Honor at Reed

Resources for Honor Council, Judicial Board, Sexual Misconduct Board, AOD Review Panel

Sexual Misconduct Board

Overview

The Sexual Misconduct Board (SMB) hears complaints involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and relationship abuse, including dating and domestic violence, as defined by the College’s Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy. The composition of the SMB and the procedures followed by the Board are described in the Judicial Board CodeBringing a complaint to the SMB does not preclude any of the other rights of complainants, including confidential counseling and support, reporting to the police or Reed Community Safety, or engaging in the legal system, which are detailed on the Sexual Health, Advocacy & Relationship Education pages. The complainant does not need to be the alleged victim.

Advisors

Participating in an investigation and Sexual Misconduct Board proceeding may be a challenging experience. Students and others are encouraged to seek the assistance of an advisor to support and accompany them through the process, including investigative meetings and Sexual Misconduct Board hearings and related meetings. Students and others participating in the process as the reporting party, responding party, or as a witness may have an advisor of their choice to assist them.

Composition and Training

The SMB generally consists of six staff members as well as all twelve members of the Student Judicial Board (J-Board). A hearing board of five members of the SMB is formed for each complaint of sexual misconduct. There are at least two staff members and at least two students on each hearing board. Each hearing board also has a hearing facilitator.

Every year the Vice President for Student Life, in consultation with the faculty and staff advisors to the Judicial Boards, appoints the staff members of the SMB, with one staff member serving as its Chair. Staff who have been found to have violated the Honor Principle or any college policy relating to sexual misconduct, violence, or dishonesty may not serve as members of the SMB.

All members of the SMB and the hearing facilitator receive training in sexual misconduct adjudication as well as general training concerning the adjudication of violations of the Honor Principle. SMB proceedings are governed by the same procedures as the Judicial Board, except where specified in Section 10 of the Judicial Board Code.

Confidentiality and Sexual Assault

In cases of sexual assault, confidentiality is slightly different. In J-Board cases no information gained during the proceedings of the case may be released unless all parties and witnesses waive their right to confidentiality, but for alleged sexual assault cases heard by the Sexual Misconduct Board (SMB) the accuser (complainant) and the accused (respondent) may release three pieces of information at the completion of the process (the notification by the Vice President for Student Life (or designee) of the final outcome after the appeals process):

  1. The name of the accused.
  2. The college’s final determination with regard to alleged acts of sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship abuse including dating and domestic violence, and stalking, as well as alleged violations of the Honor Principle.
  3. Any sanction(s) imposed against the accused resulting from a finding of responsibility for acts of sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship abuse including dating and domestic violence, and stalking, as well as alleged violations of the Honor Principle.

This is in accordance with the Clery Act and FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act).

If you are in need of disability-related accommodations or have questions about accessibility at any point in engaging in the Sexual Misconduct Board process, please contact Judicial Board Advisors.