Hampshire College

• What is the Community Review Board?
• Who Makes up the CRB? May I join?
• Who Can Bring a Case to the CRB?
• What Happens During a CRB Case?
• I'm Not Sure I Want to Use the CRB.
• I think I would like to file a complaint or appeal with the CRB.
• Contact Us to Talk About Your Options.
  
  

What is the Community Review Board?

The Hampshire College Community Review Board (CRB) is a student judicial hearing board consisting of Hampshire College faculty, staff, and student members.

The CRB hears two kinds of cases:

• Cases brought against current Hampshire students who are accused by another Hampshire community member of violating the Norms for Community Living.
• Appeals from students who are in disagreement with disciplinary actions taken against them by house staff.

The CRB determines if the student being accused (the respondent) did indeed violate student norms.

The goal of the CRB is to provide fair and equitable procedures in recommending, to the dean of students, appropriate disciplinary or non-disciplinary resolutions based on the facts of the case and the CRB’s findings.

Who makes up the CRB? May I join?

CRB members are annually selected at random by computer, and the advisor to the CRB formally requests their participation. An individual may only join the CRB if such a request is extended. 

The CRB consists minimally of three students, two faculty, and two staff. 

The advisor to the CRB is nonpartisan and has no say in the outcome of a CRB case. The role of the advisor to the CRB is to support and inform those involved of the policies and procedures of the CRB.

Who Can Bring a Case to the CRB?

Complaints may be filed by any member of the Hampshire community. Additionally, any student can appeal a sanction issued to him or her by house staff. Anyone appealing a house sanction should be aware that sanctions are effective immediately, and will remain in effect until and unless the CRB decides otherwise.

In all cases, the complaint must be timely, i.e., submitted within 14 weeks of the alleged event, with the exception of incidences of sexual violence or other compelling circumstances as determined by the CRB. 

What happens during a CRB case?

The Initial Meeting

In cases of community norms violations, the person being accused (the respondent) will be contacted by the advisor to the CRB to arrange an informal meeting. This meeting is to discuss the respondent’s rights and responsibilities. It is always in the best interest of the respondent to attend this meeting. 

The Dean’s Hearing Option

The respondent has the right to opt for a dean’s hearing instead of a CRB hearing. In this instance, the dean of students will hear the case and determine the sanction instead of the CRB.

The CRB Hearing

Testimonies of the complainant and the respondent and additional evidence are reviewed by the CRB, and witnesses may be called. Every effort is made to conclude the proceedings in one sitting, but the hearing ends only when the board has determined the merit of the complaint and any sanctions or resolutions to be recommended. 

Recommending and Imposing Sanctions

The findings and any recommended sanction(s) are communicated to the dean of students, who will either reduce, seek amendment to, or impose the sanction(s).  

I’m not sure if I want to use the CRB.

Appeals to house sanctions may only be pursued through the CRB, but the CRB is not the only response avenue for community norms violations. Often, the house offices or the Dean of Students Office can proceed with community norms violations as disciplinary cases, and cases involving discrimination can additionally be heard through the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Education.

You can discuss your options with any of the deans in the Dean of Students Office, including the advisor to the CRB. If you are not initially comfortable meeting with a dean about the circumstances of your complaint, we hope you will consider talking with a house director, a student intern, or a Counselor Advocate (CA).  

I think I would like to file a complaint or appeal with the CRB.

If you would like to explore resolution through the CRB or get a better sense of what it would mean to file a particular complaint or appeal through the board, please make an appointment to meet with the advisor to the CRB.

You may fill out a complaint form during this meeting, or complete it in advance and bring it with you. Download a form. 

Contact us to talk about your options.

To make an appointment with any of the deans in the Dean of Students Office, including the advisor to the CRB, please contact us at 413.559.5412.

Additional Campus Resources

Current CRB Membership
(January-December 2010)

Chair of the Board:
Ellis, Elizabeth (student)

General Membership:
Brooks, Jacob (student)
Cline, Kevin (staff)
Concklin, Fredric (student)
Hildreth, Alexander (student)
Marion, Robin (staff)
Mendes, Sara (student)
Pickles, Jane (staff)
Sanchez-Acero, Maia (student)
Sokol, Jessica (staff)
Stempel, Rick (staff)
Wald, Jim (faculty)
Winship, Larry (faculty)

Board Advisor:
Josiah S. Litant, assistant dean of students