Wash. Admin. Code § 132D-150-110 - Appeal from disciplinary action

(1) Except as specified for cases involving allegations of sex discrimination, as set forth by WAC 132D-150-090(11) Initiation of disciplinary action, the respondent may appeal a disciplinary action by filing a written notice of appeal with the conduct review officer within 21 calendar days of service of the student conduct officer's decision. Failure to timely file a notice of appeal constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal and the student conduct officer's decision shall be deemed final.

(2) The notice of appeal must include a brief statement explaining why the respondent is seeking review.

(3) The parties to an appeal shall be the respondent, complainant if any, and the student conduct officer.

(4) A respondent, who timely appeals a disciplinary action or whose case is referred to the student conduct committee, has a right to a prompt, fair, and impartial hearing as provided for in these procedures.

(5) On appeal, the college bears the burden of establishing the evidentiary facts underlying the imposition of a disciplinary sanction by a preponderance of the evidence.

(6) Imposition of disciplinary action for violation of the student conduct code shall be stayed pending appeal, unless respondent has been summarily suspended.

(7) A conduct review officer shall conduct a brief adjudicative proceeding for appeals of:

(a) Suspensions of 10 instructional days or less;

(b) Disciplinary probation; and

(c) Written reprimands; and

(d) Any conditions or terms imposed in conjunction with one of the foregoing disciplinary actions.

(8) The student conduct committee shall hear appeals from:

(a) Disciplinary suspensions in excess of 10 instructional days;

(b) Dismissals;

(c) Sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment cases; and

(d) Disciplinary cases referred to the committee by the student conduct officer, a conduct review officer, or the president.

(9) Except as provided elsewhere in these rules, disciplinary warnings and dismissals of disciplinary actions are final action and are not subject to appeal.

(10) In cases involving allegations of sex discrimination, the complainant has the right to appeal the following actions by the student conduct officer following the same procedures as set forth above for the respondent:

(a) The dismissal of a sex discrimination complaint; or

(b) Any disciplinary sanction(s) and conditions imposed against a respondent for a sex discrimination violation, including a disciplinary warning.

(11) If the respondent timely appeals a decision imposing discipline for a sex discrimination violation, the college shall notify the complainant of the appeal and provide the complainant an opportunity to intervene as a party to the appeal.

(12) Except as otherwise specified in this chapter, a complainant who timely appeals a disciplinary decision or who intervenes as a party to the respondent's appeal of a disciplinary decision shall be afforded the same procedural rights as are afforded the respondent.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 132D-150-110

Adopted by WSR 16-04-102, Filed 2/2/2016, effective 3/4/2016 Amended by WSR 21-13-151, Filed 6/22/2021, effective 7/23/2021 Amended by WSR 25-01-077, Filed 12/12/2024, effective 1/12/2025