Standards of Evidence

The Indiana State University student conduct system is an administrative process and responds to alleged violations of University policy. Students facing concurrent civil or criminal actions for the same event, may also face adjudication procedures with Indiana State University.  The standard of evidence used by the Office of Student Conduct and Integrity administrative process is Preponderance of Evidence. The definition of beyond reasonable doubt is provided to further illustrate the differences between an administrative and criminal process.

 

Preponderance of Evidence: This standard of evidence is currently the standard for all administrative decisions as it relates to student conduct.  This means, a person filing a complaint has provided enough evidence to show their version of events is more likely than not the correct version.  If looking at this standard of evidence on a percentage chart of likelihood, anything over 51% certainty would meet the standard of preponderance.

 

Beyond Reasonable Doubt: This standard of evidence is used in a criminal proceeding but not the administrative process of Indiana State University.  Under this criminal standard, if there is any reasonable uncertainty of guilt, based on the evidence presented, a person cannot be convicted or found guilty.  Those deciding on guilt must be able to view the result of a situation with "moral certainty" the evidence presented proves guilt with no level of uncertainty.

 

 

back to top

back to "Procedural Information"