Peer Review Board
What is the Peer Review Board?
The Peer Review Board (PRB) facilitates the student conduct process from a restorative justice, community-oriented mindset and is a peer-based alternative to meeting with a staff member one-on-one. Peer Review Board members have been helpful in getting students connected to resources, rethinking policy from a community-focused and student perspective, and, most importantly, giving students a voice in the administrative side of the conduct process.
Our process
The Peer Review Board process mirrors the traditional student conduct process with the significant difference being that peers serve in the place of a student conduct administrator or specialist. This means that the Peer Review Board will facilitate the student meetings, conduct additional outreach as necessary, review all of the information gathered, make findings regarding responsibility and determine appropriate student conduct outcomes as appropriate. All student rights and responsibilities, general processes, and appeal guidelines remain the same.
The Peer Review Board meets regularly to review student conduct cases and receives support from an advisor.
For reference, you can compare the traditional student conduct process and the Peer Review Board process using this visual flowchart.
Types of cases
The Peer Review Board (PRB) hears a wide variety of cases, and typically hears cases that have an impact on the larger community. The Peer Review Board typically reviews first-time policy violation cases, and incidents that they review include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Alcohol
- Cannabis
- Covering a Smoke Detector
- Failure to Evacuate
- Housing Policies
- Theft
- Vandalism
For reference, you can compare the two parallel processes (PRB vs. individual conduct staff member) using this visual flowchart.
Our philosophy
Meaningful participation is demonstrated by a process by which students are responsible for the decision-making in the incident review process.
Restorative justice, which partially guides this student conduct process, is meant to address incidents while being conscious of the impact to the community and the impact on individual students who are involved, while creating a process that is educational and not punitive.
Leadership development is the last guiding principle, which hopes to provide students involved in this process with the opportunity to advocate for themselves and learn more about their personal integrity.
Peer Review Board schedule
Each Peer Review Board meets twice a week throughout the academic year while observing university closures, breaks, and finals weeks.
Students are notified of their meeting date, time, and Zoom link (all meetings are held via Zoom) in the incident review meeting letter that they receive via email.
Contact us
We are always open to your questions, comments, and feedback regarding the UCSC Peer Review Board. Please feel free to contact us at any time at prb@ucsc.edu.
Our Peer Review Board team members
Christine
Hi! I’m Chrissy (she/her), and I’m a 3rd-year Psychology major and Education minor. This is my first year as a PRB member, but I’ve worked as an RA for over a year. I love working with people and doing my part to support and bring joy to my community. Outside of school, I love spending time in the outdoors, whether it’s backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, or volunteering at the Rec. I also love music, art, and trying new hobbies – right now I’m learning to bake!
Vir
Hello, my name is Vir (he/him) and I am a first-year Robotics Engineering major. This is my first year serving on the Peer Review Board, and I am excited to contribute back to the campus community through the restorative justice process of the PRB. Outside of the PRB, I enjoy reading, watching movies (anything by Christopher Nolan or soundtracked by Hans Zimmer), and exploring the local areas. I am excited to work alongside the experienced members of the PRB and give back to UCSC!
Esha — Chancellors Undergraduate Internship Program (CUIP)
Hi! I’m Esha (she/her/hers) and I’m a 2nd year student majoring in Legal Studies here at UCSC. Along with the PRB, I also work as an intern at the Asian American/Pacific Islander resource center. This is my first year working with the PRB and I’m super excited to make a positive difference on campus, help with student growth, and strengthen our community!
Stephanie — Advisor
Hello! :O) My name is Stephanie Welin (she/her/hers) and I am an advisor for the Peer Review Board (PRB). Outside of PRB, I serve UCSC as the Associate Director for the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Education (OSCCE). I love engaging in conversations with individuals and groups centered on expanding one’s cultural competence through experiential learning and shared experiences. In my role, I meet with students to facilitate student conduct cases, address emergency policies, procedures, & training, and host preventative education programs & trainings. If you have any questions regarding the conduct process, campus resources, or just want to chat, please let me know! I’m always happy to host a Zoom meeting conversation.
Fun Fact: I went skydiving on Hawaii’s North Shore for my friend’s 25th birthday. I even got to steer the parachute. It was absolutely amazing!
Join the Peer Review Board
Peer Review Board (PRB) members are part-time student employees. Any vacancies will be posted on Handshake, with applications being reviewed on a rolling basis.