Crisis Assistance Response and Education
(C.A.R.E) and Victim Assistance
C.A.R.E.
Office
67 George Street
2nd Floor, Rooms 202 and 203
Phone: (843) 953-3390
Fax: (843) 953-2273
Email: CareVictimAssistance@cofc.edu
Appointments
Call 953-3390
Walk-in 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Emergency Team Response
Pager: (843) 724-3600
The Disciplinary Process
The disciplinary process for a violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy may be found in the Student Handbook. While it is the choice of a student to determine whether he/she will initiate judicial action through the Dean of Students for a violation of sexual misconduct, we strongly encourage a student to do so. Honor Board hearings are closed to the public, unless the accused requests that others attend or that the hearing be open to the public. The accuser may also request that others attend the hearing in a sexual misconduct case. The granting or denying of this request is subject to a majority vote of the honor board presiding over the case.
Special Needs
Special needs regarding the hearing set-up should be communicated to the Dean of Students. After careful review, the Dean will ask the Honor Board/Panel to accommodate concerns for the personal safety, well-being, and/or fears of confrontation of the complainant, accused, and/or other witnesses during the hearing by providing separate facilities, by using a visual screen, and/or by permitting participation by telephone, videophone, audio tape, written statement, or other means.
Other Official Intervention/Resolution
Letters of no contact, cease and desist letters and other written forms of intervention may be initiated after determination by officials in student affairs that such action is appropriate and warranted.
Rights and Options for Judicial Action
If a violation of the sexual misconduct policy involves another student, the criminal process and disciplinary process through the College may be initiated simultaneously. The disciplinary process will normally proceed whether criminal or civil proceedings have been completed.
Sexual Assault Victims' Bill of Rights
Under the Sexual Assault Victims' Bill of Rights, victims of sexual assault are entitled to:
- be treated with respect.
- be informed of the option to notify law enforcement.
- be afforded the same opportunity to have others present at on-campus judicial proceedings.
- be informed of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding.
- be aware of counseling services.
- be notified of options for changing academic and living situations.
- For those electing to initiate campus judicial action, the complainant in sexual misconduct cases is afforded the same opportunities as the accused to have others present at honor board proceedings. Notification of the outcome of the proceedings is communicated directly to the complainant and the accused.
- Both the accused and the accuser may be accompanied at the hearing by an honor advisor, another non-attorney advisor, or an attorney.
Sanctions:
Precedent set by previous boards for a finding of responsibility for non-consensual sexual intercourse is either expulsion or suspension for the duration of enrollment of the complainant with special conditions attached for re-enrollment.
A partial listing of other possible sanctions for any violation of our Code of Conduct follows:
- Disciplinary warning
- Restriction
- Disciplinary probation
- Deferred suspension or expulsion
- Disciplinary suspension
- Expulsion
- Other - work hours may be assessed; fines or reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property may be assessed; or rehabilitative educational experiences may be ordered.
For detailed information on the process for reporting a violation for judicial action and what occurs once a report has been initiated, please refer to "Procedures for Reporting" in Student Handbook.