the responding party) has the opportunity to present their version of events, present witnesses, be questioned, etc. Overall, an average hearing takes less than two hours.

In most cases, parents will not be notified of a student’s violation. If the student, however, engages in conduct that places not only the student but also others at risk, parents may be notified. Additionally, if an underage student is found responsible for a violation of the college alcohol policy, the student's parents may be notified. In all cases, the decision to notify parents rests with the dean of students or the dean of the college.

After a hearing, members of the board deliberate and if they believe a violation has occurred, decide what course of action would provide the best means of education for the student. The board does not want to “punish” someone, but rather provide a means of education through sanctioning. If the violation is minor, usually community service or some other activity is selected. If the student, however, commits a more serious violation, a period of probation may also be included. During the period of probation, if a student is found responsible for violating college policies, they are likely to receive more serious sanctioning, which may include a recommendation of suspension, dismissal or permanent separation.

The student may bring an advisor of their choosing to a hearing for comfort and advice. During the course of the hearing, the advisor is not permitted to address the board.

The board and Office of Student Affairs keep a record of the violation and hearing throughout the student’s career at Smith and up to seven years after graduation. In most cases, the violation will not be noted upon the student’s transcript.

Every sanction is designed specifically for the student and their personal needs. The board evaluates the severity of each complaint and determines the sanctioning based upon the information presented at the hearing. Other factors that contribute to the sanctioning process include: how much has the student learned from this experience, is the student likely to repeat the violation, will certain sanctions help or impede the student’s ability to succeed within the Smith community.

Yes, all hearings are confidential. Throughout the hearing, a digital recording is made in case the board needs to hear certain parts of the hearing during deliberation or in case the student decides to appeal the final decision of the board. Statistics on cases can be made available by contacting the dean of students office at studentaffairs@smith.edu.

If a student does not complete their sanctioning, the student may be charged with non-compliance and may be required appear before the board for hearing or have a meeting with the chair of the board.

If a violation or complaint has been filed, there is no way to avoid a hearing scheduled by the board. The easiest method is to simply attend the scheduled hearing. If you believe that the final decision of the board is unfair, you can file an appeal with the dean of students within seven business days of the board’s final decision.

Julianne Ohotnicky | Associate Vice President of Campus Life and Dean of Students

ej seibert | Dean of Student Affairs/Director of Care & Conduct, Chair of the Board

Hannah Durrant | Dean of Student Affairs/Director of Residence Life, Hearing Officer

Marge Litchford | Associate Dean of Student Affairs/Director of First-Year Experience, Hearing Adviser

Campus Safety | 413-585-2490

Health Services | 413-585-2800

Wellness Services | 413-585-2800