Judicial Frequently Asked Questions

I have a letter telling me of a meeting to discuss an alleged violation of the Regents’ Rules and Regulations. What does that mean?

• It means that you are alleged to have been involved in a violation of one or more UT Tyler Residence Life policies and that you have a meeting scheduled with a Residence Life staff member to discuss it. The letter lists the date and time of the meeting, possible policy violations, the administrator your meeting is with and how to contact him or her. A copy of the incident report is included with the notice, and the notice outlines your rights in the meeting.

What will happen to me during my meeting?

• You will meet with an administrator. By the time you have your meeting, you should have had time to review the incident report and the policies you are alleged to have violated. When the meeting begins, you will have the chance to decide if you would prefer the matter be adjudicated in the administrative meeting or if you would prefer to have a full hearing.
  
  
• If you choose to have a full hearing, the judicial officer will help you schedule the hearing at a later date.
  
  
• If you choose the matter to be adjudicated in the administrative meeting, the administrator will ask you some questions and give you the opportunity to explain the situation from your point of view. The administrator will consider any witnesses and supporting information you may have brought. The administrator will make a decision based on the information available and will assess sanctions as needed. For a more detailed look at the process, please follow this link.

What are my rights in an administrative meeting? In a full hearing?

• Your rights are outlined in the meeting notice. You have the right to offer evidence in support of your case. You have the right to appeal the finding or the sanction. You do not have the right to hear all testimony leading to the charge or the right to call witnesses. The judicial officer may extend these as a courtesy on a case by case basis.
  
  
• In a full hearing, you have the right to hear all testimony in the case. You have the right to call witnesses. You have the right to appeal the finding or the sanction.

What sanctions do I face?

• Housing judicial sanctions range from a written warning to contract cancellation. Some policy violations may also carry a disciplinary fine. A variety of educational sanctions may also be assigned. Please follow this link for a listing of possible sanctions.

Am I going to be kicked out of housing?

• If you are involved in repeated violations of policies, you may face contract cancellation. Cases involving illegal drugs, sexual misconduct, assault, large parties where alcohol is present, or theft may result in contract termination.

Will my parents be told?

• The University reserves the right to contact parents regarding disciplinary issues. Parents will be contacted for incidents such as intoxication, physical abuse, sexual assault, possession of weapons, and possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol. We encourage students to contact their parents in these situations.

Will this affect my financial aid or scholarship?

• It might, since some financial aid or scholarships depend on a student remaining in good standing with UT Tyler. You should contact the Office of Financial Aid at (903)566-7180 with any questions you may have.

Why am I meeting with the Director of Residence Life and Judicial Affairs instead of the Assistant Director who's over my building?

• The Director of Residence Life and Judicial Affairs will be a student's judicial officer in any of these situations: the incident could result in the student’s contract being cancelled, the Assistant Director feels that he or she would not be able to give the student a fair meeting, the Assistant Director is unable to meet with the student in a timely manner, or for situations where the student may face removal from UT Tyler.

How do you make your decision?

• The Judicial Officer collects as much information as he or she can, and determines what occurred. The Judicial Officer must show by preponderance of the evidence that a student is responsible or was involved in a violation of a policy. Preponderance of evidence means more than 50% certainty. Another way of looking at it is to ask the question "Is it more likely than not that a policy was violated?"

If my incident involves a violation of state or local laws, could I be prosecuted criminally AND through the UT Tyler judicial system?

• Yes, you may face criminal charges as well as UT Tyler judicial charges. Your relationship with the university is separate from your responsibilities as a citizen. Although they may stem from the same incident, violations of state, local or federal laws are adjudicated by a court of law. A judicial meeting within the UT Tyler judicial system adjudicates the violation of UT Tyler policy. To illustrate this better, an employee who assaults a fellow employee could be fired and face criminal charges.

If I did violate the policy, can't I just lie (very sincerely) and not get in any trouble?

• This is generally a bad course of action, for a few reasons. First, if it is determined that you have lied in a judicial hearing, you will face additional sanctions. Second, most lies do not hold up well under scrutiny, even if several people are trying to cover each other. Third, by telling the truth, you don't have to worry about keeping your story straight in the future. Finally, you have more long-term benefits from telling the truth and learning from the incident than from trying to cover it up.

What if I did nothing wrong?

• Then you have nothing to worry about! So relax, attend your meeting, and tell the truth about what you know.

What if I don't attend my meeting?

• It is in your best interest to attend the meeting so you can present your view of what happened. If you do not attend the meeting, a hold will be placed on your account. You will be unable to add or drop classes. You may be dropped from classes, and your transcript may be held. A full hearing may be scheduled, and if you do not attend the hearing the administrator hearing your case will have to make a decision based on whatever information is available. Please note that failing to attend one’s hearing is not a viable ground for appealing a sanction.