Advisor's Role

The Student may select someone—including a fellow student, a friend, or a family member—to act as an Advisor at any meeting, interview, conference, or hearing, or they may request the University provide them one. If the student would like a University-appointed advisor, they must inform the Student Conduct Administrator no later than five (5) working days prior to the meeting. The Advisor may not be a person with information relevant to the allegations who may be interviewed or called upon to testify during any related investigation or hearing.

Should the Student elect to have an Advisor, they must complete a FERPA Release Form. The Advisor may, with written permission from the Student charged, receive updates during the conduct process for the alleged violation. The Advisor should take the CSU provided training to familiarize themselves with the student conduct process and their role during the process. An Advisor may not delay the timelines of any meetings, conferences, interviews, or hearings.

Attorneys are generally not permitted to act as Advisors. An attorney may only attend as an Advisor: (a) where there are pending criminal charges arising out of the same facts that are the subject of the disciplinary proceeding; or (b) where expulsion is a possible sanction. If conditions (a) or (b) are met, and if the Student elects to bring an attorney as an Advisor, the Student must notify the Student Conduct Administrator in writing of the attorney's name, address, and phone number at least five (5) working days prior to the hearing.

The role of an Advisor is limited to: 

• Conferring with the Student before and after the proceeding
• Asking process-based or procedural questions, if permitted by the administrator
• Conferring quietly with the Student during the proceeding, if permitted by the administrator

Even if assisted by an Advisor, a student must respond to inquiries from the Student Conduct Administrator. 

The Advisor shall not:

• Address the Administrator or an assigned Designee in an effort to respond on behalf of the student
• Ask questions about the investigation or its findings
• "Coach" the student on what to and what to not say in the disciplinary proceeding
• Question witnesses
• Participate in other activity that disrupts the educational conversation that occurs between the Administrator or an assigned Designee and the student

The Student Conduct Administrator may note on the record any inappropriate assistance from an Advisor. If an Advisor is disruptive and the behavior continues despite warnings from the Student Conduct Administrator, the Student Conduct Administrator may take appropriate actions including ejecting the Advisor from the meeting.