Wisconsin Administrative Code
Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
Chapter UWS 4 - Procedures For Faculty Dismissal And For Dismissal And Discipline In Title IX Cases
Subchapter III - Procedures for Faculty Dismissal and Discipline in Title IX Cases
Section UWS 4.19 - Adequate due process

(a) Service of written notice of a live hearing on the allegations in the formal Title IX complaint at least 10 days prior to the hearing.

(b) A right to the names of witnesses and of access to documentary and other evidence upon the basis of which dismissal or other discipline is sought.

(c) A right to be heard in the faculty member's defense.

(d) A right to an advisor, counsel, or other representatives, and to offer witnesses. The faculty member's advisor or counsel may ask all witnesses relevant questions and follow-up questions, including those challenging credibility. Credibility determinations, however, may not be made based on a person's status as a complainant, respondent, or witness. If the faculty member does not have an advisor, the university shall provide the faculty member, without charge, an advisor of the university's choice to conduct cross-examination on behalf of the faculty member. The advisor may be an attorney.

(e) A right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses. The faculty member's or complainant's advisor shall conduct cross examination directly, orally, and in real time. The faculty member and the complainant may not personally conduct cross examination. If the faculty member, the complainant, or a witness does not submit to cross-examination at the hearing, the hearing committee or the hearing examiner may not rely on any statement of the faculty member, complainant, or witness in reaching its findings and recommendations. However, the hearing committee or hearing examiner may not draw a negative inference in reaching its findings and recommendations based solely on the absence of a faculty member, complainant, or witness from the hearing or refusal to answer cross-examination or other questions.

(f) A verbatim record of all hearings, which might be a sound recording, made available at no cost for inspection and review.

(g) Written findings of fact and recommendations based on the hearing record. The written findings of fact and recommendations shall include all of the following:

(h) Admissibility of evidence is governed by s. 227.45(1) to (4), Stats. Only relevant questions may be asked of the faculty member, the complainant, and any witnesses. The hearing committee or hearing examiner shall determine whether a question is relevant and explain the decision to exclude a question as not relevant. Questions and evidence about the complainant's sexual predisposition or prior sexual behavior are not relevant, unless such questions or evidence are offered to prove that someone other than the faculty member committed the conduct alleged by the complainant, or unless the questions or evidence concern specific incidents of the complainant's prior sexual behavior with the faculty member and are offered to prove consent.

(i) The hearing may be conducted with all participants physically present in the same location, or at the hearing committee's or hearing examiner's discretion, any or all participants may appear at the hearing virtually, with technology enabling the participants simultaneously to see and hear each other. Upon the faculty member's request, the university shall provide for the hearing to occur with faculty member and complainant located in separate rooms with technology enabling the hearing committee or hearing examiner, the faculty member, and the complainant to simultaneously see and hear witnesses answering questions.