When it comes to the University of Delaware student conduct process, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is that interested students with a few minutes to volunteer gain valuable resume-building material that lands a fair amount of Blue Hens in an investigative career at the country’s highest level. Junior Garret Christino has found his appellate board experience with the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) to be one of the most rewarding roles he’s undertaken during his student experience.

Christino credits the University’s criminal justice offerings for attracting him to UD, suggested by his father as a strong program that more than half of his FBI colleagues have in common. Christino’s double majors in psychology and criminal justice with double minors in Spanish and legal studies do not leave much time for other pursuits, so all volunteerism and other hobbies must pack a worthwhile punch.

“In my one year of serving on the appellate board, I have learned a lot about the University as a whole and about specifics of the conduct process,” he said. “I take pride in that serving on the board is not only an awesome way to be a huge and important part of the UD community, but a way to do my part in keeping that community safe.”

Offered within the Division of Student Life by the Office of Student Conduct, the appellate board is an appointed body of student, staff and faculty volunteers that convenes to review and adjudicate all student conduct cases at UD. Beyond the mandatory training for all new members, the appellate board convenes as needed to review student appeals. Students on the board are also asked to participate in community outreach activities throughout the year. The flexible schedule, ability to make positive change on campus and the valuable experience to build character, makes appellate board membership a resume-building opportunity While the commitment is a much as the student would like to put into the experience, it is extremely rewarding due to the impact on campus safety and community building.

An average of three student appellate board members serve each month, judging by the online scheduling polls that Christino receives for each case. Each meeting is scheduled for 90 minutes, and the group meets for an adequate amount of time to come to an agreement about the final case outcome. Christino said he has been particularly pleased to find that the student member always delivers the student opinion on the case to their staff and faculty counterparts before a discussion begins and a decision is made. His involvement has helped him understand the weight that the student experience holds at UD, and the educational underpinnings of the student conduct process. Board membership has also benefited other areas of his life at UD, as a fraternity president whose chapter probably knows the UD Student Code of Conduct better than most.

“Many of the student members are pre-law, and the experience looks great on our resumes,” Christino said. “However, I’ve also enjoyed valuable networking opportunities with faculty and staff that I likely would not have crossed paths with otherwise.”

The impending graduation of Christino and others in his cohort has opened the door for five to six new members to begin their own journey with the UD Appellate Board. All first and second year UD students are encouraged to apply at the link below by March 3.

Appellate Board applications now open

Applications are being accepted from all first- and second-year students online now through March 3. Qualified students will be invited to sign up for an interview slot the following week and finalists will be notified of their appointment to the board by April 3. New board members must be able to attend training the week of April 8 as well as some additional sessions in April and early May, to conclude with an appellate board ice cream social before the board adjourns for the summer.

About the Division of Student Life

The Division of Student Life includes the Office of the Dean of Students, Center for Black Culture, Center for Counseling and Student Development, Fraternity and Sorority Leadership and Learning, Office of Student Conduct, Orientation and Transition Programs, Residence Life and Housing, Student Diversity and Inclusion, Student Health Services, Student Services for Athletes, Student Wellness and Health Promotion, UD Career Center, and the University Student Centers. For more information about Student Life, visit the website.