Educational institutions need to conduct a student discipline investigation in reported or 
suspected cases of student misconduct. Fair and thorough investigation enhances the confidence in the investigation’s results and minimizes the institution’s potential exposure to liability. Further, the investigation results must be able to withstand judicial scrutiny and enjoy the confidence of an institution’s faculty and students.
Student discipline investigation must determine whether there has been a violation of the student code of conduct. As a general rule, student code of conduct describes regulations, behaviors and guidelines that students of the institution must follow. In order to conduct a student discipline investigation, an institution must employ pragmatic methods.
The actual conduct process of an investigation may vary from case to case depending on issues such as the grade level of the institution and the gravity of the offense. A criminal offense may additionally require the involvement of law enforcement. As the statements of witnesses are crucial, it is important to learn techniques for conducting witness interviews. Officials need to document witness statements and establish credibility if conflicting statements are received.
It is essential for an educational institution to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 that seeks to protect the privacy of students’ education records. The act establishes that students have the right to inspect and review their education records. It also provides students with an opportunity to get inaccurate or misleading information in their education records corrected. Further, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student to disclose any information from a student’s education record.
From gathering evidence, interrogating witnesses, documenting statements to abiding with laws and drafting the report, the investigator’s role in the student discipline process is crucial. The investigating officer must prepare a final report after a thorough investigation is done and facts are established beyond doubt.
