(1) After a formal complaint is filed, the university will commence an investigation. Throughout the investigative process, including meetings with an investigator, a party may be accompanied by a hearing advisor and/or a support advisor. During the investigation, a party's hearing advisor and/or support advisor may provide advice to the party but may not speak on behalf of the party. The initial interview of a respondent will be scheduled to allow time for the respondent to prepare a response following receipt of the notice of formal complaint.

(2) During an investigation, parties may present witnesses as well as other inculpatory and exculpatory evidence for the investigator to consider. Parties will be provided an equal opportunity to inspect and review any evidence obtained as part of the investigation that is directly related to the allegations raised in a formal complaint so that each party may meaningfully respond to the evidence prior to the conclusion of the investigation.

(3) Prior to completion of the investigative report, the university will send to each party and the party's advisors, if any, the evidence subject to inspection and review. The parties will have at least ten calendar days to submit a written response, which the investigator will consider prior to completion of the investigative report.

(4) At least ten calendar days prior to the hearing, the investigator will provide the parties with the final investigative report and all evidence gathered during the investigation. The final investigative report and all evidence related to the allegations will be included in the record for the hearing.

(5) No later than at the conclusion of the investigation, the investigator will notify the hearing officer that it is appropriate to commence a hearing to consider the allegations contained in the formal complaint. Such notification is consistent with a conversion to full adjudicative proceeding, as described in WAC 478-121-205, and consistent with RCW 34.05.413 through 34.05.476.