Student Conduct and Community Standards

Student Rights & Responsibilities

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Student Rights & Responsibilities

Brown is committed to ensuring fairness and integrity by outlining the rights and responsibilities of all participants in the student conduct process.

All Brown community members are responsible for following the Principles of the Brown University Community and acting with integrity in all facets of University life, including involvement with matters being addressed by the student conduct procedures.

Students also have rights during conduct proceedings, whether they are the complainant, the respondent, or are serving as a witness.

Complainant Rights

In student conduct proceedings, the person who is alleging misconduct is referred to as the complainant. Complainants are afforded the following rights:

To be informed in writing of the charge(s) and alleged misconduct for Student Conduct Board Hearings, Administrative Hearings, or Restorative Boards.
To have an advisor during a formal Investigative Review, a hearing before the Student Conduct Board, an Administrative Hearing, or a Restorative Board.
To request reasonable accommodations through Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to participate in these proceedings.
To have a reasonable length of time to prepare for a proceeding.
To be given an opportunity to articulate relevant concerns and issues, express opinions, and offer evidence before the Administrative Reviewer or Hearing Officer(s).
To be afforded privacy, in accordance with University practices and legal requirements.
To request that an Administrative Reviewer, Hearing Officer, Restorative Board member, or member of a Student Conduct Board be disqualified on the grounds of personal bias.
To appeal a decision in cases of 3.4.10 Harassment or 3.4.11 Harm to Person(s).
To refrain from providing information that is self-incriminating.

Respondent Rights

In student conduct proceedings, the person who is alleged to have committed misconduct is referred to as the respondent. Respondents have the following rights:

To be informed in writing of the charge(s) and alleged prohibited behavior.
To not be presumed responsible of any alleged violations unless so found through the appropriate student conduct proceeding.
To have an advisor during a formal Investigative Review, a hearing before the Student Conduct Board, an Administrative Hearing, or a Restorative Board.
To request reasonable accommodations through Student Accessibility Services to participate in these proceedings.
To have a reasonable length of time to prepare a response to any charges.
To be informed of the evidence upon which a charge is based and afforded an opportunity to offer a relevant response.
To be given an opportunity to articulate relevant concerns and issues, express opinions, and offer evidence before the Administrative Reviewer or Hearing Officer(s). (Students have the right to prepare a written statement in matters that may result in separation from the University.)
To be afforded privacy, in accordance with University practices and legal requirements.
To request that an Administrative Reviewer, Hearing Officer, Restorative Board member, or member of a Student Conduct Board be disqualified on the grounds of personal bias.
To appeal a decision based on certain grounds.
To refrain from providing information that is self-incriminating.

Witness Rights

Students serving as witnesses in student conduct proceedings are afforded the following rights:

To request reasonable accommodations through Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to participate in these proceedings.
To have a reasonable length of time to prepare for a meeting with an investigator or hearing body.
To be given an opportunity to articulate relevant concerns and issues, express opinions, and offer evidence to an investigator or hearing body.
To be afforded privacy, in accordance with University practices and legal requirements. Information you share with an investigator or hearing body may be shared with the respondent and complainant, if appropriate.
To refrain from providing information that is self-incriminating.