Student Code of Conduct Resources for Families
Winona State University’s Student Code of Conduct is designed to uphold the safety and well-being of the WSU community, and the promotion and protection of the University’s mission.
Learn more about the Student Code of ConductHere is information you may find useful if your student is a victim or has a complaint filed against them.
File a Conduct Complaint
To file a complaint, your student should contact a WSU Resident Assistant or the Security Office.
If your student chooses to file a complaint (which is also referred to as an incident report), their role becomes one of witness in the case. However, the student may also be required to assume the role of complainant. The submitter of the complaint is sometimes asked to participate in the adjudication of the case to explain what they saw or heard and to answer questions about the incident.
Filing a complaint with the Security Office is not the same as filing a criminal charge. The Security Office can help students contact the local police department if they wish to file a police report.
Cases that are handled informally are often resolved in a matter of weeks. When a formal hearing is required, the process takes longer. All parties have a right to develop their respective arguments. It can take 4-6 weeks to schedule a hearing meeting.
Support for Victims
WSU is first and foremost concerned about your student’s safety. WSU Security, the Director of Citizenship and Conduct, Resident Assistants and Residential Education staff can assist students with safety planning as well of inform them of the various options for resolving their complaint.
There are several differences between the systems. The rules governing the handling of student conduct matters at institutions of higher education are different from criminal statutes.
The university’s student conduct process does not lead to anyone being “convicted of a crime”.
It is a process to determine if a student is to be found responsible for violating the Student Code of Conduct and other campus regulations. It can only result in a student discipline record that is maintained for a finite time.
- Violation of institutional community standards—such as academic dishonesty—are alleged. These are not always violations of law. Some conduct violations mirror criminal statutes such as underage drinking. Some conduct violations use similar terms but have different definitions from criminal definitions, for example sexual assault and rape.
- Standard of Proof: “a preponderance of the evidence” (enough evidence to be more likely than not) is the standard to find a student responsible for violating the student conduct code. This is the same standard used in most civil cases.
- Confidentiality: the campus process is usually confidential and student information is protected under FERPA.
- Jurisdiction: some connection to the campus is required to address a conduct violation.
- Administrative Hearing Process: The Office for Student Life and Development holds the hearing process, which is educational rather than adversarial. While students may have a third-party present, the student must represent themselves and to explain their conduct to others.
- Educational Tool: Sanctions tend to focus on repairing harm to the community, to victims, and to the institution. The process focuses on helping the student understand why their behavior violated community standards, how their behavior affected others, and how they can avoid making the same mistake again.
However, students may face separation from the institution if weapons or violence were involved. In these instances, the campus’s primary concern is maintaining a safe environment, and an educational response would not be appropriate.
- Violations of law are alleged
- Standard of Proof: “beyond a reasonable doubt” is the standard to prove someone guilty
- No Confidentiality: a criminal prosecution creates public records
- Jurisdiction: broader authority that includes campus and community
- Trial Process: follows legal court procedures
- Punitive Tool: uses legal sentencing guidelines
Conduct Appeal Process
Students may appeal any decisions made by a Judicial hearing board. Once a decision has been made, the student has a set amount of time to file a notice of appeal.
In most student conduct processes, a student is not granted an appeal automatically if the student objects to the outcome of a hearing. Appeals are generally limited to specific conditions such as:
- Procedural error
- New evidence not available during the hearing
- The conclusion reached was not supported by the information provided in the hearing
- The sanction imposed is unduly severe compared to the nature of the violation
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