Ad Hoc Committee – Ram Handbook

An Ad Hoc Committee Hearing is a special type of hearing which may be convened in extenuating circumstances deemed warranted by the Dean of Students. At all Ad Hoc Committee Hearings, the community member who initiated the complaint, or a designated member of the FSU Police Department or Student Development staff shall attend and present information relative to the complaint made. When a case is referred to an Ad Hoc Committee Hearing, the Ad Hoc committee shall be comprised of three professional staff and/or faculty members appointed by the Dean of Students or designee. The Dean of Students or designee shall also appoint a fourth member to serve as nonvoting chair of the Ad Hoc Committee; this person will chair the hearing and ensure that appropriate records are made.

Additional Ad Hoc Committee Guidelines

The Dean of Students or designee may, at his or her discretion, approve alternative arrangements for parties to participate in an Ad Hoc Committee Hearing from separate locations provided a reasonable mechanism is arranged that allows for hearing and viewing information presented by both the complainant and the accused and allows for the Ad Hoc Committee Chair to communicate directly with involved parties remotely.
The accused student and complainant will be given the opportunity to respond to information presented at an Ad Hoc Committee Hearing and make a closing statement prior to deliberation by the Ad Hoc Committee
Reported direct knowledge of incident(s) by the complainant may not be considered if the complainant is not present and available to answer questions directed by the hearing officer or Ad Hoc Committee during the hearing.
In an Ad Hoc Committee hearing, any committee member may request to go into private session to discuss or decide a matter. This request must be supported by a majority vote. The hearing can be recessed at any time by the chair. The chair will ensure that all procedures are appropriately followed. Following an Ad Hoc Committee hearing, decisions on each allegation and any related sanction recommendations shall be made by majority vote. A tie vote will constitute a vote of not responsible. The Chair cannot vote.
The Ad Hoc Committee Chair will notify the Dean of Students of their determination of whether the accused student was responsible for each alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct. If there is a responsible finding, a recommendation of sanctions will be forwarded to the Dean of Students.