{"502631":{"#nid":"502631","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Faculty Senate Approves Student Code of Conduct Revisions","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Faculty Senate addressed several items in its Feb. 16 meeting that affect student life at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Student Regulations Committee proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct based on \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.news.gatech.edu\/2015\/10\/27\/panel-review-student-judicial-process\u0022\u003Ea review that took place last year\u003C\/a\u003E at the request of President G.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson. The review panel, led by former chief legal officer and secretary to the Board of Regents Nels Peterson, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.news.gatech.edu\/hg\/file\/172811\u0022\u003Eissued recommendations in December\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChanges that were approved Tuesday fall into six areas:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDefinition and refinement of process\u003C\/strong\u003E. Language was modified to clarify that rules and procedures related to student sexual misconduct are governed by a separate document: the Sexual Misconduct Policy.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETechnical and editorial changes\u003C\/strong\u003E. Language was updated for consistency and to reflect Institute organizational changes. The designation of a student suspected of misconduct is now \u201crespondent\u201d instead of \u201caccused.\u201d The definition of the word \u201cadvisor\u201d was updated to mean \u201can individual chosen by the student or organization who assists a participant with the student conduct process.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECase investigation\u003C\/strong\u003E. Revisions clarify that a pre-charge review is limited to a determination of whether there are sufficient facts to initiate a conduct process. If a conduct process is initiated, the respondent is notified and an administrative conference is held with the respondent prior to further investigation of a report.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAggregation of unrelated cases\u003C\/strong\u003E. The revised code states that, under certain circumstances, multiple complaints against one respondent may be adjudicated together.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAppellate rights\u003C\/strong\u003E. \u201cSuspension held in abeyance\u201d has been removed as a possible sanction. Sanctions that remain are: disciplinary warning, disciplinary probation, suspension, and expulsion. \u201cSuspension held in abeyance\u201d was removed because of problems that could arise with appeals to that sanction. Per the policy, the four remaining sanctions may all be appealed to the Georgia Tech president.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChallenges to hearing officer bias\u003C\/strong\u003E. The revised code permits a respondent to request a different adjudicator if there is a perceived bias of the initial hearing officer.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Student Code of Conduct has seen other revisions in recent years to comply with new rules and regulations, refine wording, and adapt to an ever-changing college landscape. \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/facultygovernance.gatech.edu\/SRS%20Minutes%2002-04-16%20-%20appendixA.pdf\u0022\u003EView the full Student Code of Conduct (pdf) prior to this week\u2019s revisions.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Student Regulations Committee\u2019s action items also included the addition of a new section to the Class Attendance Policy. The new section addresses religious holidays and observances and how students and faculty should handle those absences from class. Students will be permitted to be able to make up work that is missed because of a religious observance, provided the student arranges this absence with the instructor during the first two weeks of the semester. The section also states that the rights under this policy are subject to the Georgia Tech Honor Code.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis policy addition came from discussions with the Student Government Association about providing equal academic support across a diverse student body. During the meeting, concerns were raised among the faculty about policy abuse and administrative burden; conversely, others emphasized the role of the Honor Code, the fact that students must make requests early in the semester, and the need for Georgia Tech to support students\u2019 freedom of religious choice. Ultimately, the addition was approved. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther minor modifications were made to the Class Attendance Policy to provide for student-athlete event conflicts with Tech\u2019s new final reading periods and final exam schedule, which is being implemented for the first time this semester.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EOther Action Items\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Faculty Senate also addressed action items related to undergraduate and graduate curriculum at its Feb. 16 meeting. \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.news.gatech.edu\/2016\/02\/18\/new-degree-minor-among-faculty-senate-winter-approvals\u0022\u003ESee other notes.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/facultygovernance.gatech.edu\/FFSAFS2016-021616-Agenda.htm\u0022\u003EView the full agenda and presentations from the Feb. 16 meeting.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Student Regulations Committee proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct based on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.news.gatech.edu\/2015\/10\/27\/panel-review-student-judicial-process\u0022\u003Ea review that took place last year\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;at the request of President G.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Student Regulations Committee proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct based on a review that took place last year at the request of President G.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2016-02-18 09:55:36","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:20:46","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-02-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2016-02-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/facultygovernance.gatech.edu\/","title":"Faculty Governance"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"12022","name":"faculty governance"},{"id":"85391","name":"faculty senate"},{"id":"171205","name":"student code of conduct"},{"id":"171234","name":"student regulations"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kristen.bailey@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKristen Bailey\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jeanne.balsam@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJeanne Balsam\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFaculty Governance\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}