Appeal Procedures
All incidents that are submitted to the Judicial Office are investigated and if a student is found in violation a sanction will be issued. Sanctions can range from a written warning to expulsion.  The judicial officer will investigate and will make a ruling as to the sanction that is most appropriate in each case. The student is entitled to appeal the decision of the judicial officer to one of two committees. 
 
In cases where a ruling by the judicial officer will not result in suspension or expulsion from campus or campus housing, the student may appeal the decision of the judicial officer to the Judicial Council. Ruling of the Judicial Council will be considered final, and the student may seek no further appeal. The judicial officer reserves the right to forward any decision of the Council to the vice president of student services for review.
 
In cases where a ruling by the judicial officer will result in suspension or expulsion from campus or campus housing, the student may appeal the decision of the judicial officer to the vice president of student services and then to the Disciplinary Committee as established by the college president. A student may make a final appeal to the college president who will review the case file to ensure that due process was given. If the president determines due process was given, the decision of the Disciplinary Committee will stand. If the president determines due process was not followed, the president has the authority to return the case to the appropriate step in the proceedings.

If the student chooses to appeal the decision of the judicial officer, a hearing will be set with the appropriate committee, the student will be informed of the date and time of the hearing, and will have the right to have all evidence heard at that time. To initiate the appeals process a student must submit a written appeal within 24 hours of the initial ruling.   
 
Judicial Appeal Hearing
The TVCC appeal hearing is a semi-formal hearing in which information related to the alleged misconduct is reviewed and considered by the committee. During this meeting, faculty, staff or students, along with other individuals directly related to the incident, have the opportunity to present relevant information for the committee to determine whether a student violated any college policies.  
 
Appeal Hearing Format
Generally, the format of the appeal hearing will follow the outline below:

1. Opening summary by the judicial officer or representative of the college
2. Opening summary by the student.
3. Presentation of witnesses, evidence, and information by the judicial officer
4. Questions from the committee to the judicial officer
5. Presentation of witnesses, evidence, and information by the student
6. Questions from the committee to the student
7. Closing statement by the judicial officer
8. Closing statement by student
9. Questions from the committee to the judicial officer or student

Following the hearing, the committee will deliberate in private. The committee’s charge first and foremost is to uphold or reject the findings of the judicial officer. The committee reserves the right to alter the punitive sanctions submitted by the judicial officer.