The student (s) involved shall be notified within three (3) working days in writing
by the Director/Assistant Director of Student Engagement that a report has been filed involving him/her in an incident that is in direct violation
of the Coahoma Community College code of conduct. The notification will outline the
time and place of the informal hearing, and if the student does not attend he/she
invokes his/her rights to formal proceedings.
The student, at the informal hearing, is presented with charges, given an opportunity
to respond to the charges presented, given an opportunity to confront his/her accuser,
and an opportunity to accept/reject the proposed discipline (sanction) by the appropriate
council via a signed document materialized by the Office of Student Engagement.
If sanctions are necessary and the student does not accept the discipline (sanction),
based on evidence and/or witnesses that are requested by the accused to be presented/heard
in formal proceedings, hearing procedures are then invoked within three (3) working
days of signing the form invoking rights to formal proceedings. A time and place of
the hearing will be sent to the student (s) and the appropriate council will hear
the case. If the student does not sign the disciplinary form, the student automatically
invokes his/her rights to formal proceedings that could lead to probation, suspension,
or expulsion, for disrespecting the code of student conduct and the judicial process
of Coahoma Community College. If the student (s) fails to appear before any council,
the council will make a decision in his/her absence, and the student shall be notified
in writing of the council's decision, which will stand as record for the student (s)
involved. Director/Assistant Director of Student Engagement will notify the student
(s) of the council's decision in writing to be mailed to the student's (s) address
which was submitted on the application to the college if the student resides in a
residence hall. Also, the decision will be delivered to the occupant's (s) room.
The student can bring witnesses, an advisor, and/or an attorney to the formal hearing,
but the student (s) has to notify in writing the office of the Director/Assistant
Director of Student Engagement two (2) days (48 hours) prior to the hearing but can
only be heard at the discretion of the presiding officer. If a witness that is a student
of the college is present and engages in false testimony or misrepresentation/falsification,
the student (s) will at that time become a part of the judicial process of the college
and sanctions may be imposed.
When a student is accused of violating the Student or Collegiate Codes of Conduct
and criminal charges are pending against the student, an attorney may be present.
In this instance, the role of the attorney is limited and passive. The attorney cannot
actively participate in the hearing or ask questions of the witnesses or judicial
council members. The attorney's role is to advise the student regarding self-incrimination
and to observe the proceedings. If a student does not have present criminal charges
pending, an attorney, however, will not be permitted to be present during any disciplinary
proceedings.
When the judicial process and/or uncomfortability of college officials involve a ward
of the State, residence of a living/treatment facility, a felon, an individual that
poses a threat to others, or an individual already a part of a criminal case and/or
investigation, the Director/Assistant Director of Student Engagement at discretion
will contact and cooperate with the cooperating agency whether it be state, federal,
or local.