FAQs About OSCCR

I was just documented. What should I do?

Check your University email account on a regular basis. You may receive an email from the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility, or you can contact the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility (osccr@lmu.edu/(310) 338-1821), located in Malone Student Center 355, regarding next steps. If you live on campus, you may also check with your Resident Director (RD).

I received an email from the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility. What should I do next?

If you have been assigned a hearing, attend the hearing. If not, contact the Conduct Officer(s) who sent you the email (contact information is provided in the email).

I received an email from the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility (OSCCR) about a pre-hearing meeting. What should I do next?

Attend your pre-hearing meeting. During your pre-hearing meeting you will be permitted to review all the information gathered by the University, provide additional Witnesses and ask questions about the conduct process. All Student Conduct Code proceedings involving allegations of Title IX Sexual Harassment or potential separation from the University will include a hearing with cross examination (generally conducted via videoconferencing). Students will be permitted to ask questions of the opposing party or Witnesses. The format of the cross examination is dependent on the alleged behavior being adjudicated. Consult with the OSCCR representative in your pre-hearing meeting for more information. [Student Conduct Code: Section VI(D)]

If I have questions about the conduct process where should I go?

Please contact the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility (osccr@lmu.edu/(310) 338-1821), located in Malone 355. Other resources include Student Housing Staff, Student Success Staff, Conduct Officer(s) or the Student Affairs Dean's Office.

How can I review a copy of the incident report prior to my hearing?

If a Residence Life report and/or Public Safety report has been generated, it can be made available to you in the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility by contacting to schedule an appointment (osccr@lmu.edu/(310) 338-1821). [Student Conduct Code: Section VI(C)(4)]

If there were witnesses to the incident, how can they provide information?

Notify the Conduct Officer(s) in advance if you have a witness(es) you'd like to present. The Conduct Officer(s) will schedule a separate meeting with the witness(es) individually, unless it is a hearing with cross examination. Witnesses should be individuals who were witness to the actual incident and/or allegations. Character witnesses are disfavored. [Student Conduct Code: Section VI(C)(5)]

Am I permitted to have an Advisor at my conduct hearing?

Yes. Please notify the Conduct Officer(s) at least 48 hours in advance if you plan to have an Advisor for the hearing. Be aware that Advisors must be LMU Community members (excluding Law School faculty, staff and students) and must not be related to you. Students will be expected to sign a Student Release Form and Advisors will be asked to sign a Role of Advisor Form. In incidents regarding Title IX Sexula Harassment or sexual or interpersonal misconduct, refer to the Student Title IX Policy or the Student-on-Student Sexual and Interpersonal Misconduct policy regarding your Advisor options. [Student Conduct Code: Section VI(C)(6)]

What happens at a conduct hearing?

The Conduct Officer(s) review(s) the conduct process and procedures with you. You will review the incident(s) report(s) with the Conduct Officer(s) and present your experience of the incident to the Conduct Officer(s). After the hearing you will receive a letter from the Conduct Officer(s) informing you of the outcome (responsible/not responsible) of the hearing. [Student Conduct Code: Section VI(C)]

What happens at a hearing with cross examination?

The Complainant and Respondent will be permitted the opportunity to ask questions of the opposing party and any Witnesses in order to assess the credibility of the information offered. Who conducts the cross examination is dependent on whether the allegations involved possible Title IX Sexual Harassment. Conduct Officers on the Hearing Panel will be permitted to disallow a question if sufficient rationale for the relevancy of the question cannot be provided. Both the Complainant and the Respondent will be permitted the opportunity to make a closing statement at the conclusion of the hearing. Hearings with cross examination will be recorded. Recording devices of any kind are not permitted for use by the Students, Witnesses or Advisors. [Student Conduct Code: Section VI(D)]

What do I do when I receive my decision letter from the Conduct Officer(s)?

If you are found responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code, complete the sanctions as outlined in your letter. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility immediately.

What is retaliation?

