(a) On or before August 1, 2016, each campus of a higher education institution shall adopt one procedure to resolve complaints of alleged student violations of the comprehensive policy.
     (b) For each campus, a higher education institution’s complaint resolution procedures for allegations of student violation of the comprehensive policy shall provide, at a minimum, all of the following:

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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 110 ILCS 155/25

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.36
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

         (1) Complainants alleging student violation of the
    
comprehensive policy shall have the opportunity to request that the complaint resolution procedure begin promptly and proceed in a timely manner.
        (2) The higher education institution shall determine
    
the individuals who will resolve complaints of alleged student violations of the comprehensive policy.
        (3) All individuals whose duties include resolution
    
of complaints of student violations of the comprehensive policy shall receive a minimum of 8 to 10 hours of annual training on issues related to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and how to conduct the higher education institution’s complaint resolution procedures, in addition to the annual training required for employees as provided in subsection (c) of Section 30 of this Act.
        (4) The higher education institution shall have a
    
sufficient number of individuals trained to resolve complaints so that (i) a substitution can occur in the case of a conflict of interest or recusal and (ii) an individual or individuals with no prior involvement in the initial determination or finding hear any appeal brought by a party.
        (5) The individual or individuals resolving a
    
complaint shall use a preponderance of the evidence standard to determine whether the alleged violation of the comprehensive policy occurred.
        (6) The complainant and respondent shall (i)
    
receive notice of the individual or individuals with authority to make a finding or impose a sanction in their proceeding before the individual or individuals initiate contact with either party and (ii) have the opportunity to request a substitution if the participation of an individual with authority to make a finding or impose a sanction poses a conflict of interest.
        (7) The higher education institution shall have a
    
procedure to determine interim protective measures and accommodations available pending the resolution of the complaint.
        (8) Any proceeding, meeting, or hearing held to
    
resolve complaints of alleged student violations of the comprehensive policy shall protect the privacy of the participating parties and witnesses.
        (9) The complainant, regardless of this person’s
    
level of involvement in the complaint resolution procedure, and the respondent shall have the opportunity to provide or present evidence and witnesses on their behalf during the complaint resolution procedure.
        (10) The complainant and the respondent may not
    
directly cross examine one another, but may, at the discretion and direction of the individual or individuals resolving the complaint, suggest questions to be posed by the individual or individuals resolving the complaint and respond to the other party.
        (11) Both parties may request and must be allowed
    
to have an advisor of their choice accompany them to any meeting or proceeding related to an alleged violation of the comprehensive policy, provided that the involvement of the advisor does not result in undue delay of the meeting or proceeding. The advisor must comply with any rules in the higher education institution’s complaint resolution procedure regarding the advisor’s role. If the advisor violates the rules or engages in behavior or advocacy that harasses, abuses, or intimidates either party, a witness, or an individual resolving the complaint, that advisor may be prohibited from further participation.
        (12) The complainant and the respondent may not be
    
compelled to testify, if the complaint resolution procedure involves a hearing, in the presence of the other party. If a party invokes this right, the higher education institution shall provide a procedure by which each party can, at a minimum, hear the other party’s testimony.
        (13) The complainant and the respondent are
    
entitled to simultaneous, written notification of the results of the complaint resolution procedure, including information regarding appeal rights, within 7 days of a decision or sooner if required by State or federal law.
        (14) The complainant and the respondent shall, at
    
a minimum, have the right to timely appeal the complaint resolution procedure’s findings or imposed sanctions if the party alleges (i) a procedural error occurred, (ii) new information exists that would substantially change the outcome of the finding, or (iii) the sanction is disproportionate with the violation. The individual or individuals reviewing the findings or imposed sanctions shall not have participated previously in the complaint resolution procedure and shall not have a conflict of interest with either party. The complainant and the respondent shall receive the appeal decision in writing within 7 days after the conclusion of the review of findings or sanctions or sooner if required by federal or State law.
        (15) The higher education institution shall not
    
disclose the identity of the survivor or the respondent, except as necessary to resolve the complaint or to implement interim protective measures and accommodations or when provided by State or federal law.