Advisors
The Role of Advisors in the Student Conduct Process
Section 3335-23-10 (B) of the Code of Student Conduct permits students to have an advisor throughout the disciplinary process. We encourage students to take advantage of this provision. Advisors help students retain their composure, think more clearly, and ask important and relevant questions. Because this is an educational process, students must always speak for themselves. While an advisor may offer advice and encouragement, they do not represent or speak for the student.
Below are common questions about the role of the advisor. We encourage students to bring additional questions or concerns to our attention.
How many advisors can a student have?
A student may have one (1) advisor present during the investigation and hearing process. The advisor is selected by the student and may be anyone who is not involved as a participant/witness in the case. While the Office of Student Conduct does not appoint an advisor automatically, the student may request advisor support from the Student Advocacy Office. The Student Advocacy Office can be reached at (614) 292-1111.
Who can serve as an advisor?
An advisor can be any person who is not involved as a witness or participant in a case.
Attorneys are welcome to serve as advisors in our process, and are held to the same expectations as any other advisor. Accordingly, the student is responsible for communicating with the Student Conduct Office and performing other functions that may be generally performed by attorneys (e.g. requesting extensions of deadlines, submitting written documents, objecting to evidence, questioning witnesses, etc.).
Students must complete the Authorization to Release Information (PDF) before their advisor can participate in the conduct process.
What is the role of an advisor in a hearing?
The advisor may support or advise their student, but may not represent or speak for them. An advisor may whisper to or share written notes with their student during any part of the conduct process, (e.g. preliminary conference or hearing).
What if in my role as an advisor, I have procedural questions?
We never want a student to be confused or surprised by any part of the Student Conduct process. A student may ask a procedural question at any time. If an advisor has a question about the process at any point prior to a hearing, we encourage the advisor to ask their question. We will always endeavor to include the student in this conversation, but we also understand that there may be minor procedural questions that can help an advisor to better understand our process. Should an advisor have a procedural question during a hearing, the advisor should prompt their student to either raise the procedural question or request a brief recess to speak with their hearing officer.
What happens when an advisor fails to follow these expectations?
We expect that all advisors will abide by these expectations. An advisor who fails to do so may be asked to leave a meeting or Student Conduct hearing.