WELCOME
The central mission of Judicial Affairs is to adjudicate alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Because this is a University process, meetings with students (preliminary conferences) and formal processes (hearings) take place. If a student is found in violation of the Code, the consequence involves a sanction. If the student is not in violation, the student is found innocent.
Many times a judicial situation is settled without involving hearings with witnesses. Regardless of how the incident is investigated and resolved, each UPJ student has rights. It is important that all UPJ students review "Student Rights Within the University Community" to help enhance your UPJ academic and co-curricular experiences.
If I can be of assistance in filing a judicial complaint, answering judicial questions or helping to resolve a code violation, please contact me at either (814) 269-2060 or josetdau@pitt.edu.
Josette Skobieranda Dau
Coordinator of Judicial Affairs
STUDENT JUDICIAL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION
In accordance with the provisions of the University Charter, ByLaws, and Trustee actions, the Chancellor, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the University delegates the supervision of student conduct and discipline to the President of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, who in turn delegates that responsibility to the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. The Coordinator of the UPJ Student Judicial System shall be designated by the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. All disciplinary actions remain subject to final review by the President of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
THE ROLE OF THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS IN THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS
The supervision of student conduct and discipline is the responsibility of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. All disciplinary actions remain subject to final review by the President of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or his designated staff person shall serve as the liaison with students who have been placed on Disciplinary Probation or separated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown; the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs shall be responsible for informing the student of the procedure for reinstatement. The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or his designated staff person has authority to carry out or direct Interim Suspension of students as authorized by the President of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or his designated staff person, also, has authority either to recommend or to place holds from further registration on the student’s records with appropriate legal and procedural safeguards to the rights of students. The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or his designated staff person may release information concerning the status of a discipline case to persons involved in the case. These may include the complaintant, the accused, the Student Affairs staff, and other appropriate officials of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or his designated staff person serves as coordinator of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Judicial Board. He/she may not, however, be a member of any board.
The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs shall have responsibility for receiving complaints against students from any member of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown community, from local and state agencies, and from the general public. Complaints which appear to be substantially indicative of a violation of a University regulation shall be reason for the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or his designated staff person to charge the student. The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs shall notify the student in writing of the specific charges placed against him and shall inform him of his rights, together with a statement of the hearing procedures and sanctions. The accused student, in consultation with the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or his designated staff person, shall decide upon one of the following options:
a. Settlement Agreement To dispose of the charges informally by mutual consent without the initiation of a formal hearing. Such disposal will be final and there shall be no subsequent proceedings or appeals.
b. To take the case to the Judicial Board for adjudication.
As the administrative officer of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Student Judicial System, the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or designee will conduct and supervise administrative operations of the Judicial System.
ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS—Housing and Residence Life Office
The Director of Housing and Residence Life or his/her designee(s) may establish and enforce standards of conduct which do not conflict with student rights within the University Community as affirmed in the University Student Code of Conduct. Administrative sanctions may be issued for select code infractions as long as the action is not arbitrary or capricious and a reliable determination is made. The penalties may include one or more of the following: Loss of Residence Hall Privileges, Community Service, Residence Hall Reprimand, or Residence Hall Probation. Records of all administrative sanctions will be maintained by the Housing and Residence Life Office and the Office of the Coordinator, and will be introduced in the sanction phase of subsequent judicial hearings. Appeal of sanctions issued by the Director of Housing and Residence Life will be reviewed by the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs.
* In addition, at the expiration of the Term and the end of the Housing contract period, Administrative Sanctions will be imposed for all Code infractions which have not been adjudicated including those judicial complaints previously referred to the Coordinator of Judicial Affairs.