Students Disciplining Peers: Student Involvement when Adjudicating Misconduct Infractions at American Four-year Colleges and Universities

Although student self-governance is considered a core component of the Academy, very little is little known about the role that students play in the administration of campus discipline. This study examined student involvement in the adjudication of misconduct infractions at American four-year colleges and universities. Included within this work is a literature review covering the historical evolution of student participation in campus disciplinary proceedings, the professionalization of judicial affairs, and models for campus disciplinary complaint resolution. Research questions addressed whether the level of student involvement was impacted by the type and severity of the infraction being resolved, the total percentage of disciplinary cases resolved by a process involving students, and hearing models utilized when students are permitted to participate in the adjudication of misconduct infractions. Based on study results indicating that student involvement in the administration of collegiate disciplinary issues is more symbolic than substantive, implications for today's colleges and universities as well as recommendations for practice are presented.