Certain violations may be addressed through an administrative hearing, including all Title IX, Violence Against Women’s Act and sexual misconduct cases. You may be involved in an administrative hearing as an accused student, reporting party or as a witness.
Administrative Hearings are coordinated and held by university administrators, who act as hearing officers to determine whether an accused student is responsible for violating a rule or regulation, and assign sanctions as appropriate. The hearing officers make their determination based upon a preponderance of the evidence standard.
If you are involved in an Administrative Hearing, we encourage you to read the Administrative Hearing Procedures so that you know what to expect throughout the hearing process.
You will be notified to appear for a hearing. You will receive notification through an appearance referral, which is typically issued by an e-mail from Student Conduct. You must contact Student Conduct within the dates stated on the appearance referral to schedule your hearing.
If you fail to schedule or appear for your hearing, it may be scheduled and/or held in your absence.
If you are unsure when your hearing will be, contact Student Conduct. You are responsible for ensuring the completion of your hearing and other obligations.
Students found responsible for violating a rule or regulation may be assigned sanctions. Sanctions are not meant to simply punish you. Instead, they are designed to help you learn and grow, while providing justice to the University community. Sanctions are determined on a case-by-case basis.
*Pursuant to the Administrative Hearing Procedures and Sexual Violence Addendum, a finding of “responsible” for sexual violence requires either immediate suspension with additional requirements or expulsion as a sanction.
A University hearing is a student conduct matter, not a criminal proceeding. You are not required to have an advisor or lawyer, but you have the right to be assisted by an advisor of your choosing throughout the conduct process. An advisor can help you prepare for your hearings, and may also attend the hearings with you. You are not required to have an advisor — it’s your choice.
The advisor can be anyone of your choosing, including:
Student Association offers free legal consultations with attorneys to UB students.
The advisor may not represent you or speak on your behalf during any step of the process, as all students are expected to represent themselves.
Advisors play a different role in the Title IX Grievance process. For allegations that meet geographic scope and definition of sexual harassment under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education on May 19, 2020, the University’s Title IX Grievance policy and procedures will apply.
Student Life
University at Buffalo
9 Norton Hall, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: (716) 645-6154; Fax: (716) 645-3376
