Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is the Code of Student Conduct?

A set of community expectations, rights and responsibilities that all Temple students are expected to follow.

2. I have received charge letter. What does this mean?

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards has received a report alleging that you have been in violation of the Code of Student Conduct Therefore, a date for a Process Review Meeting, has been scheduled to begin to resolve these alleged violations.

3. What is a Process Review Meeting?

The term “Process Review Meeting” refers to the initial meeting, following the student’s receipt of the charge notice, between the Student and a Student Conduct Administrator. This informal meeting is designed to help the Student better understand the student conduct process.

The Process Review Meeting is an informal, non-adversarial meeting between an Accused Student and a Student Conduct Administrator of the SCCS. The purpose is to educate the Accused Student about the student conduct process.

4. What is a student conduct hearing?

A student conduct hearing is the opportunity for students with student conduct charges to respond to the written allegations against them and to present evidence in support of their case.

5. I have been charged by the City of Philadelphia and Temple University. Why am I being charged twice for the same alleged incident?

These are two separate bodies. One involves city, county, or state laws and deals with legal issues and the other university charges. You have been charged with a violation of Code of Student Conduct which must be resolved through the University Student Conduct Process regardless of the outcome in the legal process.

6. Can I appeal the decision of my student conduct board hearing?

Yes, a decision reached by the Student Conduct Board or a sanction imposed by the University Code Administrator may be appealed by the Accused Student to an Appellate Board within five school days of the decision. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Student Conduct Administrator. In circumstances of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking, the accuser (“Accuser”) also has the right to appeal the Student Conduct Board’s decision or respond to the Accused Student’s appeal. An Accused Student may respond to an Accuser’s appeal. The appeal letter must be received within five (5) business days following receipt of the decision letter. An appeal shall be limited to a review of the record of the Student Conduct Board Hearing and supporting documents to determine whether:

a. There were procedural defects that substantially prevented a full and fair hearing on the merits;
b. There exists new evidence sufficient to alter the decision that was not known and could not have been known at the time of the original hearing.

7. Can I have a Personal Advisor with me during the student conduct process?

Yes, the term “Personal Advisor” means any person asked by the Accused Student or Complainant to assist the Student in the student conduct process. The Personal Advisor is an inactive participant. Personal Advisors are not permitted to directly address the Student Conduct Board during Student Conduct Board Hearings. The Personal Advisor may guide the person they are advising through the student conduct process, help them formulate questions, and help the person understand the Student Code. Accused Students or Complainants may choose to have, but are not limited to faculty, university staff, or an attorney as their Personal Advisor.

8. Why is there a hold on my account?

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards may place a hold on a student's academic and other institutional records should the student refuse to respond to, or comply with, the procedures or sanctions imposed in accordance with these rules.