Victim Services
The Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution is responsible for educating students about their rights and responsibilities as students at the University of Florida. The Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution is available to assist students who are victims of crime or violations of the Student Conduct Code which are committed by University of Florida students. The office can also provide educational programs on related topics and refer individuals who are victims of crimes to campus support services.
The Campus Security Act was enacted to ensure the fair treatment of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system and campus conduct systems. Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution is also concerned with the well-being and rights of students who are victims in the university community.
Types of Offenses
An individual who has been injured physically and/or mentally by a violent act committed by a student of the University of Florida may receive special consideration within the student conduct process. Acts of violence include:
- Physical Assault
- Sexual Assault
- Relationship Violence
- Racial Harassment (When threats of violence occur)
- Sexual Harassment (When threats of violence occur)
Assurances Given Victims
Victims of violence are given various assurances and services, to the extent feasible, within the University of Florida community. The general assurances given to victims include:
- Freedom from intimidation and harassment on campus after the reporting of the alleged incident including, but not limited to, reassignment with the residence halls and changes of course selections.
- Information describing both the criminal and campus conduct processes.
- Information concerning the status of the case as it proceeds through the student conduct process.
- Information concerning the availability of counseling and medical services on campus as well as academic assistance aimed at retaining the victim as a member of the University community.
- Treatment in a dignified and compassionate manner by representatives of the University community.
- Accommodations within the student conduct process to meet the needs of victims, without infringing on the rights of the accused.
Conduct Process
The victim should bring a detailed written statement of the incident to Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. The Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution or their designee will meet with you and review your statement to decide if further investigation is necessary.
Victims are given the options concerning how or whether to proceed with an alleged incident of violence within the student conduct process; however, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution may proceed with conduct action without the victim's consent in order to protect the safety and well-being of the University community. Victims are given three options within the University's student conduct process:
- The victim requests an investigation be completed. If the evidence is sufficient, conduct charges are filed against the accused student. The victim is called as a witness in the student conduct hearing.
- The victim files a report and requests that a discussion take place with the accused student and the Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. Information identifying the victim will not be released during the discussion.
- The victim files a report and affidavits are obtained to preserve the testimony of witnesses in the event that the victim and the University wishes to pursue action in the future. Victims are encouraged to make a decision before the evidence becomes outdated.
Students charged with violating the Student Conduct Code have a preliminary meeting with the Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution to discuss the incident and their rights. At this meeting, charged students may choose to have their cases resolved through either:
- an administrative review without witnesses with the Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution or designee (note this option cannot result in suspension or expulsion),
- an administrative hearing with witnesses before the Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution or designee, or
- a committee hearing with witnesses before the Student Conduct Committee, which is composed of faculty and students.
The student may appeal the decision of the hearing body within ten days of being notified of the hearing results. Written appeals must be submitted to the appropriate official in the Dean of Students Office.
Accommodations in Conduct Hearings
Victims of violence whose cases are handled by Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution in an administrative review, administrative hearing or committee hearing will be provided with the following considerations, to the extent feasible:
- The creation of a sensitive environment for the victim throughout the campus conduct process.
- Kept informed of the status of the case as it proceeds through the student conduct process.
- Treated in a dignified and compassionate manner by representatives of the University community.
- The ability to remain present throughout the evidentiary portion of the conduct hearing.
- The presence of a person who agrees to accompany the victim throughout any investigation or campus conduct proceedings for the purpose of providing support.
- With a licensed health care professional's recommendation, in cases of sexual assault/abuse or relationship violence, the victim can testify from another room, provided that it does not interfere with the charged student's right to have questions asked of the witness.
- The ability to submit proposed questions for all witnesses in advance of the hearing, with the understanding that the hearing officer/chair will determine the appropriate questions to be asked.
- The exclusion of previous, unrelated sexual behavior from the student conduct hearing.
- Submission of a written impact statement to the hearing body to be considered during sanctioning, if the charged student is found responsible.
- Informed of the results of the student conduct hearing once the process is completed.
Resources
If you or someone you know is the victim of a crime or a violation of the Student Conduct Code, it is important that you contact agencies that can help that individual. The following list provides some agencies that may be able to assist.
University of Florida Police Department
Museum Road and Newell Drive
392-1111 (V/TDD)
University of Florida Victim Advocate
Museum Road and Newell Drive
392-5648 (Monday - Friday, 8:00a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
392-1111 (after business hours and on weekends)
Gainesville Police Department
721 NW 6th Street
334-2400
Alachua County Sheriff's Office
2621 SE Hawthorne Road
367-4000
Victim Advocates Unit at the Alachua County Sheriff's Office
2621 SE Hawhorne Road
384-3317
Center for Sexual Assault/Abuse Recovery
320 Student Health Care Center
392-1161 ext. 4362
University of Florida Counseling Center
P301 Peabody Hall
392-1575
Shands at UF Emergency Room
1600 S.W. Archer Road
265-8000