Conduct Board 101
A respondent keeps looking at their phone during the hearing.
What do you do?
Politely ask them to refrain from using their device and to remain focused on the hearing.
A board member decides a respondent is responsible before the hearing even begins.
Not good practice / prejudging the case
You don't understand something someone said during a hearing. What should you do?
Ask a clarifying question
"Well, if it were me, I would never have done that."
What's wrong with this?
Personal judgment isn't relevant to determining the case
What year was Florida State University founded?
1851
You're asking a question and the respondent starts crying.
What do you do?
Tell them to take their time. Possibly offer a short break to collect themself.
A board member says, "Everyone knows students who live in that residence hall always do this."
Stereotyping/generalization; the board should base its decision on the information specific to the case.
A board member asks a respondent a question, but the respondent gives a long answer that includes information that wasn't directly related to the question. What should the board member do?
Politely redirect the respondent back to the question or clarify what information they're looking for
"You're obviously lying."
What's wrong with this?
It's accusatory and dismisses credibility
What is FSU's mascot?
Osceola and Renegade / Seminoles
You realize halfway through the hearing that you know one of the witnesses.
What do you do?
Let your GA know immediately.
A board member says, "I don't believe them; they remind me of someone I don't like."
Not good practice. That's inappropriate bias
A board member says, "I just have a gut feeling that they're lying."
What's wrong with this?
A gut feeling alone isn't a sufficient basis for evaluating credibility; they should identify the information or behavior underlying their concern
"I know people like you."
What's wrong with this?
Stereotyping/bias
What is the name of FSU's football stadium?
Doak Campbell Stadium
What is the difference between determining whether someone is responsible and deciding what outcome they should receive?
Responsibility focuses on whether the evidence supports that the student violated the policy.
Outcomes focus on the appropriate educational/conduct response after responsibility has been established.
Students at the hearing begin arguing with each other. The chair stops the conversation and calls for a break.
Good practice. Taking a pause to relax the conversation.
A board member realizes they know the respondent personally. What should they do?
Disclose the potential conflict/bias to the GA or Dr. Blakesley and potentially recuse themself.
"I don't like this policy, so let's just do not responsible."
What's wrong with this?
Board members don't get to rewrite or disregard the policy during a hearing.
Did FSU begin as a women's college?
Yes
You strongly disagree with another board member during deliberation. What is the best approach?
A respondent becomes emotional during the hearing. The board decides they are telling the truth.
Not good practice. Emotion alone doesn't establish credibility
During deliberation, you realize you may have misunderstood an important piece of information from the hearing. What should you do?
Say so and revisit/clarify the information rather than quietly making a decision based on a misunderstanding
"I saw this online, so I already know they're responsible."
What's wrong with this?
Board members need to be objective and come into the hearing unbiased from what they may know or have seen.
How long is the longest touchdown in Orange Bowl history that the Seminoles set in 2016?
92 Yards!