University Conduct Board Membership
Service on the University Conduct Board
The University Conduct Board (UCB) hears cases in which students are charged with non-academic violations of the Code of Student Conduct. The UCB is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from across the university. Upon the completion of training and recommendation by the Director of Student Conduct:
- the Sr. Vice President for Student Life appoints fifteen faculty and staff to serve three-year, renewable terms
- Undergraduate Student Government appoints fifteen undergraduate students
- Council of Graduate Students appoints six graduate students
- Inter-Professional Council appoints four professional students
By modeling civility and care during, what can often be, a challenging experience for students, the UCB provides a valuable service to the entire university by upholding the university’s standards through a fair and impartial hearing.
UCB members commit their time and energy to support our mission to uphold the Code of Student Conduct, using an educational and holistic approach to accountability whenever possible. They demonstrate sound judgment while adjudicating student conduct matters during a critical time in a student’s college experience.
Training:
All UCB members must complete training at least once each year. The training includes:
- developing skills to ask questions that are more likely to elicit responses with relevant information;
- appreciating how trauma, the passage of time and other factors may affect a participant’s memory;
- learning how to evaluate the weight and credibility of information presented during the hearing; and
- understanding and applying the “preponderance of the evidence” standard to render a decision.
Additionally, all board members must attend all training and development sessions deemed necessary by the Student Conduct staff throughout the academic year.
Student Membership:
To be eligible for appointment or service, a student must possess a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average, not be under current disciplinary sanction from the university, and complete annual training held during the beginning of the school year.
Applications:
Applications can be found at go.osu.edu/UCBApplicationStudent.
Student Conduct accepts applications for the University Conduct Board throughout the year. Applications submitted before the third week of class during the autumn and spring semesters will receive priority review.
Please email Kirby Bell at bell.1776@osu.edu if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What availability do I need to be a board member?
Currently, our board hearings are held on Wednesdays or Fridays either between 9 am – noon or 1 – 3 pm during the academic year. In special circumstances an ad hoc hearing is called which can be a 3 hour time slot between Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm. Board members should be available during at least one of these time slots generally. Schedules are collected from board members before a hearing is scheduled and board members are not required to be available for every time slot.
What is the time commitment?
The overall time commitment for board members is relatively low. At the beginning of the year there is an annual training that lasts 3 hours during one of the normal UCB hearing times (Wednesdays or Fridays between either 9 am – noon or 1 – 4 pm.
During the academic year, board members are asked for their schedules. Holds for hearings are then sent by Student Conduct, normally about 1 – 3 per month. If the hearing time slot will not be used, the calendar invite will be removed about a week before the hearing.
Board members are not expected to be available for every hearing timeslot. All changes to schedules can be sent to Kirby Bell at bell.1776@osu.edu.
What are the requirements for membership?
An undergraduate student must possess a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average, and all students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average to continue serving. Additionally, students should not be under current disciplinary sanction of probation or suspension. A student found in violation of the code of student conduct who receives a formal reprimand may continue service upon review and determination by the director of student conduct.
What is the process for becoming a member?
Interested applicants should fill out our application. After the applicant attends annual training, we send a recommendation for appointment to the University Student Government, the Council of Graduate Students, or the InterProfessional Council.
What skills will I learn as a board member?
Serving on the UCB gives you hands-on practice with skills that map directly to what employers and graduate programs look for. Specifically, board members develop:
- Critical thinking — Evaluating conflicting accounts, identifying relevant facts, and applying the evidence standard to reach a conclusion.
- Decision-making and sound judgment — Weighing evidence objectively and making determinations.
- Communication — Asking effective questions during hearings, articulating reasoning clearly, and explaining decisions.
- Professionalism — Handling confidential, sensitive information with discretion.
- Collaboration — Working alongside students, faculty, and staff from different parts of the university.
I am a full time staff member and a student, what application should I use?
If you are a full time staff members who is also a student, you should use the Faculty/Staff application, go.osu.edu/UCBApplication.
I have questions, who do I ask?
You can contact Kirby Bell at bell.1776@osu.edu.