"Retaliation" means adverse, non-permitted action taken by an individual or a third party against a person in response to protected activity including, but not limited to, reporting a violation of policy, assisting someone with a report of a violation of a policy or participating in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a report of a policy violation. Retaliation may, among other non-permitted conduct or behaviors, include threats, intimidation, coercion, Harassment, spreading negative information about an individual, exclusions from academic and non-academic programs and/or adverse actions related to employment (including conduct that is undertaken in whole or in part through the use of electronic messaging services, commercial mobile services, electronic communications, social media and/or other technology). [Student Conduct Code: Section II (O)(17)]

What are possible sanctions?

Depending on the offense, possible sanctions include, but are not limited to, a disciplinary warning, monetary fine, educational sanctions, removal from housing, suspension and/or dismissal from the University.

Possible sanctions for first-time alcohol offenses may include, but are not limited to, a disciplinary warning, monetary fine, parental notification and completing an alcohol education program. Sanctions for subsequent alcohol violations may include additional fines, further education programs, removal from housing, probation and/or suspension from the University.

Possible sanctions for first marijuana offenses may include, but are not limited to, disciplinary and/or housing probation, monetary fines, educational programs, removal from housing, suspension and/or dismissal from the University. [Student Conduct Code: Section IV]

How long can I be on probation or suspended from the University?

Depending on your case, you may be placed on probation anywhere from a semester to the remainder of your tenure at the University. Suspensions range from a semester to an indefinite period of time.

Are the sanctions that I have been assigned consistent with other students’ sanctions?

Incidents are evaluated on an individual basis. For a list of possible sanctions, please reference the LMU Student Conduct Code online. [Student Conduct Code: Section IV]

If I don’t complete my sanctions, what will happen to me?

Failure to complete your sanctions may subject you to further disciplinary action. Please reference your decision letter for potential consequences for not completing your sanctions.

If I disagree with my sanctions, what are my options?

You may submit an appeal petition to the Student Conduct Committee c/o the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility (osccr@lmu.edu) in Malone Student Center 355 within five days of the decision.

What are grounds for an appeal?

Per the Student Conduct Code Section VIII Letter A, the following are grounds for an appeal:

1. The sanction is substantially disproportionate to the offense.
2. The procedures provided for in the Student Conduct Code were not materially followed resulting in significant prejudice to the Appellant.
3. New, relevant evidence is available which in the exercise of reasonable diligence could not have been produced at the time of the hearing.
4. The decision is not supported by substantial evidence.

If I’m in the appeal process, am I required to complete my sanctions by their assigned deadline?

No. Once a letter of appeal has been submitted to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility all sanctions are held in abeyance until the Student Conduct Committee hears the appeal, unless otherwise stated in your decision letter. If sanctions are upheld, you will be issued new deadlines for sanction completion by the Student Conduct Committee.

Will I appear before the Student Conduct Committee?

No. Appeals are only considered in writing and the Committee is provided your written appeal along with information from your incident. In appeals of decisions in conduct cases involving the potential for separation from the University, the Student Conduct Committee will review the video and audio recording of your hearing and your written appeal along with information from your incident.

If I submit an appeal, how will I receive the Student Conduct Committee’s decision?

You will receive a decision letter via your University email account, in the same fashion that you received prior communication.

Who is on the Student Conduct Committee?

The Student Conduct Committee is made up of students, staff and faculty trained to hear appeals of Student Conduct Code violations. [Student Conduct Code: Section V(C)]

Are my disciplinary records confidential?

Yes. Only you and the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility staff have access to your disciplinary information. You may, however, sign an authorization to release your disciplinary information to another person. When Students sign a release offered by internal (Study Abroad, University offices, etc.) or external (graduate schools, prospective employers, etc.) entities, this release allows the University to release Student disciplinary information to these parties. [Student Conduct Code: Section XI]

I have a disciplinary record. Can I study abroad?

All students must receive clearance from the Office of Student Conduct & Community Responsibility. Any student with a conduct record may lose the opportunity to participate in a Study Abroad program.